Australia’s Shane Wynd has crossed the Nullarbor more than fifty times — but his latest journey has taken him far beyond the Australian outback. From Healesville, Echuca Victoria, to Bristol, Tennessee, Wynd has proven that drag racing is more than a national passion — it’s a global language shared by racers everywhere.
For many, the idea of flying across the world to go drag racing sounds like a dream. But for Shane, it’s actually the most logical option. “It’s cheaper for me to fly to the States and race than it is to race here at home,” he says — a statement that perfectly captures both the love and the challenge of being a racer in Australia.
The photo above is taken on the Nullarbor Plains. No trees or houses. The drive there includes a road the is straight for 100 miles
The Harsh Reality of Racing Down Under
While the United States has hundreds of drag strips — some states with nearly a dozen — Australia has just 13. Stretch that across a continent roughly the size of the U.S., and you begin to see the problem.
For racers like Shane, travel distances can exceed 40 hours just to get to a national-level event. Willowbank Raceway, the country’s largest and most well-known track, sits 23 hours away from Shane’s home in Echuca Victoria. “Travel alone can cost $5,000,” he explains. “Then you pay a $550 entry fee to race for a $1,000 purse. It just doesn’t make financial sense anymore.” This has led Shane to fly 26 hours to the United States to pick up an RV, car, and trailer he keeps at GET M Performance. He can do more racing in 4 weeks in the USA than in Australia in a year.
The math has forced many race cars to sit idle in garages across the country — not from lack of passion, but from pure economics. Add in rising fuel prices, the spread of too many classes dividing the same number of racers, and you have a community that’s fighting to keep the sport alive.
And yet, that’s exactly what Shane and others like him continue to do.
Above is Perth Motorplex in Western Australia. Next to the beach at sea level and the world’s most remote track. Roughly 26 hours to the next closest track. The track is owned by the government
A Journey Across Oceans
Wynd’s racing journey took a major turn about 12–14 years ago — after shoulder surgery left him grounded for months. “I couldn’t do anything,” he recalls, “so I decided to fly to the States and see some racing.” His plan was simple: visit Pomona and Las Vegas, soak it all in, and come home inspired.
Instead, he came home changed.
While walking the pits, Shane struck up a conversation with the Lamb family — legends in sportsman drag racing. “Justin’s mom Carol is Australian,” he says. “We hit it off right away. Chris Lamb even asked if I wanted to drive in Pomona — said he could make it happen.”
Though his shoulder kept him sidelined that time, two years later Shane returned to the U.S. — and raced in Las Vegas. That moment, he says, is when he truly understood the global brotherhood of drag racing. “Racers are racers. Doesn’t matter where you’re from — we all speak the same language.”
Sydney dragway above. Perth and Sydney are 41 hours apart!
The Spring Fling Story
A few years later, Shane boarded a plane to the U.S. again — this time for the famed Spring Fling in Bristol, Tennessee. He arrived with nothing but a tent and a dream to camp out and watch.
Within hours of talking to Jared Pennington, that dream became something more. “Next thing I knew, I was doing an interview and had a car to drive,” Shane laughs. “It still doesn’t seem real.”
That car belonged to Van Greer, son of legendary racer Shirl Greer, who has spent years honoring his father’s legacy through his “Tension” tribute cars. “Van just said, ‘You’re driving.’ That’s drag racing. That’s the kind of people this sport attracts.”
The Racing Spirit That Knows No Borders
Since then, Shane has raced in multiple states across America — from Tennessee to Nevada — finding friends and tracks that feel like home along the way. Meanwhile, back in Australia, he last raced five weeks ago — and won’t race again for two months. The difference in opportunity is stark.
Yet he’s not bitter. Just passionate. “We’ve got incredible racers in Australia,” he says, “but the cost, distance, and class structure make it tough. If I could get a visa sponsor, I’d move to the States tomorrow — just to race.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply. In a world where we often take for granted the ability to race nearly any weekend we want, Shane’s story is a reminder of how fortunate American racers are — and how strong the passion must be for those who do it against all odds.
A Global Community
Wynd’s story ties together what this ongoing DragCoverage series is all about — uniting racers across continents. From Bahrain to Ireland, from the UK to Australia, the message is the same: the love of racing knows no borders.
Shan wants to thank all of the amazing friends he has met because of racing. Wants to thank GET M Performance for all they do for him and his wife.
Shane may live half a world away, but his journey — his grit, his friendships, his determination to race no matter what — feels right at home on any starting line.
Because no matter the language, distance, or currency… the sound of a launch at full throttle is something we all understand.
