The Santo's Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway will play host to NHRA royalty later this month when three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and renowned crew chief Lee Beard jet 'down under' to join the Rapisarda International Autosport team at the 29-30 March event.

After signing with naming rights sponsor Santo Rapisarda's NHRA team earlier this year, it has been confirmed that the pair will appear for the team at Willowbank Raceway's two-day Easter spectacular.

Dixon, the second most successful driver in NHRA history with 62 wins and three championship titles (2002, 2003 and 2010) to his name across an award-laden 18 year driving career (click here for Larry Dixon fact sheet), said he was looking forward to making his mark at Willowbank Raceway this Easter.

ANDRA Top Doorslammer points leader Peter Kapiris has extended his championship gap, taking a win at the 42nd annual Westernationals at Perth Motorplex.

Kapiris used a 5.86 second time, the quickest of the event, to defeat Victor Bray who was appearing in his second straight final. Bray had to abort his run early after tyre shake.

En route to the final Kapiris defeated number one qualifier Maurice Fabietti and then hotshot local Daniel Gregorini.

Kapiris blamed his own driving for the shoddy qualifying effort on the first day of the Westernationals, where he barely scraped into eighth spot in the eliminations field.

After topping the qualifying sheets straight off the trailer with a 4.905 second pass at 227.84 mph (366.6kph) for the 1000 feet distance, Phillips set about defeating Frank Intini in the first round (with a 4.907), before disposing of local racer, Gary Busch in the second round (with a 4.982), setting the Lucas Oils Funny Car in the final against former national champ, Wayne Newby.

"We'd performed really well considering the deal with the weather, with air temperature around 38˚C (100˚F) both days and track temperature peaking at 57˚C (135˚F) but it was always a gamble on a full asphalt surface, and to the track crew's credit, who also fought these trying conditions all weekend, gave us both equal lanes. Unfortunately our car went up into shake for the first time over the weekend," Phillips said.

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.

Victor Bray has enjoyed a finals appearance as three generations of the Bray family took to the Perth Motorplex over the weekend for the Westernationals event.

Victor faced long-time friend and series leader Peter Kapiris in the final of round three of ANDRA's Top Doorslammer championship, after earlier qualifying third fastest and driving around local hero John Zappia in the semi-final.

"The qualifying and race conditions for the majority of the day were very tight, and while we endured tyre shake for the first time in 12 months during the first qualifier we were able to get things sorted for our second pass, coming so close to another 'five second' pass with a 6.002 second result," said Victor Bray.

Maurice Fabietti returned to form in qualifying for the 42nd annual Westernationals at Perth Motorplex, using a 5.92 second time to take pole position in Top Doorslammer.

After troubles with his launch RPM control in qualifying session one, Fabietti stepped it up in session two and his time held for the remainder of the night.

Humid air restricted the performances of the Top Doorslammer field, but positions were still tight with points leader Peter Kapiris holding on to the number eight "bump spot" with a 6.05 and due to face Fabietti in round one on Sunday.

Current Top Doorslammer points leader Peter KapirisThe 42nd annual Westernationals will be contested this weekend at Perth Motorplex in Western Australia.

One of the longest running events on the ANDRA calendar, the Westernationals includes the third ANDRA championship rounds of the Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock categories, plus the fourth round of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.

At last year's event, the now retired Robin Judd top qualified with a 5.861, which would hold as low ET for the weekend, closely followed by arch rival John Zappia with a 5.866. The two met in a classic final with another 5.866 time from Zappia defeating a 5.878 by Judd.

Pro Stock delivered just as much excitement, with Denis Whiting top qualified with a 7.067 and going on to reset the national record with a flying 7.022 in the final. Whiting was due to face Tyronne Tremayne but after engine damage in the semi final, Tremayne was unable to front.

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.