There will be plenty of US attention on next weekend's Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway with a number of competitors travelling over the Pacific to compete at the largest drag racing event outside of North America.

Aussie expat Rhett Lougheed will be chief among them, returning to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time in his native country since 2009.

Lougheed, originally from Southport in Queensland, is a mechanic for AMA Superbikes team Yoshimura Racing but still finds time to get in the occasional drag race both in the NHRA and ANDRA sanctions.

“I try and race one or two events a year where I can and I have always been keen to come back to race in the Fuchs Winternationals, but each and every year since I have been in the US there has been a conflicting event so I haven’t been able to fly over,” said Lougheed, who moved to the US in 2004 after claiming the 1997 and 2002 ANDRA Competition Bike championships.

“In 2012 that changed but I was only able to attend as a spectator, so I am very pleased that this year it has all come together for me to come over and compete – I am really looking forward to it, I love the event, it is a fantastic track and will be fast at this time of year.

“The last time I competed at Willowbank Raceway was for the January 2009 event in Pro Stock Motorcycle, where I was the top qualifier and ran a 7.18 second pass on my way to winning the event. This time around with my bike more ‘sorted’ and cooler weather conditions I will be looking to again hit a low ‘seven second’ pass and possibly the 190 mile per hour marker, and hopefully come off with the win.

“I have to thank my family and friends both in Australia and the US, as well as sponsors Serco and Springwood Suzuki who have stepped up to cover my freight costs, and Yoshimura and Willowbank Raceway for helping me make this trip a reality – I can’t wait to get out there.”

In Pro Stock, Seattle’s Brandon Huhtala will take the wheel of Jason Grima Motorsports’ 2007 Ford Mustang for the third time this season while also continuing his role as crew chief for the team. When not racing in Australia, Huhtala competes in the NHRA sportsman ranks.

“We signed Brandon as crew chief to the team at the beginning of this season”, said Grima.

“He flies in for each round from his home in Seattle and basically is responsible for everything technical and also the set-up of the cars. We have made some great progress since Brandon joined and I’m currently at the top of the points chase, so things are going well.

“At the Westernationals in Perth we decided to put him in the seat of our second team car to gather more data and race one or two rounds of the championship.

“The problem is that since the recent Nitro Champs in Sydney when Brandon duplicated our six-second pace with a 6.982 ET, he has become like a kid in a candy store. He likes knowing that JGM currently boasts the two quickest Pro Stock vehicles, and he wants more.

“So he is back in the hot seat for the Fuchs Winternationals and together we will be hoping to come out and run more six-second passes and hopefully go after the ANDRA gold Christmas tree trophy as well!”

Meanwhile in the pits, Rob Tucker Racing will benefit from the experience of Colorado’s Dave Lovedahl from Lazarus Race Cars and Illinois’ Bob Book of BRE Competition Carburettors and Engines; while well-known Indianapolis NHRA tuner Tomi Laine will act as crew chief for Lee Bektash (Team Mopar) and provide support for Wayne Daley and his crew chief Mike Marriot (Diamond T Products Mopar).

For more information about the 2013 Fuchs Winternationals, click here.

Image courtesy Grant Stephens/cacklingpipes.com.