WA racers flock to 400 Thunder Westernats
400 Thunder's first combined Professional and Sportsman Series event to be run under full IHRA sanctioning, the 45th Annual Home Group WA Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex this weekend, has drawn a strong entry list.
A total of 199 teams have entered the event, with 176 to contest the 10 posted Sportsman brackets – the Westernationals the first of two Sportsman rounds hosted by Perth Motorplex.
The six round Sportsman series was launched in November last year to complement 400 Thunder Professional Series events at Australia's premier facilities, Perth Motorplex, Sydney Dragway and Willowbank Raceway.
The Westernationals is the first chance Perth racers will have to score points on home soil and become eligible to race for the title at the season finale, the Winternationals at Willowbank in June.
400 Thunder CEO Maurice Allen said the bumper field is encouraging for the new Sportsman Series.
"We're thrilled to see so much support at the first Sportsman Series championship event to be run under IHRA sanctioning," Allen said.
"Sportsman racers are the backbone of drag racing, and to have more than 170 entrants to complement our Home Group WA Westernationals Professional field will mean constant action for those at the Perth Motorplex, or fans tuned in other states through the live stream."
Super Sedan will be hotly contested with field of 36 entries, boasting a variety of Holdens, Fords, Chevrolets and even a Leyland P76 and Valiant set to challenge two-time Australian Champion John Kapiris' HQ Holden.
Supercharged Outlaws has attracted 15 entries including regular WA hard charger Ben Hoar and his Chev Nova, and the ultra-distinctive Lamborghini Countach of Greg James.
Competition Eliminator has lived up to is reputation of diversity, with everything from Sam Treasure's Hemi-powered Ford T-Bucket, to the Lexus SC400 of Moreno Gullotto and Altereds of Stuart Moresby and Trent Morrison.
Super Stock has also drawn a wide range of models, with the rotary Mazdas of Michael Buckley, Brett Glover and Jamie Marshall up against the high-horsepower V8s of Ralph Lewis and Rocco Salvo, Robert Gaikhorst's unique Chevrolet-powered Nissan 200SX, and former Australian Champion Errol Quartermaine's turbocharged DD/GA Falcon.
The two-wheeled divisions, Competition Bike and Modified Bike have drawn a combined 29 entries, while a field of seven Top Bikes will run exhibition eliminations following Friday night's delayed Nitro Slam semis and finals.
Western Australia's drag racing future also looks bright with a 29 strong entry list for Junior Dragster, including Victorian Monique Ambrousi.
The Home Group WA Westernationals takes place this week with qualifying and the remaining Top Bike an Pro Slammer rounds from 3:30pm Friday, and continuing on Saturday from 10am ahead of eliminations from 2:20pm.
Tickets and further information about the Home Group WA Westernationals double header can be found at www.motorplex.com.au.
