The first ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies of the new season have been held aloft at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip, following the conclusion of the Top End Nationals on Saturday evening (15 July).

When all was said and done, it was Seth Jarvis (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Louise Ridgway (Modified Bike), Michael Jennings (Super Street), Tony Miskelly (Super Sedan), Cody Hodgins (Modified), Leon Davies (Top Sportsman), Shaun Kerkman (Supercharged Outlaws) and Wayne Patterson (Competition Bike) who took out the event winner trophies.

Taking the runner-up honours were Cooper Plummer (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster),  Mark Tattingham (Modified Bike), Tony Antonino (Super Street), Lance Larcombe (Super Sedan), Ashley Johnson (Modified), Rick Smith (Top Sportsman), and James Low (Competition Bike). There was no runner-up for Supercharged Outlaws.

Having their hands full at presentations were Plummer, Antonino, Miskelly, Johnson, Kerkman and Ridgway, who each also took out the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallions for their brackets, alongside Dean Cleary (Top Sportsman) and Leith Darrach (Competition Bike).

West Aussie (Pinjarra) Seth Jarvis faced off against Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Cooper Plummer, in the final for Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster, after having taken a round one victory over Ava Walker before enjoying a semi-final bye. Plummer meanwhile had enjoyed an opening round bye before taking a win over Lachlan Walker in the semi-final.

“We had some problems with the Junior to start off with yesterday, it was going a bit slow, so we took some weight out and then it went a bit quick, so we put some in and then played around it, but we were struggling to get the perfect dial in. But then today we came into it and had consistent lights, and it was all feeling good,” an elated Jarvis said.

“I didn’t think I would win the final, but it felt really good and to get my first event win is just wicked! Thank you to my dad, Mullet Man as we call him, and also the Walker family, the Plummers and everyone else that helped.”

In Modified, Ilparpa (NT) racer Cody Hodgins took out the A-Final win over Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Ashley Johnson. The bracket employed a Chicago Shootout style race format this weekend, with Cody Hodgins earlier defeating his father, Dan Hodgins, while Johnson had taken on Lindsay Burmester. Burmester and Dan Hodgins faced off for the B-Final, with Dan Hodgins taking the victory.

“It was very exciting to take the win,” Cody Hodgins said.

“It was good racing against dad – there were a lot of bragging rights on the line, and it is always good racing with parents and what not.

“The final was a good race. It was very intense. As I got up to the line I was a bit nervous, but once I got into stage it was no worries.

“I would like to thank my sponsors, Hawkeye Motorsport, JA Paint, and R.A.M.H., and also Adrian, for their support.”

In Top Sportsman, reigning Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Champion Leon Davies took out the first national Top Sportsman victory of the new season with victory over Rick Smith. Davies had earlier enjoyed a bye run in the first round, before dispatching Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Dean Cleary, in the second round. Smith meanwhile had taken on and defeated Peter Cates (round one) and former champ, Vlado Turic (round two).

“I am absolutely ecstatic to be honest,” Davies grinned.

“It is never easy when you are racing in Top Sportsman, but the car was running the numbers and I just had to put it down there.

“I want to say a huge thank you to my wife for everything that she does helping me out and crewing for me and everything else. And also to Nikolas Karanovic for helping crew with us here, to everybody who has helped on the car, and to all of the other racers – and especially Rick for an awesome final. I would also like to thank my sponsors – Custom Kitchen Company (Adam Mundy), EP Windscreens (David Barrowcliff), Rick Daniells Recycling (Flicka), and MGA Port Lincoln (Mark and Jane) – for all of their support.”

In Super Street, Valley View (SA) racer Michael Jennings ran right on his dial-in aboard his Chevy Nova to take the victory over Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Tony Antonino. Jennings had earned his spot in the final after taking victories over Bill Hondros (round one), Paul Tabone (round two) and Shaun Boyer (semi-final) while Antonino had taken on Elliot Wilson (round one) and Jase Dobra (round two) before enjoying a bye in the semi-final.

In Modified Bike, Maddington (WA) racer Louise Ridgway took the victory from last year’s winner, Mark Tattingham, after claiming the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier honours earlier in the day’s program on her Suzuki GSX. Ridgway enjoyed a bye in round one thanks to her top qualifying performance, before successfully facing Johnny Ireland in round two to book her spot in the final. Tattingham raced and defeated Brett Allen in round one, before it was his turn to have a bye run in the second round.

In Supercharged Outlaws, Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Shaun Kerkman took a solo victory in his Pontiac Firebird. Kerkman ran the final solo after last year’s winner, Butch Morrison, was unable to front for his semi-final bye run. In his semi, the Mawson Lakes (SA) racer defeated bracket newcomer, Aiden Abel, after having earlier benefitted from a bye run in round one.

In Super Sedan, Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Tony Miskelly had a very successful weekend at the track, with the Salisbury East (SA) racer taking the win over reigning Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Champion and John Storm Memorial Winner, Lance Larcombe. On his way to the final, Miskelly had a bye in the opening round, before taking on Dave Todd in the semis with his Ford Probe. Larcombe meanwhile had defeated Glenn Sterkenburg in the opening round, before going on to have a bye run in the semis.

In Competition Bike, Wayne Patterson of Bunbury (WA) took the win in his Ducati over James Low. With a Chicago Shootout format employed by the bracket, Patterson had a first round loss to Dean Hersey in round one before going on to take wins over Low (round two) and Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier, Leith Darrach. On his way to the final, Low successfully took on Darrach (round one) and Dean Hersey (round three), while suffering a loss to Patterson in round two.

For full results from the Top End Nationals, please visit https://www.andra.com.au/series/results/

ANDRA thanks the Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding racetrack and a well-run event.

The Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series racers won’t have long to wait until their next outing, with Alice Springs Inland Dragway set to host the Desert Nationals this coming weekend on July 22 and 23. For event information, entry lists and schedules, visit www.cadra.com.au

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