Sydney Dragway was the place to be last weekend with the running of the 2012 ANDRA Drag Racing Nationals. Coming off a win in the 1st round of the championship, Darren Morgan Racing was in town to solidify their number 1 position in the point standings.

After a forgettable Saturday where they qualified 4th in a 7 car field, the team came out on Sunday and blasted through 3 rounds of racing to take the win and top mile-an-hour points for the event, collecting their second ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree for the season and extending the lead in the Top Fuel Championship.

"It was a great win," said Darren, "particularly after the troubles we had on Saturday. The boys did a magnificent job of servicing the car every run. I'm really proud of the crew - to take it up to and beat the best Australia has to offer."

VPW have decided to continue their Racer Payouts Program for the 2012-13 season. As per last season's program, participating racers will receive $100 for a win and $50 for coming runner up. But as a special BONUS for the 2012-13 season, Sunoco Racing Fuels an M & H Tires have jumped onboard, offering a 50% bonus each for racers who use their products and display their decals, along with the VPW decal.

Phil Lamattina - Top Fuel (Photo courtesy Fred Dwyer)The Australian Nationals saw the LTFR team take its FUCHS dragster to the final for the second consecutive ANDRA championship round and although the team made some valuable gains in the performance of the car, the runner-up result was not what the team were looking for.

Team driver Phil Lamattina smiled, "I wasn't looking to come second, that's for sure."

"We went to Sydney to win and of course I'm a little but disappointed with the result. Hats off to Darren Morgan and his team, they have done a good job and deserve the win."

Lamattina did hint at improved performances in his own car.

"We did make some great gains - the car recorded at .84 60-foot time, which was very strong. Very strong," Lamattina said with a knowing grin.

As the final preparations are made for this weekend's final round of the 2012 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series at Warwick Dragway (November 10), series organisers have confirmed they will be back to do it all again in 2013.

Full details of the fourth running of the Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series will be announced later this year, with rounds expected to take in this weekend's host track Warwick Dragway as well as Willowbank Raceway, Benarby Dragway and Ironbark Raceway.

JP Racing Eighth Mile Series organiser John Winterburn said he was excited to be able to confirm the series will again take a place amongst the Australian drag racing calendar for a fourth time in 2013.

Peter Kapiris takes the win in Top Doorslammer (Photo courtesy Fred Dwyer)Sixteen new Australian Nationals winners were handed their ANDRA gold Christmas tree trophies at Sydney Dragway today as near perfect conditions produced records and tight racing in spades.

Reigning Australian Top Fuel champion Darren Morgan took his second win in a row, backing up his victory in Adelaide two weeks ago. Renewed consistency saw Morgan able to drive to a 4.78 win in the final, also recording top speed of the event at 513kmh, defeating Phil Lamattina's valiant 5.00 in the second finals confrontation in a row for the pair.

A subdued Morgan said some mechanical changes had made the impact they were looking for.

"Last year tested the hell out of us consistency wise so we changed some things in it," he said. "It's all worked and we're starting to get happy with it."

Darren Morgan looking to solidify number 1 position (Photo courtesy Fred Dwyer)This weekend will see Darren Morgan Racing take to Sydney Dragway for the Australian Nationals, with the aim of solidifying their number 1 position in the ANDRA Top Fuel Championship.

"The Nationals is a very special event in Drag Racing circles", said Darren Morgan. "If you're going to win a race, the Nationals is definitely at the top of many racer's wish list. It's Australian drag racing's version of the 'big go'."Coming off a win at the 1st round of the ANDRA Top Fuel Championship in Adelaide a few weeks ago, Darren is confident they have the tune and team that will see them go rounds and hopefully come away with a healthy lead in the championship.

"Sydney Dragway has been good to us," explains Darren. "We have been very successful here. At our last meeting at the track, back in May at the Nitro Champs, we top qualified and were runner-up to Damian Harris in the final."