Every legend has a starting line and for Gary Phillips, it was Savannah Raceway in Townsville. Here in 1970, he first rolled through the gates in an EH Holden and pointed it down the track.
From that street registered EH, Phillips moved to Modified Eliminator and Competition Eliminator, before stepping to Pro Comp, Top Alcohol, and Top Doorslammer.
56 years later, he has set an undeniable standard, with the stats lauding him as the most successful driver in Australian drag racing history: 22 Australian Championships, 21 of them in Top Alcohol and one in Top Doorslammer. The first driver in any Australian class to win seven consecutive titles. 16 Winternationals victories, 11 Nationals wins, and a habit of breaking barriers, like being the first Doorslammer in the world to punch over 400kph back in 2008. And even as recently as June 2025, he was still rewriting the record books, becoming the first Pro Alcohol Altered in the world to run in the 5.4s (5.470) and over 260mph.
But for drag racers across Australia, there is one number that stands out above all: 65. That is how many coveted Christmas Trees sit in Gary’s trophy cabinets, spanning both Gold (55) and Silver (10) hardware.
While Gary won’t be pulling into the staging lanes himself for the upcoming 2026/2027 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, he has a message for everyone who will be taking on the title chase this season – which offers up to 40 Gold and 100 Silver Trees across 13-points paying events in five states, and of course, 11 Gold Championship Christmas Trees’ at season’s end. It all kicks off August 29 and 30, with the Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals double-header at Alice Springs Inland Dragway.
“People often ask what keeps me coming back after more than half a century, and the truth is, the feeling of holding a Christmas Tree never fades,” Phillips said. “It has been great too to see Cheyne now starting his own Christmas Tree collection – he clearly got my DNA!
“It takes a massive amount of blood, sweat, long hours in the shed, along with great support – like I am so lucky to have from my family, Debbie and Cheyne – just to earn one of those, let alone chase down a championship.
“To all the Sportsman racers rolling into the staging lanes this season, give it everything you’ve got.
“It is a tough, grinding road, but chasing down a Christmas Tree is the best feeling in the world. Good luck to everyone kicking things off at the Desert Nationals, and to all taking on the challenge this season.”
For event information and to enter the Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals, visit www.cadra.com.au.
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au.
2026/2027 ANDRA SPORTSMAN SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR:
- August 29, 2026 – Round one – Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals, Alice Springs Inland Dragway (NT)
- August 30, 2026 – Round two – Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals, Alice Springs Inland Dragway (NT)
- September 11-13, 2026 – Junior Nationals* – Sunset Strip, Mildura (VIC)
- September 19-20, 2026 – Round three – Sunset Nationals – Sunset Strip, Mildura (VIC)
- October 10, 2026 – All Bike Nationals** – Dragway at The Bend, Tailem Bend (SA)
- October 22-25, 2026 – Round four – Spring Nationals – Dragway at The Bend, Tailem Bend (SA)
- November 20-21, 2026 – Round five – Goldenstates – Perth Motorplex, Perth (WA)
- December 5-6, 2026 – Round six – South Coast Nationals – South Coast Raceway, Portland (VIC)
- January 2-3, 2027 – Round seven – South Coast 660 – South Coast Raceway, Portland (VIC)
- January 23, 2027 – Round eight – ANDRA Drag Racing Masters – Sydney Dragway, Sydney (NSW)
- February 19-20, 2027 – Round nine – Event name TBC – Perth Motorplex, Perth (WA)
- February 27-28, 2027 – Round ten – Westernationals – Perth Motorplex, Perth (WA)
- April 23-24, 2027 – Round eleven – ANDRA Grand Finals – Dragway at The Bend, Tailem Bend (SA)
*Junior Dragster and Junior Drag Bike Only
**Competition Bike, Modified Bike, and Junior Drag Bike only
Note: as per announcement on 13 August 2026, Super Comp now competing at seven rounds only (round 4, round 5, round 6, round 8, round 9, round 10, round 11).