The 2025 Pro Stock season came to a close at The Bend Dragway with the Spring Nationals, marking a fitting finale to a year defined by progress, perseverance, and passion. Warm weather and tricky track conditions kept teams on their toes, but as always the Pro Stock guys came out swinging.
This year’s calendar created an unusual dynamic, with the final round taking place in October, rather than at the Winternationals in June. As a result, a few teams were still finalising engine programs and weren’t quite as prepared as they had hoped to be by season’s end. Even so, the field came together to put on a strong and professional showing, closing out the 2025 championship in true Pro Stock fashion.
With the championship already secured by Rob Dekert heading into the event, attention turned to who would close the season with an event win. Dekert still rolled out for qualifying, keen to finish the year strong, and immediately showed why he’s the benchmark in Australian Pro Stock. Despite the hot conditions, the Dekert team laid down an impressive 6.92-second pass, the quickest of the weekend and a strong effort considering the conditions. However, after discovering a potential issue with the engine after the second qualifying session, the team made the smart call to withdraw from further competition to avoid risking further damage.
The event also saw the return of Darryl Stephen in his Mustang, debuting a new engine combination. Darryl was pleased with his weekend, running a string of 7.1 second runs. While the numbers weren’t record-setting, the outing gave the team valuable data and a solid platform to continue refining their program moving forward.
Meanwhile, Chris Soldatos and his team found themselves in strong form. Their car has been quick all season , showing excellent pace from the first qualifier through to race day. When racing began, the team maintained that momentum and advanced steadily through the rounds to reach the final.
Lining up against Mario Polito, the final looked set to be a good contest between two Chevy combinations. Mario red-lit at the start, handing the win to Soldatos. Though the race itself ended early, the result capped off a solid weekend for the Soldatos, the car performed faultlessly and showed the kind of pace that makes them a threat every time they roll through the gate.
Beyond the racing, the Spring Nationals also marked the conclusion of the Pro Drag Racing Championship (PDRC), which has played a key role in delivering the category over the past season. The association extends a thank you to Jason Hedges for his efforts and commitment to promoting the category and running events.
The event once again highlighted everything that defines Pro Stock — tight racing and a relentless pursuit of performance. Even in challenging conditions, the class delivered an impressive show, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most competitive and technically advanced categories in Australian drag racing.
With the 2025 season now wrapped up, the focus shifts to the off-season. New combinations are already being developed, new rivalries are emerging, and the stage is set for an even stronger year ahead.
Pro Stock Australia congratulates Chris Soldatos on his event win and Rob Dekert on securing the 2025 Championship.
Cackling Pipes