The Century Batteries NZ Nationals; fifth and final round of the New Zealand Drag Racing Associations prestigious National Championship returns to Fram Autolite Dragway on the 28^th of February 1^st of March. The Championship has not felt the recession the media have been boring us about with record numbers at the Trust House Nationals in Masterton, perhaps they can’t be heard over the noise of open headers or the vocal fans! 

Castrol Edge Top Alcohol competition at the Century Batteries NZ Nationals is going to be great, the Vincent team have taken the lead after another win and with a semi final loss the Harcourt’s Dragster are but one round behind (20 points) and young gun Morice McMillin in the Scrap Palace funny is only 25 points behind Harcourt’s. Maybe ranked an outside bet this underdog is consistent ….and lucky, but must make his way through tuff competitors like the 5 second Digga Dragster of John Neilan and Prestone Nationals winner Shane Lodge. 

Top Doorslammer had not gone all Chris Tynan’s way in the Scrap Palace 55 at the Trust House Nats, a lucky break when Wayne Hussey’s Super Nova took out Ross Taylor in the Taylor and Taylor 57 Chev saved Chris a lot of work but a diff problem stopped him from gaining maximum points in the final and will mean Tynan will have to win the Century event and hope Taylor is eliminated in the first round to take another Championship, a very tall order with Taylor on his home track and competitors like Bardsley and Yearbury there to negotiate. Dave West in the Bad News 58 Chev and Mike Witteveen with his 308 Ferrari also made the trek to Masterton and with teams trying to qualify for the 8 car show at Fram Autolite the Championship may have some interesting twists.  

No Doubt the toughest class in the series is the Top Street division, Gary Bogaarts Brian Roberts entry was at the top but after some trouble at the Digga round he could not front for the Trust House round and has slipped to forth, Graeme Bates from Wellington and Roger Binnema’s Cylinder Head Specialists Honda are tied with 417 and just three points behind is Rob Kelly’s NZ Auto Parts entry at 414. Super Sedan has another tuff battle going on between John McGinty and the Massey/ Sherwin Pro Drill Escort, with just 16 points this will be won by the racer that knows his car and won’t stumble under the pressure and with Phil Webber in with a chance there will be pressure! Century Batteries New Zealand Nationals, 28^th Feb & 1^st March 2009, Fram Autolite Dragway, Meremere.  

More to come!

(Photos courtesy theseekerfinds NZV8)