Brett Stevens hangs up his helmet
The biggest name in Australian Drag Racing, Brett Stevens, today announced he will retire from full time race driving and cease operating his team at the end of 2008 after a long and highly decorated career.
Stevens, 43, leaves the sport as one of the most successful and influential professional racers in it’s history. Over a career spanning 18 years, he has multiple National Championships, World Records, National Records and Strip Records to his and his team’s name.
In addition to his on-track presence, Stevens also single-handedly changed the face of the sport with his new levels of showmanship and professionalism off the track that have helped make him into an Australian motorsport icon.
Stevens said that the decision had been an extremely difficult one to make.
“This is one of the biggest decisions of my life and it has not come easily. I’ve put a lot of thought into it and for those that know me and my passion for the sport, my fans, my team and my sponsors would know how difficult this has been.”
“I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished as a professional racer and I am at the point of my career where I am at the top. Retirement is not something that I have considered until recently however I have always promised myself that if I wasn’t enjoying myself and the challenges that the sport presented I would step aside.”
“Over many years I have also been the subject of many malicious and false rumour and innuendo, including personal attacks and threats on myself, my family, employees and sponsors which are taking an unprecedented toll on both my personal and professional wellbeing.”
“I have made a decision now though to look to the future for both myself and my family, and while this decision ends one phase of my career, I’m confident it will also open doors to many new opportunities.”
“I have made some fantastic lifelong friendships throughout my career in motorsport and I want to thank everyone who has accompanied, supported and inspired me over the years, including my fans, sponsors and crew. Above all, a special thanks goes to my wife Kath and my daughter Skye, who have given me the strength to do what I have done.”
Operating at the elite levels of the sport, in 2008 Stevens commanded the largest motorsport team in the country and the largest Drag Racing team anywhere in the world with 10 Group One vehicles. He is also the only person in the world to compete in three professional Drag Racing brackets simultaneously; Top Bike, Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol.
A motor mechanic by trade, Stevens began his long and successful career as a drag racer in 1990 when he travelled to the United States and purchased his first Nitro Harley Top Fuel Motorcycle from good friend and Drag Racing legend, the late Jim McClure.
In 1993 his team first became known as Jack Daniel’s Racing in a relationship that still stands today lasting 15 years. Over that time Stevens developed one of the most feared reputations on the drag strip for his racing innovations and skills on both 2 and 4 wheels.
As well as a plethora of achievements within the sport, he has also been anointed with the Australian Sports Medal for his contributions to motorsport as well as being an inaugural inductee into the Australian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
In 29 National Championships contested across 3 professional race brackets spanning his illustrious career, Stevens never finished outside the top 6 with 3 National Championships, 8 runner ups, 7 third places, 6 fourth places, 3 fifth places and 2 sixth places to his name. He also made an incredible 70 Final Round appearances.
Stevens also devotes a lot of his time and resources to charity involvements including the Kids with Cancer Foundation and the Leukaemia Foundation of which he is an Official Patron.
BRETT STEVENS MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
2008
– Winner, Australian Top Alcohol Championship.
– Runner up, Australian Top Doorslammer Championship.
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
– World Record, reset the World Top Doorslammer speed record.
– World Record, first person in the world to drive a Top Doorslammer over 250 mph.
– World Record, first person in the world to win three National Championships in three different Group One brackets.
– World Record, equalled his world record of making three Drag Racing Finals at the same event.
– National Record, reset the Australian Top Alcohol speed record.
2007
– Runner up, Australian Top Alcohol Championship.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davison ET record.
2006
– Runner up, Australian Top Bike Championship.
– Runner up, Australian Top Alcohol Championship.
– World Record, twice equalled his world record of winning two Group 1 Drag Racing brackets at the same event.
– World Record, first person in the world to make three Drag Racing Finals at the same event.
– National Record, twice reset the Australian Top Alcohol Funny Car ET record.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davison ET record.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davidson speed record.
– Sportsperson of the Year, Caboolture Shire Australia Day Awards.
2005
– Winner, Australian Top Bike Championship.
– 3rd, Australian Top Doorslammer Championship.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davidson speed record.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davidson ET record.
2004
– Winner, Australian Top Doorslammer Championship.
– Runner up, Australian Top Bike Championship.
– World Record, first person in the world to compete in three Group 1 Drag Racing brackets at the same event.
– World Record, equalled his world record of winning two Group 1 Drag Racing brackets at the same event.
– World Record, reset world donut record at 32 consecutive circles.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davidson speed record.
– National Record, reset the Australian Harley Davidson ET record.
– Inaugural inductee, Australian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
2003
– World Record, equalled his record of winning two Group 1 Drag Racing brackets at the same event.
– World Record, reset world donut record at 23 consecutive circles.
– National Record, reset the Australian Top Doorslammer ET record.
– National Record, reset the New Zealand Top Doorslammer ET record.
2002
– Runner up, Australian Top Doorslammer Championship.
2001
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
2000
– Runner up, Australian Top Bike Championship.
– World Record, first person to win two Group 1 Drag Racing brackets at the same event.
– Australian Sports Medal, contributions to motorsport.
1999
– Runner up, Australian Top Bike Championship.
1998
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
1997
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
1996
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
1995
– 3rd, Australian Top Bike Championship.
BRETT STEVENS ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING RESULTS
Australian Top Bike Championship
2008 – 3rd place
2007 – 4th place
2006 – Runner up
2005 – Winner
2004 – Runner up
2003 – 4th place
2002 – 4th place
2001 – 3rd place
2000 – Runner up
1999 – Runner up
1998 – 3rd place
1997 – 3rd place
1996 – 3rd place
1995 – 3rd place
1994 – 4th place
1993 – NR
1992 – 6th place
Australian Top Doorslammer Championship
2008 – Runner up
2007 – 4th place
2006 – 5th place
2005 – 3rd place
2004 – Winner
2003 – 5th place
2002 – Runner up
2001 – 4th place
2000 – 5th place
Australian Top Alcohol Championship
2008 – Winner
2007 – Runner up
2006 – Runner up
2005 – 6th place
BRETT STEVENS MAJOR GROUP ONE RACING RESULTS
Top Bike
2008
– Runner up, Willowbank Spring Championships
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, WSID Nitro Champs
– Runner up, WSID Summernationals
2007
– Winner, WSID East Coast Nationals
– Winner, Willowbank Winternationals
2006
– Winner, Willowbank Winternationals
– Runner up, WSID Nitro Champs
– Runner up, WSID Bike Fest
– Runner up, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
– Winner, WSID Summernationals
2005
– Runner up, Perth Motorplex Goldenstate Challenge
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, WSID Bike Fest
2004
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
– Runner up, Perth Motorplex Goldenstate Challenge
– Winner, WSID East Coast Nationals
– Runner up, WSID Summernationals
– Runner up, Willowbank Australian Nationals
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
2003
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Goldenstate Challenge
– Winner, Willowbank Australian Nationals
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
2002
– Runner up, Willowbank Australian Nationals
– Winner, Benaraby All Bike Challenge
2000
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, Calder Park ANDRA Drags
– Runner up, Willowbank Summer Championships
1999
– Runner up, Calder Park ANDRA Drags (Nov)
– Runner up, Calder Park ANDRA Drags (Feb)
– Runner up, AIR West End Festival Championship
– Runner up, AIR ANDRA Drags
1997
– Runner up, Canberra All Bike Drags
– Winner, AIR Sliver Anniversary
– Winner, AIR ANDRA Drags
1996
– Runner up, AIR ANDRA Drags
– Runner up, Canberra ACT Championships
1995
– Runner up, Darwin National Drag Bike Challenge
– Winner, Canberra All Bike Drags
– Runner up, Ravenswood ANDRA Drags
1993
– Winner, Gladstone All Bike Meet
Top Doorslammer
2008
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
2007
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
– Winner, WSID Summernationals
2006
– Winner, WSID Summernationals
2005
– Runner up, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
– Runner up, Willowbank Winternationals
2004
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Westernationals
– Runner up, WSID Challenge
– Runner up, WSID East Coast Nationals
– Runner up, WSID Summernationals
2003
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Goldenstate Challenge
– Runner up, Willowbank Australian Nationals
2002
– Winner, Willowbank Winternationals
2001
– Winner, Perth Motorplex ANDRA Drags
2000
– Winner, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, Calder Park ANDRA Drags
– Runner up, AIR ANDRA Drags
Top Alcohol
2008
– TBC, Willowbank Spring Championships
– Winner, Willowbank Winternationals
– Winner, WSID Summernationals
2007
– Winner, WSID International Challenge
– Winner, Perth Motorplex Top Alcohol & Pro Stock Bike
– Winner, WSID Nitro Champs
– Runner Up, WSID Summernationals
– Winner, Willowbank Raceway Night Fire
2006
– Runner up, WSID Top Alcohol
– Winner, Willowbank Raceway Winternationals
– Runner up, WSID Summernationals
