Defending Goldenstates Top Alcohol champion Rob Pilkington is the most confident he has ever been after some improving runs in state championship competition ahead of the national round.

Nineteen Top Doorslammers and nine Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters are ready to do combat next weekend as the ANDRA championship moves on to the west coast for the 41st annual Goldenstates at Perth Motorplex.

Among them will be an amazing seven new drivers stepping up to the professional ranks for the first time, providing an influx of new blood into two of Australia’s most hotly contested drag racing categories.

Victor Bray and his long time friend Peter Kapiris will be hoping they aren't so close next weekend at Perth Motorplex following a wild encounter during qualifying for the Australian Nationals.

Bray and Kapiris collided during the second session of qualifying (check out the video below) when Kapiris experienced a major clutch failure and fire, sending him blindly into the other lane and the driver’s side door of Bray’s Sidchrome Chev.

Seventeen new Australian Nationals winners were handed their ANDRA gold Christmas tree trophies at Sydney Dragway today as near perfect conditions produced records and tight racing in spades.

The Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway has produced plenty of drama and excitement with the second day of qualifying completed.

Queenslander Steve Read leads the Top Fuel field going into race day with a 4.693 pass in the final session snatching the number one spot from Phil Lamattina’s 4.743 and Allan Dobson’s 4.782 in a last gasp move.

Follow along from the action as it happens at Sydney Dragway for this weekend's Australian Nationals as we bring you some of the highlights straight from the track.

Follow along from the action as it happens at Sydney Dragway for this weekend's Australian Nationals as we bring you some of the highlights straight from the track.

Near perfect weather welcomed racers to the opening round of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship at Sydney Dragway on Friday as the 48th annual Australian Nationals began in classy fashion.

Many runs underneath national time records were made as racers took advantage of cool and clear conditions at the Western Sydney venue.

One of the most iconic Top Doorslammers in the country returns to active competition this weekend at the Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway along with one of its fan favourite drivers.

In recent years Debbie and Grant O’Rourke have been campaigning their Top Alcohol Funny Car around the country, but for Debbie the big focus was returning to the Top Doorslammer ranks with their famed HK Monaro.

Follow along from the action as it happens at Sydney Dragway for today's Australian Nationals test and tune.

Returning to the venue where he claimed last season’s Nitro Champs, Brisbane based Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Steve Ham will head to Sydney Dragway for this weekend’s Australian Nationals as a favourite.

With the Australian Nationals coming up, Lucas Oil Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer driver Gary Phillips has been doing plenty of kilometres on the road.

We got Gary to tell us what it's like out there, how the family gets along and whether or not he can reveal any road secrets.

Father and son duo Victor and Ben Bray will be looking to make history repeat at Sydney Dragway this weekend as the 2012/2013 ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship chase begins with the Australian Nationals.