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John Zappia and Aaron Tremayne have wrapped up the Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock ANDRA Championships respectively during this weekend’s Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway.
Zappia secured his maiden title beyond doubt after accepting the runners-up trophy for the past two seasons by making a semi-finals appearance after closest challenger Brett Stevens suffered a clutch failure in his quarter-final.
“It is just excellent to have finally wrapped this up in the Striker Crushing and Screening Monaro - I am two inches taller, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," said Zappia.
“We had an interesting event with the 6.15s pass then a 6.03s with a big pedal to boot, and our speed of 241.54mph was the fastest we have run at Willowbank - the crew have done a great job with their Force Tools to get us across the line for our sponsors including Rentco Transport Equipment Rentals and Pigdon Portable Restorations.
“We thought we could run a five in the semi-final but unfortunately we overpowered the track – you can be sure we will be back in June to see if we can’t rack up a whole lot of fives for the fans and our sponsors.”
Like Zappia, Tremayne also had his championship wrapped up before the semi-finals, however the younger of the two Tremayne brothers saw fit to also take the 2008 Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles crown against an impressive Lee Bektash.
“This is unreal - to be honest it hasn’t really sunk in as yet, but it was what I was chasing - it was the ultimate goal after placing third in my debut season and second last year, so to have it now is just great,” said Tremayne.
“We will definitely be back here in June - Tyronne (Aaron’s older brother and now third in the championship) is chasing second with John Barbagallo moving up this weekend, so we will be looking to make it a Tremayne 1-2 championship if we can.”
The Castrol EDGE Tin Tops Titles bragging rights in Top Doorslammer went to Sean Mifsud, who with tuner and Wild Bunch forerunner Camp Stanley caused a stir at Willowbank Raceway this weekend with impressive runs including a 6.08s seeing the team meet their goal of running "a ‘0’ anything."
“We were happy to take the win, unfortunately Maurice (Fabietti - Mifsud's finals partner) didn’t move off the start line and really it is hard to say who would have won - Sean or Maurice – but we think we have earned this weekend," said Stanley.
"We have not backed into anything, we have met our goal of running a ‘0’ and we have the second quickest car on the ground, so we are really very proud of that.
"Sean has put together a great group of guys who make this whole thing happen and you can rest assured that you will be seeing me here in June to continue the journey!”
Fabietti seemed to suffer a mechanical failure on the line which saw him pushed back to the tow vehicle after taking the green light.
While the stars of Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock battled it out for the Castrol EDGE Tin Top honours, sporting stars of different persuasions were hitting the track for the inaugural Toyota Celebrity Drag Race for Charity.
Three-time and reigning Australian Ironman Champion and 2002 World Ironman Champion Shannon Eckstein took the title and will donate his $2000 prize-money to Surf Lifesaving Queensland, after narrowly beating out Queensland Roar defender, Soccerro and former English Premier League player Danny Tiatto this evening.
Gladiator and ‘Australia’s Strongest Man’ 'Thunder' (AKA Derek Boyer) and Gold Coast Blaze and world champion NBL player Ben Melmeth also hit the track for tonight's race for their chosen charities aboard the two Toyota TRD Aurions.
"It was a real thrill to get behind the wheel - I had a ball having some practice runs on Thursday and getting to go down the track in front of the crowd was just unbelievable," said Eckstein.
"I am really pleased to have been able to take the prize-money for Surf Lifesaving Queensland, they are a great organisation and obviously one that is pretty close to my heart as an Ironman."
Tony Wedlock played an integral part in the Charity Drag Race concept, managing the TRD Aurions and along with Victor and Ben Bray and John Barbagallo, offering tips to the budding drag racers at a practice session on Thursday.
“We have had four fabulous celebrities this week, it has been great to have them here supporting our sport, and hopefully we have drafted them into drag racing,” said Wedlock.
Victories in the other categories went to Colin Lloyd (Lifestyle Carpets & Vinyl Super Stock), Steven Ham (Lifestyle Carpets & Vinyl Competition), David Rundmann (S&S Competition Bike), Bill Fletcher (Carpenter Ford Supercharged Outlaws), Graeme Frawley (Bailey's Brake & Clutch Modified), Keith Mearns (American Rides Modified Bike), Ashley Wanchap (Slick Industries Super Sedan), Mark Thompson (Crossroads Freightlines & Car Carrying Super Street), Jimmy Agate (Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster), Simon Isherwood (High Impact Promotions Super Gas) and Greg Trapnell (Pro Street). 
This weekend’s event will be quickly followed by the final rounds of all the Group One categories including the Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock categories at the season-ending Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway on June 5-8.
RESULTS: Top Doorslammer
Final
Sean Mifsud def Maurice Fabietti (9.80s/91.07mph/145.712kmh def ‘no time’)
Semi-Final
Maurice Fabietti def Stuart Bishop (6.43s/199.20mph/318.72kmh def 6.57s/241.68mph/386.68kmh)
Sean Mifsud def John Zappia (7.09s/169.89mph/271.82kmh def 7.69s/169.04mph/270.46kmh)
Quarter-Final
John Zappia def Robin Judd (6.01s/239.49mph/383.18kmh def 6.30s/236.10mph/377.76kmh)
Sean Mifsud def Aaron Lynch (6.12s/231.84mph/370.94kmh def 6.30s/238.35mph/381.36kmh)
Maurice Fabietti def Gary Phillips (6.30s/231.84mph/370.94kmh def 6.34s/228.43mph.365.48kmh)
Stuart Bishop def Brett Stevens (6.33s/235.97mph/377.55kmh def 7.85s/115.38mph/184.60kmh)
First-round
John Zappia def. Ben Bray (6.26s/236.4mph/378.24kmh def. 6.45s/232.92mph/381.15kmh)
Robin Judd def Peter Kapiris (6.13s/238.22mph/381.15kmh def 7.00s/160.48mph/256.77kmh)
Aaron Lynch def Mark Belleri (6.182s/241.03mph/385.95kmh def 6.44s/231.01mph/369.61kmh)
Sean Mifsud def Steve Packman (6.12s/231.84mph/370.94kmh def 6.74s/183.22mph/293.152kmh)
Gary Phillips def Kath Stevens (6.51s/224.44mph/359.10kmh def 14.14s/58.18mph/93.08kmh)
Maurice Fabietti – solo pass after Victor Bray withdrew
Brett Stevens def Andrew Sutton (6.38s/224.66mph/359.45kmh def 6.70s/210.87mph/337.39kmh)
Stuart Bishop def Ray Bernard (6.33s/235.97mph/377.55kmh def 14.33s/66.98mph/107.16kmh)
Combined Qualifying
John Zappia 6.03 241.54mph 386.46kmh
Garry Phillips 6.137 238.47 mph 381.55kmh
Brett Stevens 6.151 237.97 mph 380.75kmh
Aaron Lynch 6.159 233.52 mph 373.63kmh
Sean Mifsud 6.19 231.96 mph 371.136kmh
Ray Bernard 6.196 227.17 mph 363.472kmh
Victor Bray 6.2 238.22 mph 381.15kmh
Robin Judd 6.29 234.74 mph 375.58kmh
Peter Kapiris 6.29 234.13 mph 374.60kmh
Maurice Fabietti 6.29 234.87 mph 375.79kmh
Stuart Bishop 6.54 237.34 mph 379.74kmh
Steve Packman 6.56 223.88 mph 358.20kmh
Mark Belleri 6.6 224.33 mph 358.92kmh
Andrew Sutton 6.817 209.50 mph 335.2kmh
Kath Stevens 8.03 114.86 mph 183.77kmh
Ben Bray 8.06 119.90 mph 1912! E84kmh
RESULTS: Pro Stock
Final
Aaron Tremayne def Lee Betkash (7.16s/189.31mph/302.89kmh def 7.33s/156.67mph/250.67kmh)
Semi-Final
Aaron Tremayne def Scott Porter (7.13s/189.31mph/302.89kmh def 7.20s/188.60mph/301.76kmh)
Lee Betkash def John Barbagallo (7.16s/190.27mph/304.43kmh def 7.20s/190.10mph/304.16kmh)
Quarter-Final
Aaron Tremayne def Bruce Leake (7.152s/190.44mph/304.70kmh def 7.32s/186.72mph/298.752kmh)
Scott Porter def Dave Newcombe (7.27s/180.29mph/288.46kmh def 7.23s/188.36mph/301.28kmh [Newcombe Red-lit – jumped the start])
Lee Bektash def Frank Nirta (7.15s/189.16mph/302.65kmh def 8.02s/182.48mph/291.96kmh)
John Barbagallo def Tyronne Tremayne (7.21s/188.99mph/302.38kmh def 7.17s/191.81mph/306.89kmh [Barbagallo crossed the line first, took the win in the ‘holeshoot’]
First-Round
Aaron Tremayne def Rob Tucker (7.15s/189.16mph/302.65kmh def 9.65s/97.15mph/155.44kmh)
Bruce Leake def Shane Tucker (7.37s/187.03mph/299.24kmh def 7.33s/186.64mph/298.62kmh [Tucker Red-lit - jumped the start])
Dave Newcombe def Rick Chilton (7.22s/188.99mph/302.38kmh def 7.37s/186.57mph/298.51kmh)
Scott Porter def Jason Grima (7.33s/185.26mph/296.41kmh def 7.41s/184.73mph/295.56kmh)
Lee Bektash def John Galea (7.16s/190.27mph/304.43kmh def 12.88s/65.22mph/104.35kmh)
Frank Nirta def Joe Polito (7.30s/187.42mph/299.87kmh def 9.05s/93.98mph/150.36kmh [Polito Red-Lit – jumped the start])
Tyronne Tremayne def Brian Pursell (7.18s/190.44mph/304.70kmh def 7.44s/184.28mph/294.84kmh)
John Barbagallo def Denis Whiting (7.24s/188.99mph/302.38kmh def 8.11s/127.91mph/209.65kmh)
Combined Qualifying Results
Aaron Tremayne 7.169s 189.63mph 303.40kmh
Lee Baktash 7.177s 189.95mph 303.92 kmh
Tyronne Tremayne 7.182s 190.11 mph 304.17 kmh
Dave Newcombe 7.195s 188.68 mph 301.88 kmh
Scott Porter 7.23s 190.51 mph 304.81 kmh
John Barbagallo 7.255s 187.97 mph 300.75 kmh
Joe Polito 7.31s 185.19 mph 296.30 kmh
Shane Tucker 7.319s 184.5 mph 295.2 kmh
Bruce Leake 7.33s 187.11 mph 299.37 kmh
Frank Nirta 7.34s 186.03 mph 297.64 kmh
Denis Whiting 7.35s 184.2 mph 294.72 kmh
Jason Grima 7.4s 184.43 mph 295.08 kmh
Rick Chilton 7.463s 185.95 mph 297.52 kmh
Brian Pursell 7.54s 186.64 mph 298.62 kmh
John Gal! ea 7.55s 181.53 mph 290.48 kmh
Rob Tucker 8.095s 134.45 mph 215.12 kmh
Troy Quelch 10.219s 93.19 mph 149.10 kmh
RESULTS: Toyota Celebrity Drag Race for Charity
Winner: Shannon Eckstein and Surf Lifesaving Queensland
Runner-up: Danny Tiatto
Top Qualifier: Danny Tiatto
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