The day Racer Nation didn't just launch a brand... it launched a movement.
More than 2,000 spectators. Over $40,000 in prizes. Australia's biggest drift event. The official launch of Racer Nation. One unforgettable day at Luddenham Raceway.
More Than Just Another Drift Event
Some events are remembered because of who wins.
Others are remembered because of what they represent.
On 28 June 2026, Battle For The Summit became one of those events.
Hosted at Luddenham Raceway, Battle For The Summit wasn't created simply to crown another drifting champion. It was built to celebrate the people who make Australian grassroots motorsport what it is, drivers, mechanics, volunteers, photographers, sponsors, families and fans.
It also marked the official launch of Racer Nation, but instead of introducing the brand with a fashion campaign or product drop, we wanted our first contribution to be something bigger than clothing.
We wanted to create an event that gave back to the community first.
With more than 2,000 spectators, Australia's largest drift prize pool worth over $40,000, 32 of the country's best tandem drivers, 40 Best Bake competitors, 80 plus Show & Shine entries and thousands of horsepower filling Luddenham Raceway, Battle For The Summit became far more than a launch event.
It became the first chapter in Racer Nation's story.
Rain Couldn't Stop What Was Coming
Leading into the weekend, the forecast wasn't ideal.
Rain swept across Luddenham Raceway throughout much of the day, turning an already technical circuit into an even greater challenge. Grip levels changed constantly, clipping points became more difficult to hit and every battle demanded complete commitment.
Instead of slowing the event down, the weather made it even better.
Drivers adapted with every run, producing spectacular door to door battles, huge saves and incredible car control that had the crowd cheering despite standing in the rain.
When the sun briefly broke through around midday, the atmosphere exploded before the clouds rolled back in for one final test.
Flipside and Troy Candy Bring the Smoke
One of the biggest crowd favourites of the day was Best Bake.
Forty competitors lined up with one goal to produce the biggest, loudest and most impressive burnout of Battle For The Summit. As tyre smoke rolled across Luddenham Raceway, spectators packed the fence line to watch drivers push their cars to the limits.
Adding to the excitement was Troy Candy, who joined the judging panel to help crown the inaugural Best Bake Champion. After the official Racer Nation launch, Troy returned to the stage to surprise two lucky spectators with a pair of limited-edition 2SVGE signature glasses.. Together with the Flipside team, who spent the day meeting fans and supporting competitors around the venue, they helped create the kind of community atmosphere that made Battle For The Summit more than just a day of motorsport.
When the smoke finally cleared, Shaune from Elite Motorsport claimed the inaugural Best Bake title with a performance that had the crowd on its feet and tyres pushed well beyond their limits.
Best Bake wasn't just about creating the biggest smoke cloud, it celebrated driver skill, car control, showmanship and the personalities that make burnout culture such an iconic part of Australian motorsport.
Ride With A Pro
One of the most popular attractions throughout the day was Ride With A Pro.
With 25 experienced drivers behind the wheel, spectators had the chance to swap the fence line for the passenger seat and experience drifting from a completely different perspective.
For many, it was their first time in a drift car, giving them a whole new appreciation for the speed, precision and commitment it takes to drift at a competitive level. Judging by the smiles as passengers climbed back out, it was an experience they won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Of course, motorsport always has its moments. During one of the sessions, Remy from Dasai found himself in the barriers after an enthusiastic run. Thankfully, everyone was okay, and Remy and his passenger climbed out with a smile and a story to remember!
For many spectators, Ride With A Pro wasn't just something to watch…it became one of the experiences that made Battle For The Summit a day to remember
The Official Launch of Racer Nation
At 11:00 am, Battle For The Summit became more than Australia's biggest drift event.
It became the official launch of RN-01, the first-ever Racer Nation collection.
Designed in Australia and inspired by the people who live and breathe motorsport, RN-01 introduced a range of premium oversized T-shirts, heavyweight hoodies and sweatshirts, headwear and everyday accessories created for life at the track, in the workshop and on the street. Every piece was built around quality fabrics, comfortable oversized fits and designs that reflect Australia's grassroots motorsport culture.
The standout piece of the collection was undoubtedly the Tiffany Blue Heavyweight Sweatshirt. Worn by the Racer Nation team throughout the event, it became an instant talking point around the paddock. The bold Tiffany Blue colourway stood out against the grey skies, and by the end of the day it had become one of the best selling pieces from the RN-01 launch collection.
Another surprise favourite was the Money Bunny Oversized Tee. Throughout the day people kept returning to the merchandise stand to check it out, making it one of the most popular designs in the collection. Alongside Money Bunny, the RN-01 range featured oversized graphic tees including Ghost Rider, Adrenaline Only, Born To Race, Full Focus, No Doubt and the RN-01 Acid Wash Tee, giving fans a collection that reflected different personalities while sharing the same passion for motorsport.
With cold temperatures, steady showers and plenty of time spent outdoors, Battle For The Summit also became the perfect test for the collection. As the weather rolled in, more and more spectators reached for Racer Nation heavyweight cotton hoodies and beanies, with many commenting they were exactly what was needed to stay warm around the circuit. By the afternoon, RN-01 wasn't just on display at the merchandise stand, it had become part of the event itself, with supporters wearing the collection throughout the venue despite the challenging conditions.
Seeing people walking around Luddenham Raceway in Racer Nation apparel on launch day was one of the proudest moments for our team. It confirmed what we had hoped from the beginning: Racer Nation wasn't simply creating another clothing brand.
It was creating a community.
Battle For The Summit wasn't just the launch of a collection.
It was the beginning of a Nation.
Champions Crowned
With more than $40,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs across the day, the competition was fierce from the opening battle to the final run. Every driver came determined to leave their mark, putting on an incredible display of skill, commitment and close competition for the spectators.
After a full day of intense battles, Jackson Bradbury was crowned the inaugural King of The Summit, taking home the $10,000 cash prize along with an incredible prize package worth more than $20,000.
Congratulations also to our podium finishers:
🥈 Jarred Simm – 2nd Place
🥉 Hunter Carey – 3rd Place
Best Bake
🏆 Shaune – Elite Motorsport
Show & Shine – Cars
🏆 Jessie Rhook
🏆 Brendon Tonna
🏆 Luke Tusa
Show & Shine – Bikes
🏆 Jason Spiteri
🏆 Shayne Mulholland
🏆 Mael Jacques
Every competitor brought something special to the event, helping create a level of competition that exceeded every expectation for an inaugural Battle For The Summit.
Built By a Community
Events like this don't happen because of one person.
They happen because an entire community believes in an idea.
To every driver who entered, every volunteer who gave up their weekend, every official who kept the event running, every photographer who captured the memories and every spectator who stood by the fence cheering despite the weather, thank you!
A huge thank you also goes to our incredible partners:
Special thanks must go to New Age Cranes for recovery support throughout the event and Tye Jefferies and his boys for making Ride With A Pro one of the day's most popular attractions. The professionalism, support and attention to detail to make sure everyone had a fantastic day was appreciated by all and helped to ensure that participants and visitors had a fantastic event.
Battle For The Summit simply wouldn't have been possible without every one of you.
Comments (2)
Not me still thinking about how good that event was 😍 So much creativity, so much good energy and don’t even get me started on this Tiffany blue hoodie I picked up obsessed doesn’t even cover it 🩵 Thank you to everyone who made it happen, y’all really outdid yourselves. Can’t wait for the next one!
Was such an amazing day I can’t wait for the next event 🔥🔥