The Rod Shop burnout pad transformed into a battleground during the first day of Street Machine Summernats 37 as 27 hopefuls took to the pad during the Wildcard Shootout on Thursday afternoon.

Competition was fierce, and rightfully so, with three spots to the Pro Burnout series up for grabs. Securing a win puts drivers into Friday’s qualifying, and one step closer to winning their share of the whopping $70,000 in prize money.

The top three from the last ditch chance you came out on top included Chris Orchard in the BALLISTIC VL, Bryan Smilie in the TIPIN VK Commodore and Brad Kilby in HAMMERTIME.

Coloured smoke bellowed from the back of Ryan ‘Bubba’ Lofts ORWHAT VX Holden as he tipped in fast, using the whole pad and producing a cloud of smoke so large, it engulfed the grandstands.  

Ewan Haxton in the VKAOS Commodore hit the barriers more than once, including when he sent the Rod Shop sign flying off the wall, dragging his bumper behind him as he swung across the pad. 

Brit Kilby had a rough run in HAMMERTIME, hitting the wall as she swung around the exit chute.  Redemption came when Brad Kilby jumped in the driver’s seat of the tyre fryer shortly after, producing mass amounts of smoke as he gave it his all.

Paul Phillips in his ENVY Commodore stopped midway through his skid as flames spat from the tyres. Eager for a second run, he fired back up before flamers erupted for a second-timer, sending him off the pad.

The Rod Shop WARBIRD XP Falcon driven by Heath Waddington it was always a crowd favourite, the blown, big-block machine putting down a killer run. 

Hayden Kirkwood’s MRRLPH 13B rotary Mazda Cosmo to see on the burnout pad and he performed well. Made plenty of smoke. 

The burnout action continues again today, with Open Class qualifiers from 11am, with the big dogs in the Pro Burnout Series undertaking their qualifiers from 4pm AEDT.

Results

• Chris Orchard BALLISTIC
• Bryan Smilie TIPNIN 
• Brad Kilby HAMMERTIME