The Supercharged Outlaws field will be boosted by the return of several heavy hitters to the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship this weekend at Adelaide International Raceway.
Donald Friend will continue his campaign by crossing the Nullarbor on the back of a quarter final appearance at the Westernationals while Matt Watts, Doina Day, Ryan Van Dyk and Darryl Walford are among those joining a strong local contingent.
Walford has just recently returned from the US looking at Nitro Funny Cars in an effort to join the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car show next year but in Adelaide he is looking to make up for lost time in Group 3 after forgoing the Western swing.
“Unfortunately costs have restricted travel to the West and I hope we can catch up with some points in the next few rounds,” he said.
“We missed a couple of rounds last year and I need to be more focused as the car is reliable and fast now. It’s going to be tough like any round in Outlaws and I’m hoping we won’t have the temperatures (in Adelaide) like we did last year.”
“Last season as it was my first time travelling the country and I’d Like to thank Aeroflow, all the tracks and staff, great job everyone. Also this couldn’t have happened without Dave ‘Skips’ Saunders at Skips Fire and all our minor sponsors, the crew and family.”
Meanwhile Queenslander Ryan Van Dyk, son of Pro Stock legend Hans, said he has not even touched the his dragster since Round 1 at Fuchs Southcoast Raceway in Portland having taken time away to work in the Pilbara Flat but he said he is excited to get back on track.
“The only preparations have been the driver hitting the gym and growing a moustache,” he said laughing. “The car ran like a dream in Portland going eight hundredths and three mph better than it has ever gone to the eighth mile.”
“I’m really excited about racing in Adelaide especially after the washout in Portland and deciding not to run the Perth rounds. I was itching to get back in the car, then I went out to Kwinana for a look at the Westernats and now I’m chomping at the bit.”
“Also to be racing for the first time at AIR where Dad had a lot of success in Pro Stock and Super Stock over the years is quite exciting as well.”
Van Dyk is expecting some good numbers in Adelaide and hopes he can break the five second barrier over the 1000 feet surface.
“I think Adelaide has always been a place to run good numbers with the good atmospheric conditions and from what I can gather the track preparation has been getting better and better since racing has returned to AIR so I am hoping to break into the 5 second range over 1000 feet.”
The field in Supercharged Outlaws is sure to be tough with heavy hitters matching up with some tough local cars and it should make for some pretty darn good racing I reckon.”
Qualifying for Round 4 of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship gets underway tomorrow night from 5:00pm at Adelaide International Raceway. Racing continues from 9:00am Saturday.
For more information please click here.
Image supplied by Darryl Walford