The Gulf Western Oil Nitro Champs returned to Sydney Dragway last weekend and delivered a Pro Stock showdown that had everything drag racing fans could hope for. Record breaking performances, intense qualifying battles and fierce rivalries.
From Friday’s qualifying sessions it was clear that the Pro Stock field was strong and the 200 MPH barrier was in serious danger. By the end of qualifying, six cars had dipped into the six second zone with only fractions separating them. Tyronne Tremayne led the charge with a blistering 6.867 second pass.
He was not alone. Brother Aaron Tremayne was equally sharp, securing second with a 6.904 while defending champion Rob Dekert, who is chasing back to back titles, slotted into third with a 6.927.
This event also marked the return of a strong Queensland contingent which added extra intensity to an already high stakes weekend. The reappearance of Tremaniac Racing along with Shane Tucker and Omar Sedmak immediately shook up the field and the points standings.
Tyronne Tremayne, making his return to Pro Stock as a part time racer, made an instant impact. In the first round of racing, he reset both ends of the national record with a stunning 6.855 at 199.85 MPH. The previous record had stood since November 2022 and was held by Chris Soldatos. The performance proved that Tremaniac Racing had done their homework and Tyronne was right back where he left off.
The all run format in Pro Stock is as unforgiving as it is thrilling. While horsepower matters, consistency and concentration are what separate the best from the rest. Round one saw several upsets and tightly fought finishes. Holeshot wins were a key theme and Daniel Grima secured his first Pro Stock round win with a 7.024 that was just enough to defeat Barbagallo’s quicker 6.956. That first round loss was enough to end Barbagallo’s hopes of making the A Final and served as a reminder of how competitive this class has become.
Amid all the drama, Rob Dekert quietly continued doing what he has done all season. Calm, calculated and precise. Racing for Hayley Turns, he did not need to top qualify. What he brought was consistency, which is what wins Drag Races
In round two he lined up against Shane Tucker. With the upsets in round one anything was possible and Tucker had the ability to take the fight to Dekert. But Dekert’s consistency told the story. He posted a 6.898 to advance to the A Final ahead of Tucker’s unrepresentative 7.390.
On the other side of the ladder, Tyronne Tremayne continued his relentless pace. After resetting the record in round one, he followed it up with a 6.858 to book his place in the final alongside Dekert. It was the match up fans had been waiting for. The reigning champion against the newly crowned record holder.
The final run was as tense as they come. Both cars staged cleanly, revs rose, the tree dropped and both drivers launched hard. Dekert knew he did not have the outright speed of Tyronne’s record setting Camaro but he had every other tool at his disposal. His reaction time was sharp, his pass was clean and when the win light came on in his lane he was crowned 2025 Nitro Champs winner. The victory also extended his championship lead heading into the penultimate round at the Winternationals.
With two consecutive event wins now under his belt, Dekert has a growing target on his back. The remaining rounds will move to an elimination format with every driver in the field gunning for him. The question remains. Can he make it three in a row?
The penultimate round of the championship will take place at the Gulf Western Oil’s Winternationals on June 5-8. Pro Stock will be backed up by a huge lineup of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Doorslamer, Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock Motorcycle and the Aeroflow National Sportsman Series.