NDRC Announces Aeroflow Sportsman Championship Calendar for 2023/2024 Season

The newly formed National Drag Racing Championship yesterday released the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar, scheduled from July 2023 to April 2024. In an attempt to provide more opportunity for racers across the country to compete for a national title, the championship is organised into two conferences: East and West. The Eastern Conference features events at Sydney Dragway, Willowbank Raceway, Dragway at the Bend, Springmount, Benaraby, Heathcote Park Raceway, and Calder Park Raceway. The Western Conference includes rounds at Perth Motorplex, Alice Springs Inland Dragway, Sunset Strip, South Coast Raceway, and Hidden Valley.

Racers are not required to nominate a conference and have the freedom to race where they choose. Their performance will count towards both the conference championship and qualification for the National Grand Final. All racers who qualify for the National Grand Final will have an equal chance of winning the national title.

The qualification process for the National Grand Final is straightforward. The winners and runners-up from each Conference Final automatically qualify, while the remaining field is comprised of the top racers in each category nationwide. A qualification score, based on a combination of earned points from four events and total bonus points accumulated throughout the season, determines the additional qualifiers. No points from the regular season are carried into the Aeroflow Sportsman National Grand Final, with all racers who have qualified starting with an equal chance to win the National title. The winner of the event will be crowned the national champion. 

The racing categories in the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship will adhere to the classification outlined in the rulebooks of the sanctioning body at each track. The NDRC is actively working with the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) and the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) to address differences in category classification and achieve consistency across tracks.

Aeroflow Performance, proud sponsors of the championship, expresses excitement for the diverse racing opportunities it will offer at regional tracks and major city venues. The championship aims to showcase the thrill of drag racing while providing racers with the chance to compete for their conference championship and the ultimate national title. 

The NDRC's vision is to create a consistent category experience for racers, regardless of the sanctioning body operating at the venue. This approach seeks to streamline the sport and make it more accessible for participants. The Aeroflow Sportsman Championship has adopted the Sportsman racing format and points system outlined in the ANDRA rule book for consistency.

The NDRC plans to evaluate the success of the inaugural season and make improvements based on stakeholder feedback. Season Two is scheduled to commence with the iconic Winternationals in June 2024, building on the momentum and enthusiasm generated during the first season.

In a move to increase exposure, race days for the eleven Group One rounds featuring the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network's digital streaming platform, 7plus. This exciting development will allow fans and enthusiasts to witness the exhilarating action from the comfort of their homes.

The announcement of the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship calendar marks a significant step forward for Australian drag racing. With its "One Way, Forward" motto, the NDRC emphasises unity, progress, and the collective pursuit of Australia's favourite motorsport.

For further information on the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship dates and to stay updated on NDRC news, visit the official website at www.nationaldragracing.com.au.

UPDATE - JUNE 29TH 2023

Following yesterday's announcement, plenty of racers and drag racing fans had feedback and questions for the NDRC team surrounding the new format. 

The NDRC have released the following update on their social channels: 

"We've had a massive response to the release of the sportsman calendar. Thanks to everyone who generously provided constructive feedback. It's clear there are things we need to explain better, and things we need to change for the benefit of the racers, so here we go. 

THE BEND 

Racers want Dragway at The Bend included in the Western Conference. It’s an awesome sign of how excited people are to race at Australia’s newest major facility. We hear you, and Dragway at the Bend does too, and following overnight discussions between the NDRC & the Bend management, we're pleased to announce that the NDRC Sportsman rounds at Dragway at The Bend will count towards both the Western and Eastern Conferences — easy!

CATEGORIES + LICENSES 

With regard to licensing, rules, tech requirements and sanctioning… as we've said, it's an important focus for us. For now, plan to race under the categories in the rule book, but we're continuing to engage positively and constructively with ANDRA and IHRA to come up with solutions. There is definitely good news on the way — continue to be patient as we all work together.

CONFERENCE SYSTEM 

Why a Conference system? The Conference system puts importance and meaning on racing at regional venues by staging genuine Championship events. We hope this encourages racers to support regional tracks run by dedicated drag racing clubs. Get out and race in front of passionate drag racing fans who love the sport as much as people in the major cities. From the number of enquiries we've received, many racers are already looking forward to racing for Conference titles. Conference racing and a National Grand Final — it’s a bit different, but let’s give it a run and see how it goes.

CONFERENCE FINAL QUALIFICATION 

We've added clarity to the Conference Final qualification process and updated the Sportsman presentation — check it out at the link. 

WHY IS THERE MORE RACING IN THE WEST THAN THE EAST 

The ANDRA series already had an extra round, and we’ve just added the Bend due to popular demand. It isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good for Year One.

TWO WAY CONVERSATION 

Again, thanks to everyone who reached out with constructive feedback. Expressing your opinions helps the sport head in the right direction. And the responsibility is on our team at the NDRC to hear you.

Just like we heard you today. This is what being listened to feels like.

The team at the NDRC is committed to helping move the sport one way forward, making it consistent and fair for everyone involved – racers, fans, officials and volunteers. We’ll get there together."

View the Aeroflow Sportsman Championship Series Calendar here: https://bit.ly/NDRCSPORTSMAN