Adopted Queenslander Steve ‘Pommie’ Read is set to once again lead the local charge at the Fuchs Winternationals.
Following an A Final appearance on the opening night of the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway this past Easter, Read is looking forward to the challenge of Australia’s premier drag racing event.
“It’s the big go,” he said. “Nothing comes close to the atmosphere, the crowd, the pressure and the prestige of this event. It’s a staple event for the once a year race fan, the diehard and everyone in between.
“Winning this event is huge in terms of bragging rights, but it doesn’t come easy. You have to work at it, one round at a time. This is that one race where if you have an A+ Game rather than you’re A-game, you bring it.”
The Winternationals is a source of local pride for Read Speed Racing and with a full field of eight Top Fuel dragsters set to do battle the action will be cutthroat.
“I’m there to go rounds, not make up the numbers,” Read said defiantly. “We know the car is a 4.70 bracket car and we race our own race.
“The racing is batched around that 4.68 – 4.80 mark at the moment, which means we’re right in the mix. We know we can run in the low 60’s if it came down to it, but we also can’t afford a huge parts bill, so it’s a two-edged sword – stay competitive, but not push the car harder than we can afford.
“We have a few new parts and pieces on board for the Winters – we’d like to test prior, but the budget doesn’t stretch that far. If it’s a cold racetrack or an unseasonably warm track, we’ll adjust our tune-up accordingly. Everyone races to the same conditions.”
Top Fuel is set to begin qualifying at the end of day two but the action starts from midday on Thursday June 5 and continues through Sunday June 8.
The Fuchs Winternationals is set to host 430 racers from all across the country and New Zealand to compete in front of approximately 30,000 spectators across the four days.
For full ticket and scheduling information, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au or click here.
Image courtesy: Dragphotos.com.au