King entered the two-day event with an unbeaten record from his past two completed meetings at Warrnambool and Portland.

The Koroit driver and his modified 1970 Ford Capri, featuring a Ford V8 engine, again looked dangerous in the super street class on the weekend.

King won 10 sudden-death heats in front of the packed South Coast Raceway stands to advance to the final against Hamilton's Scott Riley on Saturday evening.

With the guidance of son Zach, King rolled up to the starting line trying to forget that he was going for a hat-trick of wins.

"I tried not to think about it," King told The Standard yesterday.

"But it was in the back of my mind."

However, the third consecutive victory was not to be when King jumped the start by six hundredths of a second.

The red light flashed on immediately.

"It was disappointing," King said.

"But it was good just to make the final."

King, who was supported by his wife and two daughters in the crowd, has quickly turned his attention to the next round of the Slamfest series in Mildura this April.

"Hopefully I can go one better," the Warrnambool and District Drag Racing Club treasurer said.

Meanwhile, fellow Warrnambool club member Tony Frost won the modified bike event at the Portland event.

Riding his Kawasaki ZX10, it was Frost's first win after more than two years away from the sport.

The bike got up to 193 kilometres per hour over the 200m straight, with Frost recording a time of 5.58 seconds for the win. Frost will try to continue his form at Warrnambool's next club meeting on February 26.

mrooth@standard.fairfax.com.au