This Australia Day weekend (24-25 January 2026), the National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) is bringing flame-throwing action to Willowbank Raceway for the season-opening Pro Alcohol Nationals.

Five fire-breathing XPRO Nitro Funny Cars will join with eight incredible Pro Alcohol machines to headline the two-day spectacular, joined by more than 100 of the country’s best sportsman racers competing for the NDRC Aeroflow Sportsman Championship.

Leading the way for the 11,000 hp Nitro Funny Cars will be NT racer Adam Murrihy, who will be making his comeback to the track after being sidelined since February 2025 when he was second in the points, due to an injury sustained away from the track.

“It has been almost 12 months now out of the seats, it was February last year when I did myself some mischief testing the suspension on a motorcross bike; breaking my right hand, my left collarbone, a series of ribs, and three vertebrae in my neck.

“We were gutted of course, we had just had some great testing, and we were second in the points – we had some good wind in the sails and were looking forward to the rest of the season.

This weekend’s event at Willowbank marks the start of a full-season campaign for Murrihy, during which he will be supported by sponsors The Bolt King, Morgan’s Cranes, Styromax, and Cometic Gaskets.

“We definitely have our sights set on the full season,” he said.

“We started last season fairly well and were second in the points after the first round, but then never got to do another round.

The Pro Alcohol Nationals will be held at Willowbank Raceway on January 24-25, featuring XPRO Nitro Funny Car, Pro Alcohol, and the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.

Posted by Amanda Cobb
Photos by Grant Stephen & Bruce Biegler