Dragway at The Bend has just endured one of the most dramatic days of Drag Challenge we’ve seen yet, and we’re only on day three!

Hare & Forbes DYO were first up on track in the cool morning conditions, but by the time the big bangers in Boostline Radial Blown and Carnage Outlaw Blown hit the lanes, the sun was out and a heat-soaked start line proved difficult for many.

One car that did start strongly was Nathan Jehu’s Torana, running a 7.55@191MPH. It wasn’t all celebrations though, as the LX struggled to pull up from the pass and ended up in the sand trap.

Another to bank a fast pass early was the K24-powered Celica of Brendon de Ruyter and Daniel Smith. The Nardo Grey screamer has never run a seven at DC before, but that changed when it punched home a 7.81@180MPH, so they’ll be on track for a win in the Tuff Mounts 235 Blown class and a red hat; if they complete the week.

Another racer to have a big win was Louis Younis, who made history in the ITF Hire 235 Aspirated ranks. He reeled off a 8.95@150MPH, making him the first in DC history to record an eight second pass in the class. He backed it up with a 8.98, giving him a decent lead in his class.

The track crew for Dragway at The Bend poured some time into the surface, and after lunch we were finally treated to some fast running from the top runners.

Luke Foley’s VH Commodore and Brandon Zito’s LC Torana went heads up, Luke recording a 7.80@177MPH, and Brandon a 7.85@177MPH.

The XW Fairmont of Keith Hards went rounds in the pursuit of a decent number, intially recording a 7.59@162MPH. He came back late in the afternoon to better that with a 7.27@196MPH, and we all thought that was going to be the pass of the day.

However, Adam Rogash and the MPW crew had different plans. The big blue beast ruined its gearbox on its first attempt at a pass earlier in the day. Adam carries a spare, so the MPW lads raced against the clock to install the spare and run a representative time. With three minutes to go Adam made it to the lanes, running a 7.13@203MPH. What an effort!

If that wasn’t good enough, Richard Collins treated us to a monumental wheel stand in his beautiful, turbo small-block Chev HK Prem. “It came up, it landed okay so I thought I’d roll back in, and it went up again!” he laughed. He still ran an 8.94@161MPH, and will be gunning for a seven at Heathcote Park Raceway on the final days.

Peep the full tyre class results by class below, and if you’re planning to head out to Heathcote Park Raceway for days four or five, grab your tickets online and save! Hare & Forbes DYO results will drop tomorrow.