Following the race win Cory Mac called to team owner, Santo Rapisarda to say a few words as he was handed the microphone. His reply to his driver – “you can talk for me”. The shy team owner has obviously given a lot to Australian (and American) drag racing and not only has a number of dragsters both here and abroad but also a nitro funny car. In addition to running his burgeoning Crane businesses he is also now a board member of Sydney Dragway as he is also trying to steer the track back into better times. Hopefully this will be the first win of many for the pair.

After a short time away from the sport Andrew Cowin returned to Sydney Dragway with renewed vigour and a can-do attitude. This saw the amiable Sydneysider top qualify in the Rocket Industries rocketship with a 4.594 326.71 pass. On race day a first round winning 4.722/315.71 went up against an up in flames, Terry Sainty and a 4.669/319.45 was all it took to get past a tyre frying Darren Morgan to put him in the final against Cory Mac. After grabbing a half a tenth off the line the car shook hard with the chute pack coming out early in the run and he had to watch McLenathan streak to a chute out early 5.66 263.28.“I got a good lead off the line but the car went into hard tire shake”, Cowin revealed after the event. “I tried to back-peddle but the chute fell out and that was it”, he concluded.