Mopar factory driver Lee Bektash says Pro Stock is likely to become a six second free for all with cool, clear conditions forecast for this weekend's Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.

The exuberant Victorian brought out a newly imported Dodge Avenger for the first time to do testing on Saturday and even with just his testing motor in place he was able to record early sector times on track for six second runs.

It was at the Nitro Champs in May last year where Peter Ridgeway became the first driver to run into the sixes with a 6.99 in the second round of eliminations and he was joined recently by Jason Grima who ran a 6.98 in November, also at Sydney Dragway.

2013 may just be the year of comebacks with Territory Modified Bike competitor Clive Mainland making it through to the finals at the 2013 Season Opener at Hidden Valley Drag Strip on Saturday night.

Mainland last made a finals berth over four years ago. After debuting the eye catching new Kawasaki in late 2012 Mainland broke the drought by meeting Colin Sainsbury in the Modified Bike final. Unfortunately it was not going to be a fairy tale ending with Mainland jumping the start and red lighting, automatically handing the win to Sainsbury who finished with a 9.578 second pass on a 9.40 dialin.

After another successful year for South coast Raceway highlighted by the running of the 1st eighth mile ANDRA Championship round and first Victorian Championship round in over a decade, the club has released their dates for the 2013 / 2104 drag racing season...

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday (3-5 May 2013) at Sydney Dragway, Team Bray Racing's Victor and Ben Bray will line up amongst a field of more than 20 Top Doorslammers for the infamous Nitro Champs event.

The Nitro Champs is one of the most popular professional drag racing events in Australia, and draws the best competitors from across the country for all of the ANDRA Drag Racing Series pro categories as well as sportsman brackets, and a few extras as well.

"This weekend at the Nitro Champs I hear two-time Pro Modified World Champion Mike Janis and his co-crew chief Kevin Peters are going to be coming out from the States to debut Sean Mifsud's new Doorslammer; that is pretty exciting!" said Victor.

When it comes to international experience driving 8000 horsepower nitro Top Fuel dragsters, few have more runs under the belt than Avon, Indiana-based Tommy Johnson Jr.

The nine times NHRA event winner has raced in the US, United Arab Emirates, England, Sweden and Finland during his career and is looking forward to adding Australia to the list when he drives for the Rapisarda Autosport International team at the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.

"As a kid growing up in a family of drag racing I loved the sport and always followed drag racing in Australia," he said. "Outside of the US, drag racing was most popular in Australia. I have dreamed ever since that young age of one day competing in an event there. I'm finally glad that it is happening thanks to the Rapisarda family.

Last January an article from ANDRA indicated that a change in ownership of Calder Park delayed the return of championship drag racing to the venue.

As we close in on Nitro Champs next week I thought it was appropriate we find out what the current state of play is and when we can expect championship drag racing to return to Melbourne.