There's nothing like nitro and if you really want to feel the noise as the ground shakes you need to be there live.

The Nitro Champs on May 4, 5 and 6 marks the return of Top Fuel to Sydney Dragway along with the ANDRA Pro Series over three days in a festival of horsepower and speed.

Can Darren Morgan hang on to his newly attained Top Fuel championship lead, or will the young gun Andrew Cowin strike back with a vengeance? It's going to be war at 500kmh on the Sydney Dragway quarter mile. USA veteran Cory McClenathan is back to spice things up as the hired gun for Rapisarda Racing - can he repeat his Nationals victory?

Does John Zappia have what it takes to wrap up the Top Doorslammer title at this event or will Peter Kapiris and Robin Judd find a way to cut down Zap's Rat?

With Pro Stock, Top Alcohol, Top Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle as well as the Rocket Allstars Racing Series joining the nitro warriors, Sydney will be buzzing with the best drag racing action you will ever see.

News

3/5 - Back to the data grind for Team Bray
3/5 - Boot camp trains Grima for Nitro Champs
3/5 - Could the Spannerman undo Matheson?
2/5 - First look at Newby's Funny Car
2/5 - Consistency key for East Coast Lubes team
1/5 - Matheson has eyes on the fives
30/4 - Morgan on hussle for Nitro Champs win
27/4 - Kalitta experiences puts Read on right path
26/4 - Mac attack in nitro war
26/4 - Super Stock's Seattle shock
26/4 - Family fun for Nitro Champs
24/4 - Will Australia's home grown Sainty team have what it takes?
23/4 - Read to return for Nitro Champs
23/4 - Newby's recovery plan in place
20/4 - Sekli set for Sydney

Times

Event Schedule

Friday - 10am-8pm

Saturday - 10am-8pm, ANDRA Pro Series qualifying 12pm, 3pm and 6pm

Sunday - 9.30am-5.00pm ANDRA Pro Series eliminations 11.30am, 2.30pm, 4.30pm

Prices (for Saturday and Sunday, for full list including budget Friday entry click here)

Adult - $40

12-16 - $30

Seniors - $30

Family - $100

Under 12 - FREE

Provisional entry list

Part of the fun of the 2012 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, May 4-6, will be checking out the many displays that will be set up on the eastern side of the track.

There's going to be something to entertain everyone in the family, from bouncy castle and monster trucks for the kids to the Army's exhibition cars and the Harley Davidson display.

More than 330 entries have already been received for Australia’s largest drag racing event, the FUCHS Winternationals, eight weeks out from the 8-11 June 2012 outing at Willowbank Raceway.

With weeks still to go until entries close, more than 50% of the expected ANDRA Pro Series entrants and 68% of the expected Rocket Allstars Racing Series entrants have put their hands up and are getting the jumpstart on their preferred pit allocations.

Adelaide drag racing fans will be in for a treat when they head to Adelaide International Raceway for the Pro Series 1000 on April 13, 14 and 15.

The venue has been getting a bunch of upgrades in preparation for the event with the strip being set up with its first ever read out boards which will be a permanent feature for the future and temporary grand standing on the infield section for the event.

ANDRA was saddened by the news of the passing of Australian drag racing legend Mick Atholwood.

Atholwood was a pioneering figure in the nitro funny car ranks (shown in the picture at left, thanks to Steve Thomas) during the early days of the sport. In more recent times, Queensland drag racing fans in particular might remember the Atholwood and Smith Top Fuel dragster which won the 2000 Nationals and even ran a four second pass with the unique Sainty engine combination.

 ANDRA's sympathies go out to Mick's family and his many friends.

The release of the calendar at such an early date is unprecedented, but required given the changes and planning occurring as the national championships shifts from split years to a calendar year season.

The new management of ANDRA has been working with venues around Australia to achieve significant goals for racers in the 2013 calendar including ANDRA Pro Series events in Victoria and the Northern Territory for the first time since the early 2000s.

As part of the shift to have championship drag racing over distances other than a quarter mile (402m), ANDRA's Index Review Committee has been developing a set of indexes to use for Group Two racing as well as equivalent cut offs and indexes for Groups Three and Four.

The Index Review Committee is made up of racers from across Group Two. A number of factors were considered in developing the indexes including different acceleration rates among different vehicles.

As if motorsports fans needed any more reasons to attend this weekend’s ANDRA Pro Series event in Sydney, there will be plenty of bonuses both on and off the track for hardcore drag racing followers and their families.

Kids under 12 get in for free all weekend, so bring all their friends for a great day out.

Nitro will shake the ground on both days with Top Fuel exhibition passes from former Australian champion Phil Lamattina in the Fuchs dragster and Andrew Cowin in the Rocket Industries dragster.

Haynes Racing, from Billings, Montana, in the USA have appointed Michelle Osborn to become the Australian driver of the Gravity Storm Jet Dragster.

The US team owner, Chuck Haynes, has been touring with his Jet Dragsters to Australia for many years and has a strong fan base in both the US and Australia.

With this weekend seeing another round of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series in Sydney, sportsman competitors have an opportunity to reset national records.

It is important to understand the criteria for setting a national record so you can earn your place in the record books.