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.

Roma's Laurie Fitzgerald is one racer who can't wait to see the 2013 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series return to the new-look Ironbark Raceway come Saturday 27 April 2013.

Fitzgerald was the Series champion for the 2012 FG Loy and Sons Earthmoving Old School Bracket and the 2010 Series champion in the Modified bracket and in 2013 will be debuting in a new bracket – Ice Slushee Super Sedan.

"This will be my third year competing in the JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series and my third different race bracket for the Series," said Fitzgerald.

Two times IHRA Pro Modified champion Mike Janis will be a star addition to the Top Doorslammer field at Sydney Dragway's Nitro Champs, coming up from May 3-5.

The Lancaster, New York based racer will be driving for Australian Sean Mifsud, who is currently out of action due to a broken leg he received in a braking area crash in Portland, Victoria.

Janis is competitive by nature and declared that he is not going to come all the way around the world without a shot at the ANDRA gold trophy.

"I can tell you we do not plan on flying over on a plane for over 20 hours without hopes of winning the event," he said. "Our first goal is to have a safe test session and make sure everything is okay."

At the conclusion of the scheduled final round at Portland for the Southern Super Gas Series, the series remains tied with Kym Oberauer and Matt Forbes on 220 points. Rather than split the DJ chute from Motorsport Connections and the Lucas Oil Products from Fast Time Design, Kym and Matt have agreed that the winner of the 2012/2013 Southern Super Gas Series will be decided in early May at the Sydney Dragway Nitro Champs.

With the on-going co-operation of Ray Treasure from Sydney Dragway they will be paired in the final qualifying session for Super Gas.

Sydney Dragway will be seeing more nitro than ever before at the Nitro Champs on May 3-5 with Top Fuel dragsters, Nitro Funny Cars and Top Bikes all on track and all burning motorsport's most famous fuel.

Among the three drivers performing in Nitro Funny Cars will be Australia's quickest active female drag racer, Queensland's Christine Steffens.

Driving her distinctive "croc car", Steffens is one of the few female nitro drivers in the world and currently the only one in Australia. She forms an even fewer group of nitro-licensed couples in the world as well, with husband Ricky previously driving a Nitro Funny Car.

Ironbark Raceway President David Somerfield is predicting big things for this April's JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series round at the Roma drag racing facility following its re-opening last month.

In fact, Somerfield is so confident of a big showing, he has thrown down a challenge to other hosts of the 2013 eighth mile series to beat them when it comes to competitor and crowd numbers.

"The excitement around this place at the moment is just palpable," said Somerfield.

Milwaukee Tools Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Maurice Allen says the pace of all competitors is going to have to increase with many tough teams converging on Sydney Dragway for the Nitro Champs on May 3-5.

Allen took what could be classified as a fortunate win over Luke Crowley at the last round of the championship in Sydney, when Crowley left with a below average reaction time and could not use his overwhelming performance advantage to pass Allen before the finish line.

Allen said there was no doubting Crowley's performance, but picked some other names from the group who could show their hand in Australia's biggest city.

After making the final on both nights of the Santos Cranes Extreme 3, Darren Morgan Racing is back in the number 1 position on the Top Fuel Championship ladder, equal with fellow Victorian Phil Lamattina on 487 points.

"We set our sights on clawing back points on Phil and we managed to pull back two rounds," said a very happy Darren Morgan. "Although we did have a few technical gremlins during the event, to make both finals was an awesome effort from the team and we're certainly heading in the right direction with our program."

For the 1st qualifier on the Friday night the car went up into tyre smoke after overpowering the track. Crew chief Ben Patterson backed the car down a little for the 1st elimination round and ran a 4.87 at 285mph to move into the A Final over Damien Harris. A technical glitch in the final saw Steve Read take the win.