Fuel crisis be damned! 300 hardy souls have bitten down and entered Street Machine Drag Challenge presented by VPW 2026.

All of our favourites are back for more, including Keith Hards in FAIRXW, Bruce Howie’s stick-shift ute, Paul Wood’s massive-cube LJ, Alysha Teale’s HQ, reigning champ Brandon Zito and many, many more. But today, let’s look at some of the fresh blood who have entered new or highly-revamped combos for DC26.

Spectator tickets will go on sale soon! We’ll be racing on October 28 to November 1 in both Victoria and South Australia. For that and more info on just about anything DC-related, visit dragchallenge.com.au.

TUFF MOUNTS SIX CYLINDER

Andrew Micallef is the secret weapon behind many drag & drive campaigns as crew chief, but this year he’s piloting his stunning, billet-block RB30-powered VL. The VL has gone as quick as 4.84-secs with its previous combo, so look out when Andy gets this thing wound up. The VL will be running in Tuff Mounts Six Cylinder.

SPEED PRO RADIAL BLOWN

Andrew Ricketts will be fronting in a brand-new combo in his HQ, namely a Bullet Race Engines-built, Dart block 427 with a pair of massive turbos strapped to the side on Johnny Tig manifolds and making 1500hp.

PULSAR TURBOS 8.5 RADIAL

Brad Durtanovich’s stunning Pro Street-style EK Holden is powered by a twin-turbo, 400ci SBC, backed by a Dedenbear ‘glide and nine-inch. The beast makes 1600hp at the hubs, which was before upgraded to a billet crank.

TUFF MOUNTS OUTLAW ASPIRATED

Previous class winner in 2022 Daniel Cassar of Fast Lane Speed Shop is back with a whole lot more firepower in his bad-ass ’33 Ford coupe. With 598 cubes under the bonnet and recently being crowned the Winner of Modified at the 2026 ANDRA Grand Final, Daniel will be one to watch.

OUTLAW BLOWN

QLD drag racing legend Juan Kudnig has done Drag Challenge Weekend before, but this will be his first full-fat DC down south. His much-raced HT packs a 400ci SBC, assisted by a giant single G57-3000 turbo and three nitrous kits! The 4000lb beast runs well into the sevens at 180mph on 235s.

KEMPPI RADIAL ASPIRATED

Kate Woodrige’s WILDXP is a cool new contender in Kemppi Radial Blown. The hardtop is powered by a 363ci BK Race Engines SBF, with RRS goodies underneath the front end and a McDonald Brothers four link out back. There are now a set of 20x10s under the back (not pictured) and the coupe has a best of 7.0-secs over the eighth-mile so far.

VCM/HP TUNERS DYO

We haven’t seen Glenn Archer’s 1977 Toyota Celica at Drag Challenge for a long time, but we’re stoked to have him back! The little weapon runs a Toyota 1.5JZ and A340E combo and makes 450kW at the rear wheels.

UNRIVALED ENGINEERING STICK SHIFT

Technically, Ben ‘Jetski’ Jaeschke entered last year’s DC, but he didn’t make it too far before the recently completed-Godzilla swapped XB GS coupe cried ‘enough.’ The 7.3 runs a Holley Terminator ECU and is backed by a TKO600 manual ‘box.

SPEED PRO RADIAL BLOWN

We are used to seeing Frank Marchese behind the wheel of a Ford or running around the pits assisting other racers, but for DC26 he’s thrashing hard on a LJ Torana build! The Torry will run a 400ci LS with Precision turbos and FuelTech ECU. More on this one soon!