In his first full Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series season, young racer Ross Lamattina followed in the championship-winning footsteps of his father, Top Fuel racer Phil Lamattina, by claiming his own Australian Championship by taking out the title for Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster at the ANDRA Grand Final.

Obviously, you come from a very well established and well-known drag racing family, but you didn’t start racing until the age of 14 in 2020 – can you tell us about how your start in drag racing came about?

It all started when I was a kid and Mum and Dad dragged me along to the drags, so it was inevitable that I would eventually get into the racing. When Jake Berias’ car was coming up for sale, the Berias family were kind enough to let me license first to see if I liked it, and I was hooked.

What have your parents thought about you wanting to follow in drag racing footsteps of your family?

It was Mum and Dad that come up with the idea for me to start racing, I wasn’t really interested at the time, I just liked to go watch Dad and get the days off school. They were really calm about it – I have been driving cars on the farms since I was eight, so I had a bit of experience about driving already.

You have been successful right out of the gate, taking out the national championship – has it sunk in that you are the National Champion? What does it mean to you to have achieved the title?

It hasn’t really sunken in yet, that I am a national champion, and my name goes into the history books – it is a massive achievement, and it is still sinking in now.

Your Junior Dragster career is now drawing to a close, what are your plans for the coming season?

I am not too sure yet at the moment what is next for me. My younger brother is going to jump in now so I will be helping him out and mentoring him, and maybe we can have another Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Champion in the family in a few years’ time. I will probably also be working on the Top Fuel car and learning a lot from that.

What was your favourite event of the 2022/2023season and why?

My favourite event was probably the South Coast 660 event at Portland’s South Coast Raceway, where I won the event. It was just a perfect weekend, and everything was just going my way.

What was the highlight of your season aside from taking out the title?

The highlight of the season for me aside from winning the title was becoming close friends with the Wagner family. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am sorry no one likes you anymore Jodie! (She knows what I’m talking about).

Do you think we will see you following in your dad’s Top Fuel footsteps in the future? Why/why not?

At the moment it is a no, as Dad is having way too much fun. I would just like to work on the Top Fuel car for now. I have been doing some parts washing every now and then and now I can go on full time and help out. I would love to drive the fuel car one day, but Mum is not too happy about the idea of me jumping in, so maybe we are just going to have to find a way around that.

How do you spend your time when you aren’t racing?

When we aren’t racing, I am working for the family business, Lamattina Farms. I left school at the age of 15 as I didn’t really enjoy school, but I love working on the farm and driving tractors, it is the best thing

Who would you like to thank for the roles they have played in your title season?

First of all, I would like to thank Mum and Dad for everything they have done for me, letting me travel and race – if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I also would like to thank the entire Berias family and especially Jake; we have this bond that no one else will understand and I am extremely grateful for him mentoring me and believing in me. Thanks must also go to the Wagner family for towing my trailer around, and to my sponsors: Lamattina Farms, Slip Rocks Barber Shop, Romeo’s Best, Berias Motorsport, and YBI FX.

For the complete listing of ANDRA champions, please click here