Australia’s 2026 season chase for national championships moved closer to conclusion for the XPRO Nitro Funny Car division following the completion of the Haltech East Coast Nationals at Sydney Dragway on September 26th.

With ominous weather predictions for the originally scheduled race day (Sep. 27th) being a potential issue — the schedule was rightly moved forward creating an exciting and compact “one day wonder” event which thrilled a jam-packed crowd. 

For XPRO Nitro Funny Car championship leader Josh Leahy, a Haltech East Coast Nationals victory (4.024/513.01kph) is another big step toward what could be his maiden title.

His third win of the season extended his points lead and turned the tables on Justin Walshe (4.069/512.04kph), after Walshe beat him at the Nitro Champs last time the bracket raced in Sydney. The pair flew down the track side-by-side in one of the standout XPRO Nitro Funny Car runs of the day.

Leahy took victories in both previous rounds, with a clean win over Luke Shepherd in Round 1 (4.144/441.49kph v 4.644/313.37kph) and another from Damon Paton in Round 2 (4.095/495.45kph v 4.750/295.34kph), the latter having to pedal and get off the throttle early.

Walshe also came into the final with two victories under his belt – a difficult 4.166/449.61kph Round 1 pass against Paton’s 4.989/276.22kph which saw both racers struggling to make it down the track in very hot conditions, and the first Nitro Funny Car 500kph+ pass of the day, with Walshe throwing down the gauntlet at 514.99kph and 4.047 seconds over Adam Murrihy (4.220/487.67kph) in Round 2.

“How good does this feel?! I didn’t even know if we were going to make it out here,” said Leahy. “The wind is about to pick up, and we were trying to get in before the rain. And that run shouldn’t have made it. I was off towards the centre line, then back over, and only one chute came out, so I was hard on the brakes,” Leahy said after collecting his trophy.

“What an unreal feeling to come out here and do this at the Haltech East Coast Nationals. It’s also a bit of redemption here at Sydney, so it is good to get the Gold.”

Leahy now takes 84 points into the SPRY Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend, with reigning champion Morice McMillin retaining second (70) and Walshe climbing to third on 66, ahead of Paton in fourth on 62.

McMillin’s B-Final win (4.016/520.88kph) over Luke Shepherd (8.481) came as sparks flew from the back of the Aeroflow/Boosted Toyota and Shepherd struggled to get off the line. The track got quicker as the night went on, with McMillin laying down the fourth 500kph+ pass of the day after the reigning champion had previously gone down to Shepherd in Round 2 following a win over Murrihy in Round 1.

Murrihy made it to the C-Final running a spare body shell after the sheer speed of the A.M Motorsport Nitro Freak Team Dodge Charger damaged the front-right corner of the original in Round 2. The backup body did the job, with Murrihy’s 4.282/286.62mph pass more than enough for the win over Paton (5.064 early shut down) despite drifting near the wall and lifting off early.

The NDRC’s XPRO Nitro Funny Car division will conclude it’s 2026 season campaign at the SPRY-presented Spring Nationals Grand Final which will be contested at Dragway at the Bend (Tailem Bend SA) – Oct 22-25th.

Posted with files by Amanda Salmon & Bruce Biegler

Photos by Bruce Biegler

Link to more XPRO Nitro Funny Car photos from this event :  HERE