Aussie racers Richie Crampton, Dave Grubic and Shane Tucker all experienced the highs and lows of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing during the Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona.
Crampton savoured a first-round Top Fuel victory over Brittany Force that was his first professional win but then suffered a second-round defeat to No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta.
With a .065-second reaction time Crampton sped to a pass of 3.747 seconds at 322.88 mph to easily outrun Force's slowing 4.617 at 279.50 mph.
That put the 33-year-old against Kalitta, who had the quickest car on the track all weekend. While Crampton made a solid pass of 3.764 seconds at 324.67 mph, Kalitta recorded low ET of the round, a 3.729 at a booming 330.15 mph.
Also in Top Fuel, Queenslander Dave Grubnic qualified 13th before defeating Bob Vandergriff in a pedalfest during round one. Unfortunately round two literally went up in smoke on a 9 second pass during defeat to Spencer Massey.
Fellow Queenslander Shane Tucker became the first Australian to make the field for an NHRA Pro Stock event qualifying in 16th despite the team experiencing a start line shutdown courtesy of a fire from the main power cable connecting the battery in Q2.
Tucker was eliminated in round one with a 6.594 second pass at 210.37 mph to top qualifier Vincent Nobile’s 6.524 seconds at 212.29 mph.