It was as bumper start to the 2013 Beat the Heat Off Street Series at Hidden Valley Drag Strip on Friday night with over 90 teams hitting the track for the first time thanks to Hidden Valley Ford.

Brad Baker's Mazda RX3 was the fastest car of the night with a 9.858 second pass at 139.7mph (225km/hr), albeit with a set of wheelie bars strapped on to make sure the front wheels didn't reach too far to the sky. His night wasn't without dramas though, damaging the turbo later in the night.

Unfortunately the Beat the Heat Commodore also had to retire early after damaging a rear axle.

The drag racing season will make its second attempt at kicking off this Friday after rain resulted in the cancellation of the traditional Good Friday Test & Tune.

The action is bound to be hard and fast with a number of new cars scheduled to hit the track for the first time in 2013. One driver making the leap is Todd Knight.

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.

Top Fuel Australia Ltd General Manager, Renzo Pinazza announced on Friday 29th March that the teams that are a part of Top Fuel Australia would not be appearing at the Nitro Champs event in Sydney 3-5 May, 2013.

"Unfortunately, Sydney Dragway and Top Fuel Australia were unable to come to a satisfactory agreement regarding some key issues for the Nitro Champs", Mr Pinazza said. "This decision was not made lightly and we will be continuing to work with Sydney Dragway in the future to ensure a more positive outcome".

Sydney Top Bike rider Chris Porter is fully engaged in nitro warfare with drag strip rival Chris Matheson as the season reaches its mid-point at the 2013 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway on May 3-5.

Porter is leading the points battle over Matheson but the Queensland is quickly closing the margin and recently recorded Australia's quickest ever time on a motorcycle.

Porter is unphased though and is concentrating on making his own Fraser Motorcycles nitro Harley as good as it can be in preparation for the confrontation. First that means finding the consistency the team formerly had.

Team Bray Racing's Ben Bray is currently playing a waiting game as Sydney Dragway officials and Jamboree management decide the fate of this weekend's rain-affected Sydney Jamboree.

With two round wins to his name at the time of the wet weather, the Sidchrome racer – competing in the Pro Compact bracket aboard his Nissan Altima - could be declared the winner depending on how the closure of the event is called.

"It was a pretty up and down weekend for us here at Sydney Dragway," said Bray.

"After the excitement of running our first 'six second' pass at Willowbank Raceway the weekend before, we were rearing to go and thrilled to throw down a 6.949 second pass at 196.27 miles per hour on our way to a first round win.

In consultation with ANDRA, Sydney Dragway and Top Fuel Australia Limited take great pleasure in announcing that Top Fuel will be at the 2013 Sydney Nitro Champs. Both organisations acknowledge the commercial challenges in meeting an outcome, yet through maintaining strong relations and listening to the fans, Top Fuel will run at the Event.

Commenting on the signing of today's agreement, Sydney Dragway Chief Executive Officer Graham Elliot stated:

Drum roll please...

The points have been tallied and the results are in. The winners of the third Just Drag Racing tipping competition are:

- 1st place : Christopher Gianatti (your selection of a case of Brad Penn Oil, a Tyre Gauge or a $100 Motorsport Connections gift voucher for Speedflow Hose and Fittings)

- 2nd place : Ace Edwards (2 fantastic fender guards from Champion Spark Plugs)

- 3rd place : Vince Hutcheson (a brand new Just Drag Racing Crew Shirt)

Well done guys! Thanks to everyone that entered and Motorsport Connections Australia and Champion Spark Plugs for providing the great prizes.

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