Nitro Champs qualifying turns it on.
In what many are describing as one of the best event days ever held at the venue, the huge crowd that filled Sydney Dragway was treated to some of the tightest qualifying action on record.
At the top of the highlights reel is ANDRA Top Doorslammer and although it’s two familiar names at the top of the timesheets, the tussle between West Australians Robin Judd and John Zappia has reached new heights.
Judd took the number one position with an amazing 5.76-second pass and although Zappia ran immediately after his championship rival, his 5.78 left him in second place. Sean Misfud and Mark Belleri made use of their home track knowledge to make their way into third and fourth respectively.
Gary Phillips took his Top Alcohol Funny Car to an amazing 5.47 pass that destroyed the field, despite the best efforts of West Australian Adam Marchant, who reset the national record for a Top Alcohol dragster on the way to the number two slot. The funny cars of Steven Ham and Steven Reed snuck in ahead of the dragster of Top Alcohol newcomer Brett White.
A full field of Top Fuel cars were entered for the meeting and last year’s champion Darren Morgan bested them all with his final pass of the night, the resultant 4.70 saw him comfortably in front of Damien Harris and local boy, Terry Sainty.
A massive field of Pro Stock cars was battling to make it into the 16-car field and the quickest of the lot was the Ford Mustang of Dave Newcombe. Category veteran Peter Ridgeway was next in line ahead of Soldatos and Tucker, but the top 11 cars were all in the 7.0-second range, an amazing result.
Chris Matheson headed the small Top Bike field, with Chris Porter, Graeme Morell and Gavin Spann all looking to upset Matheson come race day.
Maurice Allen continues to be the most consistent racer in Pro Stock Motorcycle and the reigning champion’s 7.44-second pass saw him ahead of South Australian veteran Phil Howard. Wooster and White headed Ireland and Gilbertson inn the six-bike field.
The racing will continue tomorrow from 10am at Sydney Dragway – ladies are admitted free for the entire day!
See www.sydneydragway.com.au for more details.
2012 NITRO CHAMPS
FINAL DAY – May 6 2012
RACING – 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday – 6th May
Adult – $40
12-16 – $30
Seniors – $30
Family – $100 (2 x Adults + 3 x 12-16 years)
Under 12 – FREE?
Ladies FREE (Sunday only)