John Zappia will unveil a new look this weekend at Perth Motorplex for the 41st annual Goldenstates, hoping it brings some renewed race form to go with it.

The reigning Australian champion failed to qualify at the Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway, handing down a serious blow to his chances for a sixth straight title.

Double duty is no foreign concept to John Cannuli, a fierce competitor in both ANDRA Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol.

The challenge of remaining focused has only increased for Cannuli in recent events, with wife Kirsten Cannuli-Tucker entering Pro Stock for the first time.

When Peter Kapiris was taken to hospital following his clutch explosion at the Australian Nationals, his thoughts were pre-occupied with getting his Top Doorslammer back together and being able to make race day.

It would have been easy for him to miss just how concerned his supporters were about him. He was reminded of that when young fan Jordan Spencer approached him in the ambulance.

The inaugural round of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship at Sydney Dragway saw many impressive performances last weekend, not the least of which was Greg Clayton's win in Competition with new performance standards in the BB/A class.

Defending Goldenstates Top Alcohol champion Rob Pilkington is the most confident he has ever been after some improving runs in state championship competition ahead of the national round.

Nineteen Top Doorslammers and nine Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters are ready to do combat next weekend as the ANDRA championship moves on to the west coast for the 41st annual Goldenstates at Perth Motorplex.

Among them will be an amazing seven new drivers stepping up to the professional ranks for the first time, providing an influx of new blood into two of Australia’s most hotly contested drag racing categories.

Victor Bray and his long time friend Peter Kapiris will be hoping they aren't so close next weekend at Perth Motorplex following a wild encounter during qualifying for the Australian Nationals.

Bray and Kapiris collided during the second session of qualifying (check out the video below) when Kapiris experienced a major clutch failure and fire, sending him blindly into the other lane and the driver’s side door of Bray’s Sidchrome Chev.

Seventeen new Australian Nationals winners were handed their ANDRA gold Christmas tree trophies at Sydney Dragway today as near perfect conditions produced records and tight racing in spades.

The Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway has produced plenty of drama and excitement with the second day of qualifying completed.

Queenslander Steve Read leads the Top Fuel field going into race day with a 4.693 pass in the final session snatching the number one spot from Phil Lamattina’s 4.743 and Allan Dobson’s 4.782 in a last gasp move.

Follow along from the action as it happens at Sydney Dragway for this weekend's Australian Nationals as we bring you some of the highlights straight from the track.

Follow along from the action as it happens at Sydney Dragway for this weekend's Australian Nationals as we bring you some of the highlights straight from the track.

Near perfect weather welcomed racers to the opening round of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship at Sydney Dragway on Friday as the 48th annual Australian Nationals began in classy fashion.

Many runs underneath national time records were made as racers took advantage of cool and clear conditions at the Western Sydney venue.