Street Machine Drag Challenge 2025 will be the 10th running of the full-fat, five-day drag-and-drive extravaganza, and it is gonna be a biggie! The final release of entries on Tuesday night sold out in 30 minutes!

And hoo boy, do we have some cool rides coming!

In terms of outright speed, the field is led by Keith Hards’s six-second capable XW Fairmont, the current title holder in Radial Blown. Next outright quickest is 2023 winner Mark Drew in the ‘Crusty’ Torana, which also has also run in the sixes.

From there, we have stack of seven-second cars, including John Ricca’s JETGM Commodore, which took out the 2016 event back when it was owned by Bubba Medlyn. The VH is still powered by a twin-turbo, Holden-based Torque Power mill and recently ran a 7.60@190rpm pass in Kenda testing at Dragway at the Bend.

Other seven-second toughies include Terry Seng’s Drag Challenge Weekend-winning VC Commodore and WA’s Nathan Jehu, back for a another shot in his twin-turbo LS-powered Torana. The white beast has run as quick at 7.33 seconds on a shut-off, with a best speed of 175mph.

Other seven-second capable runners include Warwick’s favourite sons Chris Kaarsberg and Shane Baker in a green LS-powered Torana and Holden-powered VH Commodore, respectively. Brandon Zito’s seven-second, twin-turbo SBC-powered LC is also in the mix, as well as Richard Collins’s turbo SBC HK Premier, Luke Foley’s VH and Alex Margaritis’s insane LC Torana, the latter returning after a couple of events off.

We have heaps of stupidly tough aspirated cars lined up too, led by many-time Radial Aspirated champ Alon Vella in his new Capri. Paul Wood is back for another shot in his 638ci LJ Torana, as are Louis Younis’s reigning ITF 235 Aspirated-winning Torana, Tony di Biagio’s XY, Jason Mansweto’s XW ute, Michael Ryder’s screaming Holden-powered VN, Peter Haravitsidis’s XY, Aaron James’s Valiant and Donny Zurcas’s Capri.

There are at least five veterans from Drag Challenge #1 competing, including John Kerr’s Comet, Greg Mason’s El Camino, Brenton Miller’s Centura, Luke Foley’s Commodore and Steve Reimann in his Corvette.

There are quite a few wildcards in the pack, including Ben Paganoni’s Duramax-powered XH Falcon ute.

Tim Laidler is back in his blown Holden V8-powered VL, this time with a new billet-based combo.

We are also stoked to see Jamie Heritage’s twin-turbo 1UZ-powered, AWD TA22 Celica back for more – this thing sounds insane!

Chris Veleski rocked our world with this 2JZ Toyota Lexcen back in the day, but this time he is bringing the EVILGQ Patrol.

Troy David’s wild twin-turbo FJ ute is back for another shot at DC. And that is just scratching the surface of the killer rides already locked in.

SCHEDULE

• Tues 28 Oct: Tech Day – Dragway at the Bend, SA
• Wed 29 Oct: Day One – Dragway at the Bend, SA
• Thu 30 Oct: Day Two – South Coast Raceway, Portland, Victoria
• Fri 31 Oct: Day Three – Heathcote Park Raceway, Victoria
• Sat 01 Nov: Day Four – Atlantic Oils Sunset Strip, Mildura, Victoria
• Sun 02 Nov: Day Five – Dragway at the Bend, SA

Need more info?

Reach out to the team at [email protected] or hit up the new www.dragchallenge.com.au

Thanks!

Thanks as always to our amazing entrants, the track staff and volunteers, and our amazing sponsors, including Tuff Mounts, Speed Pro, Hare & Forbes, Pro Street Radials, Enthusiast Motor Insurance, Kemppi Australia and ITF Hire.