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A SYNOPSIS OF THE SUMMERNATIONALS
Words and photos by Jon Van Daal
2/22/06
The ANDRA Summernationals, held over the same weekend as the NHRA Winternationals, at Western Sydney International Raceway was simply a barn burner. The three-day race was held in perfect conditions before a crowd of 10,000.
The highlight of the meet saw racer Brett Stevens make three, count them three Pro Category finals – Top (Fuel) Bike, Top Doorslammer (Pro Modified) and Top Alcohol (combination of dragster and funny car). He ended up winning two – Top Bike and Top Doorslammer but managed to holeshot all of his opponents.
He was beaten in the final of Top Alcohol by fellow Queenslander, Ben Bray. Bray top qualified in the bracket with a 5.575/257.04, which, while a first for Australia, would have had him top qualify at the Winternationals on the same weekend. Nine ANDRA records were set with ANDRA National Director, Tony Thornton commenting that the event was one of the best since the new Sydney facility opened.
 Brett Stevens was the man at the Summernationals making it to three of the finals including Top Bike (which he won), Top Doorslammer (ditto) and Top Alcohol. |
 Despite top qualifying and running low ET of the meet with a 7.358 and then making the final of the Pro Stock Bike bracket, Daniel Peaty had a gearbox go sour and had to watch Callum Godeassi take the gold. |
Ben Bray had a mixed weekend – he ran the first 5.50 time in the Top Alcohol bracket with a 5.575 and ended up winning that bracket, but was a first round loser in his brand new GTO.
Pro Stock saw a great field of cars which were whittled down to one, John Andropolis and his Dodge Avenger, which ran low ET of eliminations with a winning 7.33 in the final.