17 March 2011
At the last four (Australian National Drag Racing Association) ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series events held at the Sydney venue, Judd has won back-to-back Australian Nationals titles (September 2009 and 2010) and reached the semi finals at the past two Nitro Champs (May 2009 and 2010).
This weekend (Friday and Saturday, March 18 and19), Judd will be looking to put his Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck Studebaker into the third final in four ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship events at the Sydney track.
Judd is also looking to get his Australian Top Doorslammer championship aspirations back on track as well.
After winning his second successive Nationals’ title, Judd left Sydney leading the 2010-2011 Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series, but by his own admission, lost his way at the next Top Doorslammer series event, the Goldenstates Titles at his home track, the Perth Motorplex last December.
“We won the 2009 Goldenstates, but the first round loss at the 2010 event saw us slip from leading the championship to second place. It was a disappointing event and we should have done better,” Judd said.
At the next Pro Series Doorslammer round, the Westernationals, also held at the Perth Motorplex earlier this month (March), Judd reached the semi final. On that run, Judd’s car overpowered the track, which saw him wrestle the Studebaker away from the safety wall in his lane, then the wall in his opponent’s lane. Not reaching the final resulted in Judd slipping to fourth place in the championship race.
“We made significant gains with our Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck ’59 Studebaker at the Westernationals from where we were after the Goldenstates. It was an important race to do well in due to the bonus points awarded at Perth events to attract the racers from the east coast. Those that reached the final were able to capitalise on the points.
“It would be fair to say that in an effort to go faster, the changes we recently made to the car did not really work out, so now we have gone back to the baseline we had for the Nationals last September. Our objective is to get back to running consistently in the 5.80-second zone.
“The Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck team has run pretty well at the last few Sydney events and we hope to continue that form.
“If we can get back to our old form in Sydney, we should be right in the mix to win the event, which means gaining valuable points to put the Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck team right back in the championship hunt.” Judd said.
In the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series, Judd has 295 points, 33 points behind leader John Zappia (328pts). Second is Mark Belleri (323pts), followed by Maurice Fabietti (317pts).