The signs are ominous for the rest of the field chasing 7-time Australian Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia when Round 1 of the ANDRA Drag Racing Series begins at Perth Motorplex this Friday and Saturday (Jan 9-10).

The 2015 ANDRA Championship Drag Racing season kicks into gear this weekend featuring Round 1 of the ANDRA Drag Racing Series for Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle at Perth Motorplex.

Ex-pat West Australians Grant and Debbie O’Rourke will enjoy an action-packed start to 2015 when the new drag racing season kicks off this weekend. Two events will be held in just three weeks, with both held in the O’Rourke’s home state.

Reigning Australian Top Alcohol Champion, Steve Ham has sacrificed the chance to defend his Australian Top Alcohol title, by taking his racing to the United States in 2015.

Chris Porter and Bad Bones Racing will welcome new sponsor Interfreight Transport Pty Ltd to the team for the 2015 season.

Until the Fuchs Winternationals, this past June, Jon Sting hadn’t raced in 12 months as he focussed on his business; Balonne Field Services.

Spinozzi Racing has re-signed Michael Marriott as the team’s crew chief for the next 18 months. Michael’s original contract was for the 2014 ANDRA Championship season.

With the decision to return to the financial year calendar for 2015/16, Spinozzi Racing felt it was best to have things in place for the next 18 months,

“I’m ecstatic with the results that we have posted in the last 12 months since Michael has joined the team,” said Spinozzi Racing co-team owner and driver Emilio Spinozzi.

“The new Camaro has been extremely hard work and has had its gremlins; I think ‘Michael has shaken them out now.

The numbers prove why Pro Stock driver Aaron Tremayne is regarded as one of the best drivers in Australian Drag Racing.

Multiple Australian Top Fuel Motorcycle Champion Chris Matheson claimed second place in the 2014 ANDRA Drag Racing Series on debut of his new Nitro Harley Motorcycle at the Australian Nationals last week.

Mopar factory-supported ANDRA Drag Racing star Lee Bektash smashed all records en route to a dominating performance at the Australian Nationals held at Sydney Dragway on October 31 - November 2.

Brisbane’s Steven Ham has done the seemingly impossible by catching and passing sixteen time Top Alcohol champion Gary Phillips in the ANDRA Top Alcohol points chase to claim his maiden national title.

Ham had a “mathematical chance” of winning the title going in to the Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway which doubled as the final round of the championship, but never seriously considered he would be a risk to Phillips in reality.

“Often the commentators will use the term 'mathematical chance of winning' when it comes to a final round, but most of the time it’s just to beef up the entertainment, because for us to win the title meant that Gary wouldn’t make it past the first round of the event and we would have to win it outright. Let’s face it, the chances of Gary in the quickest and fastest car in the nation not making the field are pretty low, but when he didn’t qualify we were suddenly faced with the reality that we had a shot at the title!” he said retelling the journey of a landmark weekend.

“Sitting back, it is still hard to believe that we got this. There were so many hurdles to overcome, and there was a lot of luck that came our way. I think our luck started with Gary’s DNQ, the 000 light and then the first or worst in the final, they say things come in threes."

With the release of the ANDRA Championship Drag Racing calendar for the next 18 months, Willowbank Raceway has confirmed a new format for its popular Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race Event presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes, which is held annually at Easter.

After securing the 2014 ANDRA Top Fuel Championship, the second national title of his career, Phil Lamattina  (above left) has just one thing on his mind – more racing.

Geoff Gradden qualified for his first Top Doorslammer field at the Australian Nationals over the weekend. He then proceeded to win the entire event.

Husband and wife drag racing team Grant and Debbie O’Rourke have rounded out their 2014 Australian National Drag Racing season in third and sixth position in the Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol championships respectively this weekend.