Allen Puglia is eagerly awaiting a return to Pro Stock competition come the 42nd annual Westernationals at Perth Motorplex.
Puglia’s distinctive purple Ford Mustang has been off the track for a while, with the Western Australian racer concentrating on the domestic Super Comp championship – one in which he has racked up four series titles.
Puglia admits that in his first foray into ANDRA Pro Stock in June 2011 he was taking on a lot at once.
“I took too much on and put a lot on my plate,” he said. “We were building a new truck, debuting a new car, getting an engine program happening and trying to do it while travelling across the country.
“When we had the new car we were trying some stuff where we could have used some more testing, but now we are more prepared.”
Puglia expects the Pro Stock field to be well into the 7.0 second zone come race day.
“If we’re not in the 7.0s we will be wasting our time,” he said. “We know we’ve got the power so if everything else is right we should be there.
“Our Ford Mustang came from the same shop as Dave Newcombe’s and we are bringing John Barbagallo across to help tune the car so it is a matter of getting all the little bits and pieces right.”
Puglia said the technology race in Pro Stock continues to move at rapid pace, with shock absorber technology in particular proving an ever increasing factor.
“The shock technology is nothing like we have ever run and you need to spend a lot of time and money on it to get it right,” he said. “But we have all the right gear and the driver is half okay so all it needs is a bit of luck and some clean runs.”
The 42nd annual Westernationals will be run over March 2-3 at Perth Motorplex and will also feature rounds of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship and Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.
Image courtesy dragphotos.com.au.