Australia’s fastest ever side-by-side Top Fuel drag racing pass was the perfect way to open qualifying for this weekend’s 42nd Australian Nationals at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway.
Perth’s Martin Stamatis left nothing to chance as he and Phil Lamattina combined to showcase a 328 mph (529km/h) to 316mph (508km) flame throwing highlight to fill first and third positions on the timesheets of Redcliffe Dyno and Performance Top Fuel.
The appreciative crowd was further greeted with a scintillating 4.61 second pass turned in by reigning Australian champion Phil Read who made it a one/two for Sydney’s Jim Read Racing outfit, after Stamatis’ effort slotted him on top with a 4.59 second pass.
Lamattina was just as impressive locking in a 4.66 second effort straight off the trailer, which was enough for he and Stamatis to also secure the second quickest (elapsed time over the quarter mile) side-by-side Top Fuel pass recorded in Australia.
Drag racing fans are in for a ‘Super Saturday’ of 42nd Australian Nationals action tomorrow as three elite Group One qualifying sessions headline the Willowbank Raceway day two program.
Overnight results suggest the action will be coming thick and fast as a professional racer list of 65 competitors get set to contest all six headline brackets as an appropriate showcase of the best Australian drag racing talent.
Tomorrow’s qualifying triple treat will provide the opportunity for many of the proven big-hitters to shoot for top-notch times in order to qualify among the eight car/bike finals fields for Sunday’s finals program.
Queensland Events Top Doorslammer contains numerous established stars of the sport plus many newcomers who are progressively making their mark.
Tonight it was the World heavyweights standing tall led by the youngest driver in the field, two-time Australian champion Ben Bray, who snared a provisional top qualifying time of 6.03 seconds.
Bray was on a mission after a non-qualifying effort in Sydney a fortnight ago and was able to marginally upstage the season opening event winner, John Zappia who claimed a 6.06 second pass.
Queensland Events Top Alcohol saw the best Funny Car and Dragster drivers add to the action packed drag racing entertainment.
With the promise of big numbers being achieved in this category over the next two days, it was Brisbane’s multiple Group One competitor Brett Stevens leading the way with a 5.62 second performance.
The Travelaire Tours Pro Stock ranks are again full of impressive looking machinery in season 2007/08 and the opening night spoils belonged to John Barbagallo in the perfect start to his Nationals campaign.
Two wheeled quarter mile duels were just as impressive with Stevens showing his class by securing top honours in Morgan and Wacker Top Bike with a 6.67 second pass while Melbourne’s Callam Godeassi also enjoyed early front-running in Morgan and Wacker Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The annual Australian Nationals, which again features all six Group One professional categories, kicks off a new season for Queensland drag racing having been secured to the State in 2002 with the support of Queensland Events Corporation under its Major Events portfolio.
Such support has allowed Willowbank Raceway to maintain its reputation as one of the premier tracks in Australia.
Willowbank officials will use the 42nd Australian Nationals as an appropriate springboard towards a revamped 10-month program of drag racing events
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