John Lamattina

Australian Nationals in Sydney, Australia

Champions Crowned Down Under

Words by Tim Baker
Photos by dragphotos.com.au

The Australian Nationals are the most prestigious event on the ANDRA Drag Racing calendar and eliminations in the six ANDRA Drag Racing Series brackets delivered action, drama and excitement Nov. 2 at Sydney Dragway.

The Top Fuel title fight between Phil Lamattina and Allan Dobson lasted only one round on race day but the tension was thick as both knew they could be just one loss away from a season up in smoke. 

When all was said and done, Lamattina secured the ANDRA Championship Gold Christmas Tree when Dobbo was eliminated by his own Rapisarda teammate, Damien Harris, in Round 1.

Lamattina then smoked the tires at around half-track in a defeat to Peter Xiberras but it wasn’t enough to ruin his day earning a second ANDRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Championship.

“Obviously I was quite relieved when Dobbo went down,” said Lamattina. “It was hard to get too excited because I still had a job to do and that didn’t work out too well for me.” 

“The Championship win has been a lot of hard work from a lot of people and especially Aaron (Hambridge), the crew, Fuchs sticking by us for 10 years. 

“What a way to repay them. And the whole family, especially my wife, she’s the rock.

“It’s my second son’s birthday today and I always said, ‘What do you want for your birthday?’ And he said; ‘A Championship’ so we got that and he’s pretty wrapped.”