Sydney Top Bike rider Chris Porter is fully engaged in nitro warfare with drag strip rival Chris Matheson as the season reaches its mid-point at the 2013 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway on May 3-5.

Porter is leading the points battle over Matheson but the Queensland is quickly closing the margin and recently recorded Australia's quickest ever time on a motorcycle.

Porter is unphased though and is concentrating on making his own Fraser Motorcycles nitro Harley as good as it can be in preparation for the confrontation. First that means finding the consistency the team formerly had.

Australia witnessed its quickest ever drag racing pass on Saturday night at Willowbank Raceway when three times world champion Larry Dixon stormed to a 4.503 second time, as Queensland's own Steve Read doubled up at the Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race.

Dixon's incredible run came after a dramatic incident on Friday where the Rapisarda Racing dragster sheared an axle, seeing a wheel come off the car and sending it on a 360 degree spin down the track.

The team thrashed to have the car ready for a safety check out pass later on Friday night and then loaded it for bear for Saturday's qualifier, reaching a top speed of 534kmh.

For Darren Morgan Racing, today's Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race represents a great opportunity to regain the lead in the ANDRA Top Fuel Championship.

"Getting the car from A to B under power is what we need to do," said crew chief Ben Patterson. "With the cooler weather we are very confident the car will perform well. "

"The car's ready, the team's ready and Darren is excited to get back behind the wheel after top qualifying at the previous Championship round in Perth."

The competition will be tough this weekend but Darren Morgan Racing is up for the challenge. "Not only do we have the strong local competitors," said Darren, "but NHRA Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon will also be here to take on the Aussies."

It's not every week that you get to interview a 3 time NHRA Top Fuel Champion.

So this was my lucky week when I got the opportunity to have a chat with Larry Dixon, who will be making a much anticipated appearance at this week's Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway.

Star struck much? While I'd like to say that I was very professional during our interview I did let out a girlie giggle now and then.

Brownsburg Indiana based Dixon met Santo Rapisarda initially as part of a business relationship, with Santo renting some space from Dixon for his US based Top Fuel operation. Nicknamed "Nitro Alley", Brownsburg is the home for many of the NHRA's top nitro teams.

Brisbane-based Englishman Steve Read has capped off one of the most memorable victories of his career at the Santo's Cranes Super 3 event at Willowbank Raceway, QLD on Saturday 30th March.

After winning Day 1, Read completed a dream weekend for his RSR team, defeating Darren Morgan in the final on Day 2 with a 4.76.

"This weekend has proven that old dinosaurs can still win", chuckled Read, referring to his 20 year old engine combination. "This win means so much to me for so many reasons – running 6 straight 4 second passes this weekend, taking home the Louie Rapisarda Memorial Trophy and for my team that have given me a great race car all weekend".

Queenslanders pressed their home turf advantage at the Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway on Good Friday night with Steve Read and Darren Fry taking ANDRA Drag Racing Series wins as US visitor Larry Dixon got a wild introduction to drag racing in Australia.

Read's consistency in Top Fuel was unsurpassed on his way to the final round victory over national champion Darren Morgan.

Read top qualified with a 4.90 second pass, defeated points leader Phil Lamattina in the elimination round with a 4.95 and then knocked out Morgan with a 4.80.

It was a long time between drinks at Read's home track, with the English expatriate's last victory coming at Willowbank Raceway in 2002.

For many, Easter conjures up thoughts of brightly coloured Easter eggs and chocolate.

At this weekend's Santo's Cranes Super 3 event at Willowbank Raceway, QLD, Brisbane's Steve Read is chasing another bright object - the win light.

For 'The Pom' and his opposition, it won't come easy - there's an NHRA Top Fuel champion amongst the field ready to take the Australian teams to task.

Top Fuel and Top Alcohol both add two more championship rounds to their tally when the Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race hits Willowbank Raceway in March 29 and 30.

For Top Fuel it marks rounds six and seven of the championship and is the second time they have run the 'double header' championship format, following its successful debut at Perth Motorplex in February.

Given the event is a new one, it does not have a previous winner, however last time the Top Fuel dragsters were out at Willowbank Raceway Allan Dobson took the win, driving for the Rapisarda Autosport International team, over Andrew Cowin.

Dobson ran the fourth quickest time of the season, a 4.649 en route to the Winternationals win.

The quick pass showed the Rapisarda team knew Willowbank Raceway well. With three times world champion Larry Dixon coming into the driver's seat for this event and highly decorated crew chief Lee Beard to provide the tune up, they will be tough to beat.