The final 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship showdown delivered no end of exciting racing and on-track action at Dragway at The Bend across 25-26 April.

Taking place over the ANZAC Day long weekend, racers and officials first took time to pay their ANZAC Day respects on Friday morning before an enthralling afternoon of on-track activity to secure Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park honours. Championship and event winners and runners-up were then crowned on Saturday evening, after an intense day of battles across the 11 sportsman championship brackets.

For a full listing of 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship and event winners and runners-up, including the non-championship Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Drag Bike and Scootaround Sales and Hire Scooter brackets, please click here.

Also during the ANDRA Grand Final presentations, Darren Whitford was presented with the Best Engineered Award, while Rick Johns was awarded the ANDRA Longest Distance Travelled Award.

Read on for a full rundown of how each of the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship brackets unfolded over the weekend.

Cory Dyson (Ben Alexander / Snapshot Media)

GALLAGHER MODIFIED – Championship winner: Cory Dyson. Championship and event runner-up and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Kenny Stewart. Event winner: Derek Wills.

Cory Dyson was the only Gallagher Modified racer sitting on the points cap with a comfortable margin back to second at the start of the Grand Final weekend at Dragway at The Bend.

In round one, Dyson took the win over Bill Hodgins but was knocked out by New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier and eventual championship and event runner-up Kenny Stewart in round two.

The battle was on for second place in the championship with Stewart’s performance on Saturday more than enough to leapfrog the other major contenders, including event winner and ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree recipient, Derek Wills. Wills knocked Stewart out in the final run after a bye in round two and a win over Dan Hodgins in round one.

Dyson couldn’t have been more pleased with his efforts across the season, especially as the only racer to claim two race wins in the highly competitive field.

“I am feeling amazing, absolutely amazing!” Dyson said after taking the title.

“An ANDRA championship is something I have always wanted since I was a kid, and I am absolutely over the moon about it.

“To come away with the championship with such a tough field of racers in Modified in the ANDRA series is just unbelievable.

“It is just a bit of a shame that I couldn’t get it done when it came to winning the actual Grand Final race meeting, losing to Kenny Stewart in round two, but hey – he is a previous champion, so he is always tough!

“Thank you to my friends and family and all of my sponsors: Mobil 1, Statewide Oils, Glass Protech Glass Protection, and Transcal Fleet Branding Solutions.

“A massive thank you to ANDRA as well for the Series, and to Gallagher for sponsoring the bracket – it has been a fantastic year, and we are looking forward to next year so we can do it all again.”

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DRAG RACERS ASSOCIATION SUPER GAS – Championship winner and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Adrian McGrotty. Championship runner-up: Colin Griffin. Event winner: Anton Krajina. Event runner-up: Darryl Stephen.

With a hat trick behind him coming into the Grand Final weekend, Adrian McGrotty was leading the way, sitting on the points cap, with championship runner-up Colin Griffin breathing down his neck just 40 points behind.

With such a close margin, it was anyone’s championship to win. When both Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient McGrotty (against eventual event winner Anton Krajina) and Griffin (against Des Woolstencroft) red-lit during the first round of eliminations on Saturday morning, it was McGrotty’s championship points lead that carried the Victorian racer through to claim the top spot. Meanwhile, three-time champ Colin Griffin was able to secure the runner-up status.

After dispatching McGrotty, Krajina had a bye in round two before taking wins over Warren Bull in round three and event runner-up Darryl Stephen in the final. Stephen, meanwhile, got to the final thanks to wins over Tony Romeo and Rob Bergamin in round one and round two, and a bye in round three.

An almost speechless McGrotty took a few moments to collect his thoughts after the award presentations on Saturday night.

“It feels good to win the championship, to say what it means to me, I don’t really know at this point – I am a bit lost for words! It is good to see some of the work paid off,” McGrotty said.

“We had a couple of seasons that were pretty ordinary, and now things sort of seem to be heading in the right direction.

“It definitely feels good to win the championship, but we were hoping to do a little bit better today, and this isn’t really how we wanted to win it, with a 0.001 red light in the first round!

“We were definitely hoping to go a bit further than the first round, that is for sure, so we are a bit deflated, but we also had luck fall our way a little as the person in second place, Colin Griffin, also was a red light in the first round, so we have to look at the big picture.

“We lost on the startline by the narrowest of margins, but you have to have a go at the tree!” he grinned.

“I want to say thank you to my crew for all their work, to The Logo Lady and Metro Pipe Services, and to Paul Turner for building my engine, as well as everyone else who has helped along the way.

“Thank you also to all of my fellow competitors, Super Gas racers are a pretty good bunch!

“And I also definitely want to thank SADRA for supporting our bracket – they have been involved in drag racing for a long time and it was nice to have them on-board.”

TOP SPORTSMAN COMPETITORS GROUP TOP SPORTSMAN – Championship winner: Leon Davies, Championship runner-up: Vlado Turic. Event winner: David Foster. Event runner-up: Sam Cardinale. Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Darren Whitford.

Leon Davies topped the incredibly close Top Sportsman Competitors Group Top Sportsman championship at the close of the weekend’s racing. Heading into the Grand Final weekend, both Davies and championship runner-up Vlado Turic were neck-and-neck on the points cap, each sitting at 300 points, with Glenn Henley not far behind on 260 points.

All three championship contenders were knocked out in the first round of eliminations by Darren Whitford, Chris Farrugia, and Stuart McBain respectively. However, it’s still all smiles for the back-to-back title winner.

“I am pretty stoked!” Davies said.

“Unfortunately, I went out in the first round, but I am still pretty stoked.

“I wouldn’t say I was feeling confident at all (heading into the weekend) – there were two other guys there in contention and it could have been anyone’s day, but all of us went out in round one and I was lucky enough to have enough points to win it.

“It feels just as good, if not better, to win it again.

“It really does mean a lot – it is a lot of work, a lot of travelling, and a lot of dedication, so we are absolutely stoked.

“I want to thank my wife Lisa for everything she has done helping me, and crewing for me; all of my friends that have helped crew and helped work on the car; and also, my sponsors: Slade Crash Repairs, Custom Kitchen Company and Adam Mundy, EP Windscreens and Dave Barrowcliff, and Rick Daniels Recycling and Peter Daniels, for all their support for the year.”

After racing through all four rounds, David Foster would prove victorious for the event, taking the race-winning honours over runner-up Sam Cardinale.

To get to the final, Foster knocked out Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Whitford in round three, after previously taking wins over McBain in round two and George Moshakis in round one. Likewise, to reach the final, Cardinale first sent Dean Tassone packing in round one, before doing the same to Farrugia and Darren Parker in rounds two and three.

SUPER SEDAN COMPETITORS GROUP SUPER SEDAN – Championship winner: Tony Miskelly. Championship runner-up and event winner: Robert Kardum. Event runner-up and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Steve Paech

An early exit to Sunday’s Grand Final racing didn’t dampen Tony Miskelly’s spirits, with the long-time Super Sedan Competitors Group Super Sedan racer claiming a maiden championship victory at the weekend. It was an incredibly competitive season in the bracket, in which Miskelly was the only racer to achieve more than one event win throughout the year.

Meanwhile, championship runner-up and event winner Robert Kardum was locked in a four-way battle for second in the championship coming into the weekend.

Kardum faced off against Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Steve Paech in the final, to successfully claim the event win, after getting the better of Michael Tuddenham (round one), Wayne Couzner (round two), Joe Cutri – who took the win over Miskelly in round one – (round three) before a bye in the semi-final. On his way to the final, event runner-up Paech had a bye in round one, and wins over Dan Oxton, Lance Larcombe, and Chevy Taylor in rounds two, three and four respectively.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Miskelly was very happy with how the championship result played out over the weekend.

“I am very happy to be the ANDRA Sportsman Series Super Sedan champion. I had a couple of good wins throughout the season and managed to go a few rounds in the other events enabling me to accumulate enough points to claim the Championship,” Miskelly said.

“Many thanks to the other Super Sedan racers who have made it a very competitive and memorable season.

“With strong Super Sedan numbers this year as part of the ANDRA Sportsman Super Sedan series, it is shaping up for a bright future in Super Sedan with recent decisions on Swan Hill and Sydney Dragway.

“I would like to encourage any Super Sedan racer in Australia to come and race in the Spring Nationals at The Bend.

“Finally, I would also like to thank the Super Sedan sponsorship team: Pro Street Design (Jacob O’Halloran), Smart Road Wreckers (Ned Karanovic), Gawler Mechanical (Brett Mathew), Moss Refrigerated Transport (Dimos Stefanoloulos), Lazzaro Earthmoving (Simon Lazzaro), Coffee Barun (Mark Barun), Underground Designs (Marty Redshaw), and SFR Industries (Lisa Sherry).”

GOODYEAR RACING SUPER STREET – Championship winner: Michael Jennings. Championship runner-up Michael Bridges. Event winner: Dean Cleary. Event runner-up Tony Antonino. Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Kevin Cooper.  

Championship glory had been elusive for seasoned Goodyear Racing Super Street Michael Jennings until the ANDRA Grand Final weekend at Dragway at The Bend. The championship battle went all the way down to the wire, where Jennings was able to take the crown, thanks to making it through to the semi-finals.

Two of the closest championship contenders, Katrina Read and Stefan Lianas, were both knocked out in round one, while Championship runner-up Michael Bridges made it through to round two before being bested by Victor Romeo.

Jennings made it to the fourth round of Grand Final eliminations on Saturday afternoon in his brother Paul’s 2019 championship-winning car, where event runner-up Tony Antonino took the win over the newly crowned champ. Before being sent packing, Jennings enjoyed wins over Adrian Wood (round one), Anthony Terranova (round two), and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Kevin Cooper (round three).

“I am super stoked, I have been trying for a lot of years to win one and I finally got it done,” Jennings said.

“The season has been good and we have had a couple of wins, and in Super Street it is a real tough bracket, so it is hard to win.

“It would have been nice to win the event as well, but such is life!

“It does mean a lot to get the title, you always have to work hard in Super Street, going four or five rounds at every meeting, we have such a good and tough field of cars.

“Thank you to my brother, Paul Jennings – he gave up his racing this season so I could run his car as I hurt the engine in mine. He won the championship in 2019, so he had one up on me, but now he doesn’t, and we both won it in the same car!

“I am expecting he will want his car back now, so I will put mine back together and sort that out and then get back out there.

“I would also like to thank Coen for all of his help over the last couple of seasons, as well as Brett from Gawler Mechanical, Grant from Norwood Automatics, Ned and Karen from Smart Road Wreckers, and all of our racing family that we travel with.

“Thank you also to Goodyear Racing for their sponsorship of the bracket over the season, and congratulations to Mick (Michael Bridges) on coming runner-up as well.”

Event winner Dean Cleary raced through the first three rounds, getting the best of Bradley Hicks in round one, Roc Piscioneri in round two and Romeo in round three before a bye in the semi-final. Event runner-up Antonino also enjoyed a bye, albeit in round three and successful wins over Rob Ashman in round one and Chicka Waight in round two.

LECTRON AUSTRALIA COMPETITION BIKE – Championship and event winner and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Rob Cassar. Championship and event runner-up and John Storm Memorial Trophy recipient: Edge Mallis

With Rob Cassar, Edge Mallis and Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes all on the points cap, and one in line for the John Storm Memorial Trophy, the Grand Final weekend was always going to be a nail-biting affair.

In the end, it would be Rob Cassar who would clean sweep the weekend, taking not only the Lectron Australia Competition Bike championship title, but also the event ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree and the Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park, all while resetting the AA/CBN ET and TS records in the process (ET to 7.008s and Top Speed to 186.45mph).

Championship and event runner-up Edge Mallis had an extra reason to smile when he was presented with the John Storm Memorial Trophy at the presentation ceremony after the final runs on Saturday. “Winning it is an honour, as it truly rewards dedication and consistency in the sport,” Mallis said – read more from Mallis on this achievement here.

Cassar enjoyed two byes before a win over Callam Godeassi in round three to get to the final pairing against Mallis, while Mallis also had byes in rounds two and three, after a win over Rob Church in round one.

Cassar couldn’t have been happier with how the weekend unfolded.

“We got the championship, the event win, two national records, top qualifier – it has been a very good weekend at Dragway at The Bend for us, that is for sure,” grinned Cassar.

“I am so happy with how this has turned out – it is a very special achievement to win my third national championship – this is my second in Competition Bike, and I have the one in Top Fuel Motorcycle also. Maybe I should try and get one in Modified Bike now,” he laughed.

“It has been a fantastic event here this weekend, the track was great and we had an amazing time.

“I would like to thank my wife Katie Cassar for all of her support and all she does for me.

“I would also like to thank Lectron Australia for their support of the bracket, ANDRA and the ANDRA Board for listening to the racers, Amanda Cobb for all the media stuff she does, and our sponsors: Ballistic Performance Parts, Powerplus Race Fuel, Denso Auto Parts Australia, Shinko, and Lucas Oil.”

BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE PARTS MODIFIED BIKE – Championship and event winner and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Dean Jamieson. Championship and event runner-up: Peter Bartlett. 

Dean Jamieson was equal second in the championship points coming into the Grand Final weekend, but went on to secure the title thanks to an event-winning performance that also saw the Victorian claim the Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park.

Jamieson started Saturday’s racing with a bye, before ousting Geoff Bergamin in round two and Michael Cristoforo in round three. He would then line up against eventual championship and event runner-up Peter Bartlett to seal the deal and secure the win.

Bartlett, meanwhile, took the win over Bryan Finn – who was the championship leader at the time – in round one before a bye in round two and another successful run in round three over Brock Richards to get to the final.

For Jamieson, the championship win is going to take some time to sink in, but he’s thrilled with the result.

“I am a bit speechless, it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Jamieson said.

“I am obviously thrilled to win the championship – we knew going into the weekend that we were going to be right up against it as we were trailing in the points and needed a few things to go our way.

“Thankfully, during the day things started to go our way and we had a bit of luck.

“We put a lot of effort into what we do, so this is a real reward for the effort that we have put in.

“We top qualified and got the bye for the first round, which was pretty invaluable, and then there was some really tight racing through the rounds.

“The championship wasn’t decided until the final was decided, and that is a testament to the group of Modified Bike riders we have, that the racing was just so close.

“Going into the final race, I put a fair bit of pressure on myself, it was right up there. I have raced Peter before and he has got me, so we are one-all now.

“I want to thank my fellow racer Gavin Dohnt for his help and guidance, the input he has had into my racing and letting me bounce ideas around is very much appreciated.

“I also want to thank my daughter Marissa; my sponsors Casterton Motorcycle and Top Shop Casterton; and also bracket sponsor Ballistic Performance Parts, for all of their support.”

LANGTREE’S MACHINERY SERVICES JUNIOR DRAGSTER – Championship winner and event runner-up: Bailey Hawke. Championship runner-up: Taylor Horton. Event winner: James Barlow. Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Cooper Plummer. 

At just 13 years of age, Bailey Hawke is already making a mark on the world of drag racing, claiming not only the Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Dragster championship but also Grand Final event runner-up accolades as well.

Hawke was second in the championship chase by a margin of just 10 points behind eventual championship runner-up Taylor Horton coming into the weekend, with the latter sent packing in round one by Ava Walker. Hawke, meanwhile, raced through all four rounds of racing, reaching the finish line ahead of Charlize Grivell in round one, Brock Furlanetto in round two and Deklan McGregor in round three before falling to event winner James Barlow in the final.

Right before the final, Barlow dispatched Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Cooper Plummer in the semi-final. To get there, Barlow first took a win over Angelina Kondilis in round one and Toby Beasley in round two.

The championship win is a fantastic milestone for Hawke in what was the youngster’s first full Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Dragster season.

“I am feeling pretty good and very excited about winning the championship,” Hawke said.

“I am very emotional, very grateful…. I don’t know what else to say.

“I am just so thankful. I was feeling very confident heading into the event, and then the weekend went really well.

“The car was extremely consistent and we went all the way to the final.

“To win in my first full season is definitely very special.

“I would like to thank my mum and dad for all their support, Lachlan Walker, and also my sponsors: First National Copper Coast, Robust Worx, Country Living Homes, Promintz Engineering, AutoPro Kadina, SCG Racing Parts, and Moonta Bay Holiday Park.”

HUNTSMAN RACING SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS – Championship winner and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Doina Day. Championship runner-up: Shane Baxter. Event winner: Bob Sherry. Event runner-up: Tim Stewart.

Coming into the final stand at the ANDRA Grand Final weekend, Huntsman Racing Supercharged Outlaws points leader Doina Day had a small margin over the next championship eligible racers in the field. The 2014 ANDRA Supercharged Outlaws champion knew her work would be cut out for her and left nothing to chance, first securing the Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park.

Day ran 6.853s in the first round on a bye before being knocked out by eventual event runner-up and fellow title contender Tim Stewart in round two. Combined with the points lead ahead of the weekend and a little bit of luck, it was enough to get the job done.

Shane Baxter’s participation at the Grand Final meant the Melbourne-based racer met the championship eligibility requirements of racing out of his home state, also putting him in contention. Baxter made it through to the semi-final, where the Victorian was defeated by eventual event winner – and Murray Bridge (SA) local – Bob Sherry. Despite the loss, he had enough points to secure the runner-up honours in the title chase.

A few niggling car issues aside, Day was incredibly happy with how the championship chase unfolded.

“I feel fantastic to have won the title – I had to be lucky, and I was lucky! Shane had to lose when he lost, everybody had to lose when they lost, so I was very, very lucky,” Day said.

“It is a fantastic achievement and very rewarding, it feels quite surreal.

“We have been working hard, Peter in particular has worked very hard getting this car going.

“It was a wonderful weekend, the Bend is a beautiful facility and a fantastic track, it was just great.

“Unfortunately, the car was not really performing very well, for some reason we were going slower and slower, and hosing fuel, so we were indeed very lucky in the championship chase, given we weren’t performing very well. We will make sure we address that before we come back next season.

“I would like to thank John Drysdale who has been my sponsor since 2006, we have a great relationship and it has been fantastic. And thank you to Peter and Swarfking, without Peter it doesn’t happen.

“Thank you also to Mark Hunt and Huntsman Racing for sponsoring the bracket, and to ANDRA for listening to us, putting on the series, and making it work.

“I am just so thankful to everyone, this means a lot.”

JACKIE WATT CONSULTANCY / FARDELLA AND WATT RACING SUPERCOMP – Event winner: Rick Johns. Event runner-up and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient: Steve Norman. COMPETITION Champion: Rick Johns. Championship runner-up: Craig Geddes. JACKIE WATT CONSULTANCY / FARDELLA AND WATT RACING SUPER STOCK Champion: Steve Norman. Championship runner-up: Leigh Donaldson.

The Competition and Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing Super Stock brackets were combined as Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing SuperComp at The Bend, with one event winner announced for the combined bracket and champions appointed for Super Stock and Competition Eliminator respectively.

The long trek from Western Australia to the ANDRA Grand Final at Dragway at The Bend paid dividends for Rick Johns. Not only did Johns claim the Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing SuperComp event and Competition Eliminator championship wins, the WA racer also set two new national records (B/AA ET to 7.096s and TS to 187.37mph), achieved a perfect light and received the longest distance travelled award to boot.

“This is beyond words really,” Johns said.

“It is a dream come true; an absolute dream come true.

“We have got good hardware, a great crew, had a big road trip, and have really enjoyed ourselves here.

“I started racing in 1984 and this is my first national championship, and my head is just spinning at the moment.

“What an amazing weekend – this track is so smooth, the traction is amazing, the people have been really welcoming.

“Thank you to Steve Norman who lent us 5L of fuel for the final, in which he broke – I feel a bit horrible about that, but that is how it goes sometimes.

“Thank you also to Danny Selva for the awesome power, Chris Dimoff for a flawless transmission, and Justin Appelbee who put life on hold to come on the road with me. Our crew are just the best, and my family who have been beside me for the whole journey.”

“We won the championship, won the event, set two national records, ran a perfect light, and even got the Longest Distance Travelled Award – what an absolutely amazing weekend. Just, wow!”

Racing veteran Steve Norman had the Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt racing Super Stock championship essentially locked up coming into the Grand Final weekend, while second place was still up for grabs, with Leigh Donaldson ultimately taking out the runner-up accolade.

As the weekend’s Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient, and with more than three decades in the sport, the 2024/2025 Grand Final win marks Norman’s third ANDRA Sportsman Series championship.

“This is our third title for ANDRA and it is excellent, I am pretty proud of it,” Norman said.

“The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Series has worked really well and has been well patronised, and having the ANDRA Grand Final in our home state was obviously really good.

“The car ran pretty well all weekend, although we unfortunately couldn’t front for the final as we had starter motor troubles.

“We were in real good shape for the title heading to the final, but even if we weren’t we would still have gone, as it is the Grand Final – you can’t miss that.

“As usual I want to thank Reg and Ryan Lee, Peter Ridgeway, Sam at SA Trans, Ben Seal for the fabrication work he does for us, and the Super Stock bracket sponsors, Jackie Watt Consultancy and Fardella and Watt Racing.

“Finally, a big thank you to Dragway at The Bend, it is a fantastic facility. It looked a bit iffy a few times over the weekend (weather-wise) but they got through it like they always do.”

ANDRA thanks Dragway at The Bend and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding race track and a well-run event.

For full results from the ANDRA Grand Finals, please click here.

The 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Championship will kick off with back-to-back events in the NT, starting at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Drag Strip on August 29-30 with Nitro Up North, ahead of the Desert Nationals at Alice Springs Inland Dragway just days later on Wednesday September 3, with these two events preceding the (non-championship) Red CentreNATS in Alice Springs. Further details about the 25/26 season will be released soon. In the meantime, ANDRA members with questions should email info@andra.com.au

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