"VAN" (Sports Desk - 04.09.2025) :: Round two of the 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Series, the Desert Nationals, has delivered no end of midweek thrills at the Alice Springs Inland Dragway today (Wednesday September 3).
In an action-packed one-day racing format, competitors from all over the country tackled ASID first for qualifying and then headed into racing as they sought to claim the prestigious ANDRA Christmas Trees for their brackets.
In the fight for the Top Qualifier Medallions, presented by New Gen Business Park, it was Cooper Plummer (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Taylor Horton (Junior Dragster), Michael Bridges (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Ian Read (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Darren Russell (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Bradley Hicks (Gallagher Modified), Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Tommy Turic (Top Sportsman), and Tim Stewart (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws) who emerged victorious.
From there it was on to the evening racing, and when all was said and done, it was Aliza Harris (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Taylor Horton (Junior Dragster), Neil Mellett (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Bryan Finn (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Darren Russell (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Dan Hodgins (Gallagher Modified), Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Darryl Stephen (Top Sportsman), and Mark Hunt (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws) who took out the event wins.
Claiming the runner-up honours were Cooper Plummer (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Charlize Grivell (Junior Dragster), Matt Czerny (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Ian Read (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Dan Bader (Gallagher Modified), Joe Khoury (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Dean Tassone (Top Sportsman), and Tim Stewart (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws). There was no runner-up awarded for South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan.
The Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike and New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws racers also had an extra reason to smile, with the winners and runners-up enjoying additional rewards as part of the new ANDRA Racer Support Program, thanks to Ballistic Performance Parts and Powerplus Racing Fuels.
In Gallagher Modified, Dan Hodgins – also the President of CADRA, the host club for Desert Nationals – took out his second ANDRA Sportsman Series win in less than a week, backing up his Nitro Up North victory with glory in the Desert Nationals today over runner-up, Dan Bader, who was unable to front after finding no spark in the staging lanes.
On his way to the final, Hodgins had faced off against New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Bradley Hicks before enjoying a semi-final bye, while Bader had successfully faced off with Josie Hodgins (round one) and Ashley Johnson (round two).
“It has been a great event. As a club, I think it went really well with some really good racing, and as a racer, I made it to the final and won, so that was cool!” Hodgins said.
“I have finally broken my drought with two wins in a row now, so that is pretty exciting!
“Thank you to all of the crew and all of the volunteers, and I say that both as a racer and from the club.”
In Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike, Bryan Finn took the win over New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Ian Read. Finn had earlier taken a win from Dean Gunson in round one ahead of a semi-final bye run, while Read enjoyed a round one solo thanks to his TQ status, before dispatching Jason White in the semis.
Thanks to their efforts today, in addition to their event trophies, Finn and Read were also recognised with a $100 and $50 voucher respectively from ANDRA Racer Support Program participant, Ballistic Performance Parts.
“I am smiling like a Cheshire cat, that is two meetings in a row, two double breakouts and breaking out by less (in the finals) – so, the luck of the Irish is with me!” Finn grinned.
“It was a good day, although I kept thinking it was Saturday! I had to keep reminding myself it was Wednesday! It was a good event, and it is just unbelievable to have the two wins in a row. I am just amazed; and really having a good start to the year.
“I would like to thank my sponsors, Prosmith Overhauling, Deon McHugh Signs, Butlers Mechanical Service, and the Northern District Motorsport Association. I would also like to say a big thanks to Archie Fabian Motorsport for towing my trailer and getting me all the way to Darwin, and to here, and also to Red CentreNATS before we head home. He has put in a huge effort.
“We will hang around here now until Sunday for Red CentreNATs – if you are on holiday, you might as well make it a good one hey?! Hopefully I can go three in a row!”
In Junior Dragster, it was a highly successful day at the track for Taylor Horton, taking out not only the Top Qualifier Medalion presented by New Gen Business Park, but also the event-winning ANDRA Christmas Tree trophy.
Horton took out the win over runner-up, Charlize Grivell, after a round one bye and round two victory over Nitro Up North winner, Cody Hunt. Grivell meanwhile had taken on Lily Horton in the first round, before defeating Angelina Konilis in the semis.
“It is exciting to get the win, especially after Darwin didn’t go as we expected when I red-lit against Cody Hunt in the first round,” Horton said.
“Today went really well. My reactions were good and the car was good, and we just had to keep it going. It feels really good to get this win – thank you to my mum and dad, Jason Cunliffe, Jason Maggs, Simon from Tyres Now, Motorworks, Sparkle and Shine Housekeepers, Pro Star Motorsports, and United Signage.”
In New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike, Aliza Harris took the win over Cooper Plummer – who had earlier in the day laid claim to the Top Qualifier Medallion, thanks to New Gen Business Park. Harris kicked off the racing with a round one victory from Bailey Paul before a semi-final bye run, while Plummer enjoyed his own solo pass in round one before delivering a win over Lawrence Raschella in the semi-final.
At the presentations, Harris and Plummer were presented with not only their trophies, but also a $100 and $50 voucher respectively from ANDRA Racer Support Program participant, Ballistic Performance Parts.
In New Gen Business Park Competition Bike, Top Qualifier Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes took the win over Joe Khoury in the final following a Chicago Three-Round Shootout format which saw her earlier enjoy a bye before wins over James Low and Leith Darrach. Khoury meanwhile had enjoyed wins over Archie Fabian (round one) and James Low (round three) with a bye in round two.
In Goodyear Racing Super Street, Neill Mellett took the win over Matt Czerny, after having earlier put New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Michael Bridges on the trailer in round one. Czerny meanwhile had earlier successfully taken on David Fendt to advance to the final stand for the bracket in Alice Springs.
In the South Australian Drag Racers Association (SADRA) Super Sedan, Darren Russell walked away with the big trophy after a solo run in the final. In round one, Russell had enjoyed a bye run by virtue of being the New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier, before putting Tommy Parry on the trailer in round two. Parry had earlier defeated Alex Gkroidis in round one to make it to his semi-final match-up against Russell. Vaughne Pope and Nitro Up North winner Gary Baker were both seeded to run with the bracket this weekend, but were both unable to proceed past their first round match-up due to breakages.
In Top Sportsman, Darryl Stephen took out the ANDRA Christmas Tree with a win over Dean Tassone in the final. Earlier in the night, Stephen had taken on defending champ, Leon Davies, in round one, ahead of a bye in the semis. Tassone meanwhile had faced off against Lee Povey in round one before dispatching New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier and Nitro Up North winner, Tommy Turic, in the semis.
In New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws, Mark Hunt triumphed over runner-up and New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier, Tim Stewart, following a round one win over Paul Stephen. To book his place in the final against Hunt, Stewart had successfully taken on Nitro Up North runner-up Aiden Abel in the first round.
As well as their event winning and runner-up trophies, Hunt and Stewart also received a $100 and $50 fuel voucher respectively for their efforts, thanks to Powerplus Racing Fuels as part of the ANDRA Racer Support program.
Also on track for the Desert Nationals were local Street Car and Street Bike racers, with Mick Jury and Ian Andrews – who both top qualified earlier in the day – taking the wins in these brackets over runners-up Walter Naylor and Stephen Vandenberg.
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