BIGBANG Nitro is on the verge of providing owners Merv and Meg Butterworth with a quickfire significant return in the $30,000 Tontine Pacers Series final at Geelong on Saturday, June 27.The way the four-year-old scored in a semi-final in Ballarat last night, all he needs is a favourable draw to be extremely tough to beat in the group feature.Bigbang Nitro ($3.20 favourite) led from the pole and was never troubled, with Great Western trainer-driver Kerryn Manning given an armchair ride in running the last two 400m sectionals in a slick 28.6 and 27.7 seconds.George Street Lad ($22.50) ran on to get second without ever threatening, while rank outsider Tranquil Swagman ($95.20) slipped into third position.The Tontine Series has over its 28 years regularly been a target for ex-New Zealand pacers and Bigbang Nitro fits into this category.The Butterworths, who are among Victoria's biggest harness racing owners, are prolific buyers of horses from NZ.Bigbang Nitro has only been with the Manning stable for little more than a month and going into last night's assignment had been placed in his only previous two Australian starts.Manning won the Tontine 10 years ago as a driver on outstanding mare Lombo Rapida, which was trained by her father Peter.Jaccka Sandy ($5.40) won the other semi-final for Melton trainer Graeme Lang and his reinsman son Gavin last night.Also NZ bred, Jaccka Sandy worked to the lead mid-race after being checked just after the start and landed the money by a neck from Coastal ($2.60 favourite), with Lady Lunchalot ($6.70) making up the top three.Jaccka Sandy also ran some impressive closing times of 28.5 and 28.5.The Tontine Series continues with the second trotters' heat at Ararat on Sunday.The event features the debut of Justanothermaori, a son of former champion squaregaiting mare Sumthingaboutmaori.She has had six foals, but this is the first to make it to the track.