The final was a rematch of the X-Champs in Sydney back in May between Ham and Steven Reed, but this time both drivers got out of the groove, Reed scraping the wall while in the lead and Ham crossing the center line.

As Reed touched the wall that meant Ham would claim a golden double with the Australian Nationals title added to his new Top Alcohol crown.

“The Championship is huge,” said Ham. “This is the only year we’ve actually tried to run and did run every round of the Championship. We had a lot of bad luck early and we had a few wins toward the end of the season and it was a struggle toward the end.

“I’ve got a really good crew that have been with me for five years and we gel. That’s what makes it at the end of the day but you’ve got to have good people around you to make the car happen.
“If you didn’t have a good crew, go home.”

In Pro Stock records tumbled again as first Emilio Spinozzi ran a 6.937 ET at 196.62 mph before a 6.959 ET at 196.93 mph to reach the semifinals.

Lee Bektash

There he met Lee Bektash who recorded the quickest and, to this point, the fastest Pro Stock pass in Australia on a whopping 6.877 ET at 199.85 mph during a solo pass in Round 1. 

That spectacular run came before a sketchy pass where only a great drive job kept his Dodge Mopar off the wall to advance past John Barbagallo in Round 2. 

Spinozzi got loose crossing the center line on what was shaping up as a great side by side pass while Bektash backed up his earlier record setting runs on a 6.911 at 199.11 mph to reach the final.

Bektash not only defeated Nino Cavallo on a 6.920 from a 6.985 in the final, but he did so by reaching a new record 200.14 mph to break one of the last barriers still standing in the sport of ANDRA Drag Racing.

“I feel pretty overwhelmed,” said Bektash. “It’s a lot of hard work for over twelve months. To be rewarded with all the records, top qualifier, the win, it’s a good way to finish off the season. It’s healthy for the sponsors, there’s no better way to give them exposure than to perform like that.

“We’re over the moon. We’ve been up here a wee. I’ve made eight finals in Pro Stock and only won two of them, the ratio is not real flash. If I win the next four it makes it even and I’ll be happy with that.”