Following the conclusion of testing at the Perth Motorplex earlier this week, Team Bray Racing's Victor and Ben Bray are currently making their final preparations for this weekend's Westernationals event, which will kick off on Saturday 2 March – Ben's 29th birthday.

The three time ANDRA national champion has been experiencing some difficult times of late due to a new car combination, however is hoping to make further advances on the problem at this weekend's third round of the 2012/2013 ANDRA Top Doorslammer title chase.

"What a great birthday present that would be – to get these tyre shake issues sorted out and put down some great passes at the Westernationals this weekend," said Ben Bray.

Official testing ahead of the 42nd annual Westernationals concluded yesterday at Perth Motorplex with Andrew Sutton and Lee Bektash leading the way in Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock respectively.

Sutton was one of the few Top Doorslammers in pre-testing to tame the hot surface, with a 5.99 reward for the Northern Territorian's efforts.

Queensland's Ben Bray managed a 6.01 second lap out of his Sidchrome 440 Holden Monaro as teams built up their data reserves for this weekend's third round of the championship.

Lee Bektash proved his Dodge Stratus still had some life left in her, the car attending its last event before a new Dodge Avenger is imported from the USA. The factory-backed Mopar team produced a 7.11 at just over 305kmh.

ANDRA Pro Stock points leader Jason Grima has announced that he will be fielding a two car assault for the first time at the 42nd annual Westernationals at Perth Motorplex.

Grima will steer the 'black' PC Group Ford Mustang while US racer Brandon Huhtala will make his Australian Pro Stock debut in the 'blue' Mustang.

Huhtala, a resident of Seattle, Washington, is no stranger to Australian shores, having spent time crew chiefing for Grima and also winning the 2012 Nitro Champs in the Super Stock category when he drove for another local team owner.

Since 1973, ANDRA has been Australian for drag racing. An organisation of racers for racers, ANDRA continues to ensure safe and fair competition around the country and promotion of the sport.

This year ANDRA celebrates its 40th anniversary and a range of activities are planned to recognise both the occasion and the many people who have been and continue to be instrumental to the growth of drag racing in Australia.

Most importantly, ANDRA will begin its Drag Racing Hall of Fame and Life Membership program.

It's been a long road for Simon Travaglini to the pro ranks of Top Doorslammer racing – but after spending over a decade getting his Ford Falcon, nicknamed "BA Baracus", to the track, he feels now could be his time.

Carrying the hot rodding spirit that attracts many to drag racing, Travaglini's car is mainly self built. When conceived in 2001, he wanted it to be the first Top Doorslammer into the five second zone.

Eleven years down the track, that feat may have been taken elsewhere, but it hasn't stopped him from chasing new goals and racing with a smile.

In hot and dusty conditions at Adelaide International Raceway Kym Oberauer drove his Camira to an outstanding win in a double breakout final against Renee Cockerill in her Ford roadster. This repeated his performance at the Portland ANDRA Aeroflow round.

Going into the Adelaide round series leader Matt Forbes needed to go rounds to consolidate his lead but was that was dashed when he was taken out by event runner-up Renee Cockerill in the first round. However with the points gained from having the best average qualifying ET with an average of 9.924 this gave him sufficient points to tie with Kym Oberauer for the series lead.

Wayne Newby confronted the scene of a dramatic crash in April 2012 to come back and win in Top Alcohol at the Aeroflow Summer Speedfest on Sunday.

Ten months ago Newby was left with a written off race car following a 200kmh impact with the safety barriers, but this time he left with the ANDRA trophy and the first win since shifting into his new JBS Tools funny car.

When his car began to spin the tyres in the final, Newby says he had a flashback to his crash.

"It was playing on my mind, especially in the final there when it started spinning the tyres again," he said. "I was nearly to the point where I was going to get off the throttle but you can feel the funny car moving around better than the dragster.

Former Group One drag racer Robin Judd has been appointed to the ANDRA Board, bringing a wealth of business and practical motorsport experience to the organisation.

Judd is a corporate advisory director of William Buck Chartered Accountants in Western Australia and a multi-time event winner in Top Doorslammer.

ANDRA CEO Malcolm Bulley said the combination of expertise in both business and drag racing would be a valuable asset to ANDRA.

"Robin is not only passionate about the sport but he has corporate knowledge that is high demand," he said. "I'm very happy Robin is coming on board to fill this vacancy and look forward to his contributions to the ANDRA board."