A full day and night of qualifying for round five of the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend has set the stage for a full day of racing on Sunday, 9 February, with more than 140 Sportsman racers giving it their all across today’s qualifying sessions.

At the conclusion of today’s action, the following racers took home the Top Qualifier Medallions, presented by New Gen Business Park, for their respective brackets ahead of tomorrow’s racing for coveted ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies:

Edge Mallis (Lectron Australia Competition Bike), Madalen Datson (Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Dragster), Dean Jamieson (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Daniel ‘Batdan’ Carranza (Gallagher Modified Eliminator), Tony Romeo (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Gas), Adam Ince (Super Sedan Competitors Super Sedan), Allan Brooks (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Doina Day (Huntsman Racing Supercharged Outlaws), and Daniel Jones (Top Sportsman Competitors Top Sportsman).

Qualifying for Jackie Watt Consulting & Fardella Racing Super Comp will be completed Sunday morning, with Craig Geddes leading the way at the end of the day today.

In the non-championship Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Drag Bike sportsman bracket also on track this weekend, Lucas Bergamin took home the Top Qualifier win.

What was initially planned to be a testing weekend with his Mazda RX2 has turned into a very happy weekend for Super Sedan racer Adam Ince, setting a PB of 8.523s to instil plenty of confidence ahead of Sunday’s racing.

Adam Ince (Ben Alexander / Snapshot Media)

“We tested last night and had four passes during Friday’s test and tune, which went really well. We built up from there for today and just went one better, and I set my PB with the car during the second qualifying run. The car has a lot more in it, but with the time cut-off, we’re right on that number now,” Ince said.

“There’s a lot I still want to test on the car, so I’ll treat tomorrow as a bit of a test, too. I’ll do the first run, and if I win, I win. But if I don’t, it has still been a good weekend.

“I want to say a huge thank you to my sponsors—Hartech, SBH Engineering, Koopy Constructions, Straightline Tuning, and J&J Precision Engine Reconditioning—for their support.”

Local Super Street racer Allan Brooks feels confident with how his Chrysler Centura is performing so far this weekend and is ready to see what Sunday’s racing will bring.

“We have been trying to make that car Top Qualifier for the last two or three track events, and we finally got there today, so hopefully, we can stick with it and go rounds tomorrow,” Brooks said.

“We raced at the track championships doubleheader a few weeks ago, and we’re just trying to dial the car in. We’re having a little bit of trouble, but only down to the tenth of a second.

“We’re not going to touch the car before racing tomorrow. I’m happy with where the car is and to let it do its thing. The onus is on me tomorrow, not the car.

“I’d like to give a big shout-out to Lewis Engines for building the motor. And my main sponsor Schwarz Excavations, as well as Simpson Crash Repairs and Dial-a-Tow, for all their support as well.”

For the full qualifying results from day one of round five of the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, please visit www.andra.com.au/series/results

ANDRA is also sending its well wishes to Lectron Australia Competition Bike competitor David Willis and Pro Mod competitor Danny Makdessi who each suffered on-track incidents today.

The sportsman racing this weekend also counts towards Dragway at The Bend’s Summit Racing Equipment Track Championship, and has taken place alongside round two of the Pro Drag Racing Championship. In the PDRC ranks, Luke Crowley (Prostock Motor Cycle), Rob Dekert (Pro Stock), Carl Cox (Pro Mod), and Daniel Reed (Pro Alcohol) top qualified before one round of all-run racing was completed, with two more rounds to come tomorrow.

The action at Dragway at The Bend resumes Sunday, 9 February from 9:00am ACDT, with finals for the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship and PDRC scheduled from 4:10pm ACDT.

For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au