A full day of Mildura City Council Sunset Nationals qualifying has drawn to a close at the Davison Ford Sunset Strip, with the fields now set for Sunday’s racing in round three of the 2026/2027 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Series.
More than 110 racers across ten ANDRA championship brackets laid down plenty of exciting passes on Saturday to see who would take out the Top Qualifier Medallions, presented by Nitro Voodoo in the bike brackets and New Gen Business Park in the car brackets.
When all was said and done, Bailey Paul (Nitro Voodoo Junior Drag Bike), Izzy Woolcock (Junior Dragster), Malcolm Todd (SA Drag Racers Association Super Street), Dean Jamieson (Nitro Voodoo Modified Bike), Steve Nusbajtel (Super Sedan), Kenny Stewart (Gallagher Modified), Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (Nitro Voodoo Competition Bike), Daniel Jones (Top Sportsman), Doina Day (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws), and Adrian McGrotty (Three Dimensional Construction Super Gas) claimed the Top Qualifying honours.
The non-championship Street Car and Pro Street Blown brackets were also on track today, with Brooke May and Matt Murphy topping the time sheets in those brackets.
In Top Sportsman, Daniel Jones is carving out a reputation for top qualifying in the ANDRA series. Today’s New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Medallion follows four top qualifying performances last season – including at the 2025 Sunset Nationals and South Coast Nationals, the 2026 South Coast 660, and the ANDRA Grand Finals – and it has come despite the fact he is chasing a problem with his Chevy Cobalt.
“It is a bit unexpected actually, because I have been struggling all weekend,” Jones said.
“I have been chasing the problem, and I didn’t actually make a clean pass, so hopefully tomorrow we will be on the up. But that is all right; it is good to top qualify again.
“I have the bye first up, so I can get it sorted. From there, I just have to do what we normally do tomorrow. It worked for me last season, so I will just go and do what I do. I feel confident.
“I do enjoy racing at Mildura, that is why I come here; well, apart from the flies!” he laughed, while thanking his crew for their efforts across the weekend.
Super Sedan Top Qualifier Steve Nusbajtel is another carrying strong qualifying form into Mildura, backing up his sheet-topping performance at the season-opening Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals last month with another New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Medallion today.
“That is two Top Qualifiers in a row for this ANDRA series, and three in total for me and the new car – now I just need the Christmas Tree to back it up!” Nusbajtel said.
“This car is a different kettle of fish to what I used to run, and the learning curve is still very much underway. I am still letting the delay box down a bit at the moment, but I am getting there.
“As far as how I am feeling about tomorrow…well, I have no thoughts on tomorrow yet, until we get through that first pass!” he added, while thanking his crew for their support.
On two wheels, Bailey Paul – last season’s Nitro Voodoo Junior Drag Bike championship runner-up – rocketed to the top of the qualifying sheets to claim the Nitro Voodoo Top Qualifier Medallion today. It is his third straight Top Qualifier result for the new season, after he topped the sheets in both rounds one and two of the season-opening Desert Nationals double-header.
“I am excited to be Top Qualifier for three meetings in a row, especially as all the other competitors are really good,” Paul said.
“The bike went well as it always does, and the track was great.
“I would like to thank Ray White Gawler/Angle Vale, and Marius for all the mentoring and for looking after my mental health and the bike.”
For full Mildura City Council Sunset Nationals qualifying results, please visit https://www.andra.com.au/series/results/
Racing for round three of the 2026/2027 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Series at the Davison Ford Sunset Strip begins tomorrow (Sunday, 20 September) from 10.00am local time, with semi-finals from 2.20pm and finals scheduled from 3.30pm as the racers battle for the coveted ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies and valuable championship points in their respective brackets.
Spectator tickets are available at the gate, with adults $10 and entry free for under 16s. Fans are also reminded to send in their 2026 Sunset Nationals photos by 2.00pm on Sunday 20 September for the chance to win an ANDRA merchandise pack – entries can be submitted via https://bit.ly/3UHANzB or by using the QR code found on signage around the venue.
For event information, visit www.sunsetstrip.org.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
