Northern Territory Minister for Sport and Recreation Matt Conlan has announced that Alice Springs and the town’s dragway will be beamed into television screens around the country later this year, putting the Centre on the drag racing map.

Mr Conlan said the Territory Government had provided $17,000 to the Central Australian Drag Racing Association to help with presenting The Desert Nationals on the SBS television program, Speedweek.

“This support will provide terrific exposure for the Centre with thousands of viewers around Australia to watch the show,” Mr Conlan said.

“The two-day drag racing event will be filmed and then presented in a one hour show on ‘Speedweek’, a motorsports show aired on SBS around Australia on Sundays.

“This will help to grow the sport here in the Territory while showcasing the Centre as a tourist destination to viewers around Australia.”

The Desert Nationals is round seven of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championships and will be held in Alice Springs from June 28-29.

“This is the first time a series of the national championships has been held in Central Australia and we’re expecting around 150 teams plus their drivers and pit crews to attend the event, with most travelling to Alice from interstate,” Mr Conlan said.

“This is great news for the local tourism industry and economy with the teams expected to enjoy the town’s many attractions during their time in Alice Springs.”

ANDRA CEO Malcolm Bulley said Alice Springs was a perfect location to host a round of the national series.

“Alice Springs has an excellent drag strip and is a prime tourist location,” Mr Bulley said.

“One of the great growth areas of drag racing in the last 12 months has been to expand the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship into regional areas and the Alice Springs event is a round we are really looking forward to.”

The Central Australian Drag Racing Association’s Guy Watts said the Northern Territory Government’s support in getting Alice Springs Inland Dragway up and running was invaluable and now the results of that investment were being seen.

“CADRA was able to establish our sport in Central Australia during 2007 with overwhelming community support and we were keen to grow and expand into the future,” he said. “Five years on we have a great opportunity to showcase Alice Springs in presenting the Desert Nationals, a round of the national Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.”

For more information about the event, click here.