The ANDRA Grand Final at Dragway at The Bend across April 25 and 26 will bring to a close the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship in spectacular style at what is shaping up as THE sportsman event of the year.
Gold ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies will be on offer at the event for both championship wins and event victories across 11 brackets, including Goodyear Racing Super Street.
The battle for glory in this highly anticipated bracket is set to go down to the wire at the ANDRA Grand Final.
Michael Jennings leads the way on 280 points, while Michael Bridges (250) and Katrina Read (240) are close behind. Currently fourth-placed Stefan Lainas is also in the frame mathematically, on 200 points (100 points on offer for a win).
Jennings (pictured above thanks to BrightDesign.com.au) has celebrated two series wins so far this season, at the Sunset Nationals in Mildura and round five at Dragway at The Bend.
“I am certainly feeling good heading into the Grand Final,” said Jennings.
“It is going to be a tough field with a lot of talented racers.
“To win the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship would mean a lot to me, especially as I have been racing for a lot of years.
“Winning a Gold Christmas Tree is very hard to do, and with two on offer at this event, winning two on one day would be an absolutely amazing feeling.
“Heading into the event, I am taking it the same as any other meeting – you have to just always try your best and hope it works out for you, as like I said, there are a lot of tough racers out there.
“As we get ready, I want to take this opportunity to thank Koen for all his help the last couple of seasons, Ned and Karen from Smart Road Wreckers for helping me get the car to Perth, Brett from Gawler Mechanical for the help with the engine, Grant from Norwoods Automatics, and all of my racing family for all the fun we have when we go racing.
“Last of all I must thank my brother Paul (2019 ANDRA champion, Paul Jennings) – he has let me use his car to finish the last half of the season and I am so grateful for his generosity. He has helped me for the last 30 years and also keeps all our friends well entertained.”
Bridges got his ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship 2024/2025 season win off to the best possible start with victory at the Desert Nationals.
“We have been chasing an ANDRA championship for a few years now so it would be awesome to wrap it up on our home track,” Bridges said.
“We could have our work cut out for us tough, as the competition is looking tighter than ever before!
“It would be great to take home the Gold tree, but this is not the first time we have been in this position and we know only to well how quickly things can change.
“There are some very tough racers up there in the points and while it would be great to take the win, anything could happen on the day. We are all mates though so I would be happy to see anyone take home a Gold tree.
“I would like to thank my partner Kerri, daughter Tayla and all of the SA travelling crew for their support this year. And I would also like to thank ANDRA for bringing back the championship.
“I wish all the fellow competitors in contention for the championship good luck; it is going to be a great wrap up for a great season!”
Katrina Read is the only one of the top four to not have taken a victory this season, and the newest to the sport, but her consistency has ensured she is well in the mix for the title honours heading into the final stand.\
“I’m excited and looking forward to the battle and challenge. It is good to have a close battle at the end as it makes winning more rewarding due to having to work hard for it,” Read said.
“To take the championship would mean a lot to me – my father passed away suddenly four weeks ago and it would be awesome to win for him, as motorsport was his life.
“On a lighter note, to win one before my husband (Cory Read) would be fantastic as well,” she laughed.
“I only recently won the Dragway at The Bend Summit Racing Equipment Track Championship for Super Street, so it would be nice to win the ANDRA title too!
“I haven’t won a tree yet, so to win one at the Grand Final, or perhaps even too if I can breakthrough for the event victory, it would be a dream come true – especially to be able to share that with my husband who has supported me for the two years I have been racing.
“As we do our final preparations, I would like to say a huge thank you to my husband Cory for letting me take his car and always giving me an awesome car to drive – if there are any problems he always sorts it out and never gives up.
“Heading into the final, I am feeling confident and ready to try my best. Anything could happen and I am just hoping that luck is on my side – if it is meant to be, it will be. To be honest, I would be happy for any of us to win, as they are all good racers and friends.”
The ANDRA Grand Final for the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship at Dragway at The Bend will be held across April 25 and 26. For event information, visit www.thebend.com.au/dragway
The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship is proud to have the support of series bracket sponsors Gallagher (Modified), the South Australian Drag Racers Association (Super Gas), Top Sportsman Competitors Group (Top Sportsman), the Super Sedan Competitors Group (Super Sedan), Lectron Australia (Competition Bike), Goodyear Racing (Super Street), Langtree’s Machinery Services (Junior Dragster), Huntsman Racing (Supercharged Outlaws); Ballistic Performance Parts (Modified Bike), and Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing (Super Stock); as well as Top Qualifier Medallion sponsor, New Gen Business Park. If you are looking for business opportunities within the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, please email info@andra.com.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au