Just on two months ago Jason Grima was competing at the 42nd running of the Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex. This long-running and prestigious event is the biggest event on the Perth Motorplex drag racing calendar and as such Grima put in a huge effort with a two-car assault. Grima was driving the PC Group Ford Mustang while NHRA racer and team adviser Brandon Huhtala was steering the 'Blue' Mustang.

The 2013 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway is shaping up to be one of the very best. With Darren Morgan and Phil Lamattina locked in equal 1st position on 487 points, round 8 of the ANDRA Top Fuel Championships will a be knock 'm down, drag 'm out affair with victory catapulting the winner to the top of the leader board.

Returning to the traditional eliminations format, 6 Top Fuel Dragsters will begin qualifying this Saturday with eliminations on Sunday. Of special interest is USA Racer Tommy Johnson Jr, who will be racing the Rapisarda Autosport International dragster campaigned by Larry Dixon at last month's Extreme 3 event at Willowbank Raceway.

He might have spent 11 months out of the driver's seat of the world's fastest accelerating vehicles, but three times Australian Top Fuel champion Phil Read doesn't have nerves ahead of his return at this weekend's Nitro Champs, just a pure desire to win.

Read said the team aren't coming back to be cannon fodder, but to be the contenders their reputation deserves.

"It's been 11 months since I have driven but I am looking forward to it, these last couple of years I have probably become more eager to drive than ever," he said. "Our goal is to win. That's the only reason we race."

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.

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.