Sheldon Chua bested the field while the usual top-runners struggled with mechanical issues at the 2nd leg of the 2015 National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) Southern Series, held at the Batangas Racing Circuit last March 7.

Piloting the orange tube-framed “Tiunami 3” Honda CRX, Chua was able to maintain Team JCT-Blanche’s domination of the Quick 8 Class, as Jonathan Tiu’s Nissan GT-R continued to experience mechanical gremlins during the day’s races.

The first heat of Quick 8 saw Mark Joseph Manalo bowing out early when his No. 67 RSL Motorsports Civic experienced catastrophic engine failure during the pass against its sister car, piloted by Martin Manalo. RSL Motorsports’ No. 76 was able to fight on until the final heat, only yielding to Chua to take the 2nd spot for the Quick 8 class.

Tiu was eliminated in the 2nd heat against Martin Manalo when during the run, the “Tiunami 1” Nissan GT-R’s clutch overheated, causing the engine’s management system to reduce power. Cheers erupted from the RSL Motorsport’s paddock when their driver managed to defeat Philippine drag racing’s “Godzilla”. Therefore Tiu had to be content with 3rd place at the podium.

In the Pro class, Arvin Millet of Temz AutoMart was able to best Martin Manalo for the top spot. Both racers broke out of their dialed-in times, but it was Millet in the No. 52 Civic EK sedan who had the better reaction time, breaking the deadlock and therefore getting 1st place. Jonathan Tiu inherited 3rd despite the same issue happening again in one of the rounds.

In the Expert Class, Temz AutoMart drivers Chris Jayson Millet and Arvin Millet garnered the podium’s top spots, with Chris getting closest to his dialed-in time with a run of 12.952. Haimer Bora claimed 3rd place.

The Sportsman Class saw Victor Pe Benito on the top spot, followed by Darren Ramirez and Roy Vibar.

Meanhwile, 1st place in the Hot Street Class went to Cer Olliriz Alcala, followed by Eduardo Dela Roca in 2nd, and Malvin Alcantara clinching the battle for 3rd place after his competitor ran a red light.

Participants totaled 107 in each of NDRC's 5 official classes, which proves that the sport continuously attracts new and aspiring racers especially in the entry-level Sportsman and Hot Street classes.

The NDRC heads back to Clark International Speedway for the 3rd leg of the Northern Series on March 28, 2015.

The 2015 National Drag Racing Championship is is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and sponsored by M&H Tires, Sparco, GT Radial, and Aguila Auto Glass.