Crash not enough to stop championship chase.
Wayne Newby elevated himself in the championship rankings for the Top Alcohol division of the ANDRA Pro Series over the weekend in Adelaide, but it came at a price with a crash in the final badly damaging his JBS Tools dragster.
Now plans are in motion to ensure the team will be able to compete in the next round of the series at the Nitro Champs, taking place at Newby’s home track Sydney Dragway.
The team had a Funny Car already being imported from the USA and plans to race this have now been brought forward – providing it arrives on time.
“I’m hoping to get the Funny Car which is still on the water from the USA, the boat was meant to dock on Monday,” Newby said. “If that’s not here in time I will borrow Aaron Hambridge’s car. We will be at the Nitro Champs, we’re just not sure what in.”
Newby said the team had a horror start to the event, missing the field but coming in as a reserve when Mark Probst had to withdraw with engine damage.
The tune up came right through the first round and semi finals, but Newby said he overstepped the mark for the final.
“When I saw John Cannuli run the 4.89sec (in the semi finals) I knew we had to hop it up and we went too far. No excuses, I just drove it too far,” he said.
“I’m a little bit sore in the legs but it’s mainly just my pride that’s hurt.”
The runner up appearance lifted Newby to second in the points, just one point behind Queensland’s Gary Phillips who went out in the first round in Adelaide.
Meanwhile Adam Marchant is also within just one round of the lead, the Western Australian driver enjoying his best season yet.
The Nitro Champs take place at Sydney Dragway on May 4, 5 and 6.