No rest for quarter-mile fans as Winternats countdown begins

Brisbane's Chris Matheson ran the quickest and fastest Top Bike pass in Australia at the Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race

Photos courtesy dragphotos.com.au

While the nitro fumes continue to clear following two spectacular days of the Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race last weekend, the Willowbank Raceway staff are already hard at work preparing for their next big event – the FUCHS Winternationals (7-10 June).

Attracting up to 40,000 fans and 500 racers from all across the country, this Queen's Birthday long weekend event is not only big for Queensland or even Australia; it signifies the largest drag racing event held outside of North America.

With just nine weeks to go, Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said the excitement was already starting to build.

"The weekend's Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at the weekend, featuring the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy, certainly inspired a lot of interest and we were very happy to see lots of new faces on track to witness the amazing record breaking performances by the Top Fuel and Top Bike racers at Willowbank Raceway," said Bettes.

"Promotion for the FUCHS Winternationals has already begun to those spectators with on-track promotions and advertising, and to their friends thanks to their positive comments on Facebook of how much they loved the new event.

"With the FUCHS Winternationals being a four-day drag racing extravaganza, I am certain there will be a stack of new race fans who were here on the weekend coming back in June to get their next nitro fix!"

Five-time Top Doorslammer champion John Zappia is currently third on the championship leader-board

While the event may run over Friday 7 June to Monday June 10, there will be a number of pre-events in the lead-up as well.

"On Saturday 25 May 2013 we will be hosting the FUCHS Winternationals Family Fun Day at the Logan Hyperdome, with a whole host of dragsters and drivers on hand, autograph sessions, roving entertainment, sausage sizzles, merchandise stands and more on site in the Piazza and Homemaker Centre carpark," said Bettes.

"We also have the traditional Winters Warm-Up weekend on June 1 and 2, where event entrants can take to the track for an official before-event test session which is open to the public – we often see some pretty impressive runs during this weekend as the racers try to get every last inch of performance out of their machines ready for the big event."

For racers looking to compete, entries to the event are still open until 3.00pm Tuesday 30 April 2013 (after which a higher-fee 'last-chance' entry option will be in effect until 5.00pm Friday 17 May).

For spectators, a range of ticketing options are available including special pre-purchase online-only multi-day event passes. Students and Concession Hard holders with ID gain discounts, while children aged 13 and under gain free entry. For full information, please visit www.willwobankraceway.com.au.