Katherine Shaw returns to Top Alcohol at the 2013 Fuchs Winternationals (Photo courtesy Daniel Ward)Katherine Shaw is looking forward to getting back into Top Alcohol competition for the first time in three years at this weekend's Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

The Brisbane racer takes a methodical and determined approach to her racing and is a keen observer over all technical elements in the S&S Trailers team.

Shaw trained under the renowned Frank Hawley Drag Racing School in the USA and she says that has been vital in helping her stay mentally prepared to race, despite not having taking part in an event for some time in her Top Alcohol dragster.

"Given the routine of driving the car has only changed slightly it's basically memory recall," she said. "Given in drag racing all competitors have very limited actual seat time a lot of practice is done sitting in the car and running through the driving process via memory recall and visualisation techniques. It's something that Frank Hawley taught when I attended his school.

It is often said that the family that plays together, stays together. As a father and son outfit competing in the Top Doorslammer bracket, Team Bray Racing's Victor and Ben Bray have always taken this phrase to heart.

Next week, the FUCHS Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway (June 7-10) will see them embody this feeling even more than usual when they are joined on-track by Victor's son-in-law (Dean McClennan, Supercharged Outlaws) and grandson (Josh McClennan, Junior Dragster).

Maurice Allen, one of Australia's most popular motorcycle drag racers, has added Fuchs Lubricants to his sponsorship portfolio, with the German oil manufacturer joining Milwaukee Tools as the successful Victorian-based team prepare for the Fuchs Winternationals.

Allen, who has recently debuted one of the most advanced Pro Stock Motorcycles in the country, was pleased to add the lubricant sponsor to the side of the 'Milwaukee Missile'.

"It's great to have Fuchs on-board with the team," explained Allen.

"Our performances at the first few rounds have seen us get stronger and stronger at each round this year and Dad (motorcycle stalwart, Peter Allen) is confident the best is yet to come.

Willowbank Raceway's FUCHS Winternationals will host a world first when Rob Tucker, Shane Tucker and Kirsten Tucker-Cannuli all compete in the one professional drag racing bracket - Pro Stock - next month (June 7-10).

While families racing together in motorsport is fairly commonplace, when Rob Tucker and his children Shane and Kirsten suit up this Queen's Birthday long weekend, it is believed to be the first time a father, son and daughter have competed at the same time at the same event in the same professional-level class in the world.

"It is pretty special when you think about it," said Rob Tucker.

Queensland's Jodanna Pullen will return to her 'grass roots' at this weekend's FUCHS Winternationals - the largest championship drag race held outside of the United States - at Willowbank Raceway across June 7-10.

Racing in the group 3 Super Sedan bracket at the wheel of her VC 308 cubic inch Pro Street Holden Commodore, Jodanna is motivated to be back in the drivers seat after completing her 'group 2' licensing last month and enjoying a continuing 'R & D' period on her new project, the VZ Holden Monaro which is destined for the Super Stock bracket.

"I will be keeping my racing craft sharp by competing at the FUCHS Winternationals in my Commodore in Super Sedan – returning to my roots at one of the most 'traditional' events on the calendar sounds pretty great to me," said Pullen.

Strong testing performances have buoyed the confidences of Sydney Top Doorslammer stalwart Maurice Fabietti ahead of the season's biggest event, the Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

After a lacklustre Nitro Champs four weeks ago where the team failed to qualify, a personal best 5.77 second run in testing has put the spotlight back on the Holden Trade Club Monaro.

"That testing run certainly gives us some confidence, I am looking forward to going to the track for a change," Fabietti said. "The car did everything perfectly. The testing conditions were similar to the Nitro Champs, which will probably be similar to the Fuchs Winternationals."

Curing tyre shake was the catalyst for the strong pass, which was just 0.02 seconds off the current national record, held by Western Australian driver John Zappia.

The Fuchs Winternationals is an event where the best drag racers in the nation meet and it is the same attraction that brings new competitors into categories to prove themselves in Australian drag racing's most highlighted spectacle.

Among those aiming for a place in the spotlight will be Western Australian Greg Durack, who is bringing the country's quickest and fastest turbocharged motorcycle into Top Bike for the first time.

A return to full fields for the category sees nine bikes pre-entered for the Fuchs Winternationals and Durack said he thinks his team has what it takes to be competitive.

Motorsport is dangerous. We all know there are risks but it still comes as a shock when accidents happen and racers are put in harm's way.

Anthony Begley was recently reminded at the 2013 Nitro Champs just how dangerous motorsport can be, when he was engulfed in flames after the engine exploded in the Chemical Warfare Nitro Funny Car.

"At about half track an exhaust valve broke and lifted the head up about an inch", said Begley. "There wasn't any warning that the engine wasn't happy. Usually it will lay over a bit or give off a pop letting you know it's time to get off the gas."

With the head raised, this allowed fuel to be pumped onto the headers which erupted into a huge fire. It burnt a hole in the left hand side of the fire wall and instantaneously filled the driver's compartment with flames.