As the saying goes, it’s better to be lucky than good but Jess Turner was good and lucky on her way to a first ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree at the Fuchs Winternationals in the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.

Turner upset the likes of teammate Kenny Stewart who experienced engine troubles at the startline in round two and current Champion Craig Baker in round three on a double breakout.

The young Victorian pushed Baker all the way on a 7.921 on a 7.93 dial in from Baker’s 8.391 on an 8.43 meaning Turner won on account of going less under her dial in than Baker.

Luck was again on her side as Andrew Pinkstone broke out with an 8.136 on an 8.17 dial in catapulting Turner into a solo semi final pass and again in the final when her opponent Cann Childs’ engine backfired shooting flames skyward on the start up. 

“It’s unreal, it’s our first Gold Christmas Tree so we’re stoked that we won it,” Turner said.

“They say it’s better to be lucky than good and we’ve definitely had our luck along the way but we’ve also done pretty good. It’s an awesome feeling.”

Also in Modified Greg Wardle recorded a new B/HR National record with an 8.76 at 149.02 mph backing up his 8.75 at 149.05 mph in qualifying to smash the previous mark of 10.53 at 125.07 mph. 

Kyle Putland made his journey from WA worthwhile by taking out the Winternationals title in Competition Eliminator defeating Omar Sedmak in the final with a 6.692 on a 6.95 dial in from an 8.321 on a 7.32. That final run backed up his round one 6.678 ET to reset the National A/A record. 

Clint George rode his luck through eliminations but he was in form when it mattered to take the honours in Super Stock with a 7.397 on a 7.62 from a red lighting Mario Barbon.

Also in Super Stock Tony O’Connor’s A/MP Modified automatic Falcon won the ANDRA Best Engineered Award for his locally built vehicle utilising custom built parts made by O’Connor’s son including an inlet manifold in what is effectively a street car.

Kelly Bettes remained number one all weekend throughout qualifying and was the one to beat during Super Compact eliminations and in the final Chris Hall did just that with an 8.596 on an 8.25 index from Bettes’ 8.393 on a 7.35.

Daryn Schuster maintained his form to win the Winternationals title in Competition Bike defeating Ross Smith in the final with an 8.398 on an 8.86 index from Smith’s 8.643 and 8.58. Schuster’s final ET 159.40 mph was enough to reset both ends of the D/AB National record.

Rodney Hansen took home the Gold in Supercharged Outlaws with a 6.819 on the 6.77 dial in from Jake Donnelly with a 6.778 on the 6.61.

Peter Whitbourne triggered the red light in the Super Sedan final leaving Rick Nielsen to win with a 10.353 on a 10.32 in what was something of a nostalgia race between a classic Holden and Ford.

In a picture of consistency Joe Khoury ran close to his dial in all day going on to win the Modified Bike final with a 9.420 on the 9.44 from Reegan Ward’s 8.537 and 8.58 dial in. Brian Hotker won the ANDRA Longest Distance Award travelling 4440 kms from WA to be here this weekend. 

After losing in the Super Street final at the Nationals last November Robert Winterburn finally won his first Gold Christmas Tree with an 11.326 on the 11.25 from David Cope’s 11.601 and 11.40 dial in.

Victor Bray’s granddaughter Madison McClennan won the Junior Dragster final in what was an emotional weekend for the family after Ben Bray’s Factory Xtreme accident yesterday. Her 9.101 on the 9.09 pipped Cory Burns running a 7.971 on the 7.96.

And finally Dale O’Dwyer began on a high in Super Gas taking out previous Champion Simon Isherwood in round one then going all the way to the final where he and Loughlin Boyde both broke out. O’Dwyer won with a 9.893 from Boyde’s 9.890.

The Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship now moves to Alice Spring Inland Dragway for the Desert Nationals 19-20 July, 2014.

For full results from the Fuchs Winternationals please click here.

Image courtesy: Dragphotos.com.au