repeat of all the other races really, it all went
my way!
“The last time I was at Mildura was about
38 years ago and I lost all my grape picking
wages on the greyhounds, so this was a
much better experience!”
In the Top Sportsman ranks, defending
champion Jason Arbery took home his second
round win for the season by defeating Glenn
Henley in the final. He had earlier taken
victory from Bruce Henley (semi-final), Vlado
Turic and Darren Saliba while Glenn Henley
had faced off against Greg Damiani, Stuart
McBain and top qualifier, Amanda Martin.
In the Modified category, it all came down to
Kenny Stewart and Craig Baker in the final,
with Stewart ultimately taking out the victory
after having earlier beaten Gavin Chisnell
(semi-final), Ashley Johnson, Sergio Bonetti
and Frank Quaini. Baker meanwhile had
enjoyed a bye run to the final after having
earlier beaten Chris Farrell, Danny Wilson
and Jess Turner. The Modified class was
also another bracket which played host to a
record-setting performance, with Rob McKay
resetting the national BB/MD speed record to
139.78mph on his way to a first round lose.
One racer who certainly stood out from
the crowd in Mildura was Robert Camilleri,
who won the Super Sedan battle after top
qualifying. On his way to the final against
runner-up Peter Tzokas, Camilleri took on and
defeated Rob Evans (semi), Paul Roberts and
Ned Karanovic. Tzokas meanwhile had beaten
Dave Todd, Brett Mathew, Enio Marrocco and
Stephen Crook.
“What a great weekend, it was superbly run
and everything was 100 percent. I can’t thank
the officials and the crew at Mildura enough,
it has just been the best weekend,” Camilleri
said after the trophy presentations.
“Every time we go there it is better and better,
they look after us better than any other race
track I have been to in the country I think,
they treat us ‘first class’.
“We were actually running in Top Sportsman
and then we pulled back for this meeting
and it paid off. We thought the Top Qualifier
result was possible but we didn’t expect the
win – we are wrapped with the result and we
absolutely had a ball not only with myself
racing but also my daughters Brooke and
Holly,” he said, while thanking his wife Anne
and his girls for their support as well as his
crew Jordan Tatchell, Jamie Tatchell, Claudia
Tatchell, Brock Langley, Liam and Ricky Smith
and Wayne Scheames.
Justin Russell was another grinning wildly
at the close of proceedings, taking out the
Supercharged Outlaws win over Tim Stewart
after earlier taking victory from Paul Stephen
(semi) and Shaun Kerkman (first round)
while enjoying a bye run in between. Earlier,
Stewart had his own bye run into the finals
after having successfully faced off against
Jason Keily and Andrew Chessells.
“I have had a great weekend – Collingwood
winning on Friday was awesome and then
to take out Outlaws is just fantastic, I am on
cloud nine,” enthused Russell.
“In the first qualifier we had an issue with the
starter motor – the ring gear and the starter
gear locked together and I did my burnout
with the starter motor still going but didn’t
know it due to the noise of the engine. Then
all the power went out after I backed up to
the line, I thought someone had hit my power
button on the back of the car!
“It came back on as we pushed back to the
pits so we thought we had a loose wire and
pulled the car apart only to find nothing.
“We then tried to start it and when it wouldn’t
start, found the ring gear locked into the
flex plate. In went a spare starter motor and
we just made it out for the second qualifier
where we ran a 4.32s which were happy with
– we knew we had a good package and that
we were in with a chance – in the first round
something went wrong with Shaun Kerkman’s
car so I won that and then came around for
a bye run, then we faced Paul Stephen in the
final. “I am always a bit wary with Paul and
he didn’t disappoint – he definitely turned it
on coming into my lane and taking out all the
blocks, I didn’t see him but apparently it was
close!
“Tim Stewart couldn’t face me in the final
after popping the blower in his bye run, so we
accepted the tree. It has been an awesome
event, Kingsley and Lauren Kuchel did a
fantastic job, ANDRA were fantastic and Tim
Reidy did a great job. We had a dream run,
great weather and top crew. We couldn’t
be doing this either without our new major
sponsor, Affordable Shelving from Melbourne,
he has come on board to help us chase the
number one again!”
In the Summit Racing Equipment Junior
Dragster bracket, Jake Berias made it three
wins from three rounds by taking victory
from runner-up Chelsea Sammut after earlier
taking victory from top qualifier Zara Board,
Tommy Turic, Sarah Osborne and Sarah
Donnelly. Sammut meanwhile had faced
off against Daniel ‘BatDan’ Carranza, Jordan
Spencer, Ayden Lanciana and Brooke Camilleri
to book her place in the final.
In Super Gas, Adrian McGrotty took victory
from top qualifier Warren Smith after earlier
finding victory from battles with Graeme
Spencer and Charlie Saraceno. Smith had
beaten Warren Bull and Jason Wilson to
secure his place in the final battle.
In the Super Street ranks, it all came down to
Rodney Kerr and David Brae. Kerr had taken
on Paul Jennings, Tony Barbara, Anthony
Burke and Des Jeffree on his way to the
final while Brae faced off against K Borg,
top qualifier Robyn Phillis, Cara Bertoli and
Michael Giannaros.
ANDRA thanks the Sunraysia Drag Racing
Association as well as all of the volunteers
and sponsors for an outstanding race track
and a well-run event.
For full results from the Sunset Strip
Nationals, please click here.
Images by Automotive Event Images