Fans attending the inaugural John Taverna Classic March 1 at Calder Park Raceway will get to see a stellar Pro Stock field including new machines in both Pro Stock and Comp Eliminator.
Jason Hedges will be debuting his recently purchased GXP, built in 2009 by RJ Race Cars, after sitting out last season while the new entry from Micheal Busetti and Hugo Digianvincensio is the Texas Pro Stock championship winning A/APA – GXP.
Hedges recently put down five passes during testing in Bakersfield, California with the best ET a 7.11 at 192 mph.
“For a first outing we were pleased,” said Hedges. “JHR have only raced three seasons in Pro Stock and as always will set the goal of a top five finish in the points.”
“We finished 3rd in the points in 2011 and that was a credit to the team and sponsors.”
“It’s going to be tough as the Pro Stock guys have stepped up dramatically in power and the ETs are so quick and close now. So we are going to have to rely on car set up and tune ups each race to get us through to qualify.”
MR Taxman has jumped on board with JHR as the major sponsor for 2014 joining first time sponsors Red Handed Security and Modern Edge Electrical.
Former Super Stock racer Daniel Grima has taken on the role of crew chief while Dave Tucker will also join the JHR crew once his NHRA commitments with nephew Shane are complete.
“Dave’s job will be not only to take care of the engine, but provide the team that insight into track conditions from his extensive ‘Race Pack Brain’ of his,” joked Hedges.
Meanwhile Busetti and Digianvincensio’s new car was originally a Hass 2008 Cobalt from Warren Johnson Racing, built to NHRA Prostock specifications. The car was purchased by Larry Pearce in 2009 and upgraded to a Pontiac GXP in a $64k upgrade.
“The car ran in Texas Pro Stock that required automatic transmission, single 4-barrel carb, conventional heads, engine capacity less than 565ci and weigh in at 2,450 lbs,” said Busetti. “It ran 4.50s on the 1/8 mile and was two time Texas Pro Stock champion.”
The car was imported to Australia 3 weeks ago, with some testing last week at Portland Raceway. The JTC at Calder will be the cars first 1/4 mile pass in Australia. The task for Busetti, driver Hugo DiGianvincenzo and the crew is to get the car to run consistently over the 1/4 mile.
“An initial 1/4 mile pass in the US prior to the car being shipped over was in the 7.1s, with the car nosing over at the finish line due to incorrect gearing.”
Entries are flowing in for the inaugural event and the scene is set for a big showdown in all classes including, Super Comp, Outlaws, S/ Sedan, S/Street, S/Gas, Modified, Modified Bike, J/Dragster. Entries close February 24th.
Commemorating the contribution John Taverna had to our sport, the John Taverna Classic is a five event state championship beginning with the $5000 to win Pro Stock Shootout.
For more information please visit www.calderparkdragracing.com.au