29 July 2010
Jay Upton and his Top Fuel Promotions Team had a mixed season in 2009/10.
In a year that saw the team recover the National Record from New Zealand and set the fastest half track speed in the world this year, Upton was disappointed not to regain the National Title, finishing runner-up in the Championship they have won four times already.
‘We don’t count the second places” quipped Jay, “but we’d have to be close to ten by now!”
Upton and the team have run at the pointy end of the sport all over the world, but three years in a row have been hit by circumstance… a transport incident that destroyed a chassis and much of the support equipment, a new engine program that caused several explosions, and a horrific crash that completely destroyed a brand new bike and left Jay with a broken pelvis.
Losing in the semi-final at the recent Winternationals…. to a starter motor problem, typified the recent challenges the team has faced.
“I guess we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves….. We did win an event this year, set a National Record, got into the Finals at two events, and made runner up in the title chase….and we think that’s a bad year!” Jay Upton.
The Team will likely field two bikes for season 2010/11 and seek opportunities to include a car in the team going forward.
Jay and the TFP team have contested more than 100 National Events at the professional level in Australia, and continue to campaign the most unique and recognisable Drag Racing vehicles in the world today.
“We could not have achieved this without the incredible support that racing fans the world over have shown to us, and without the continued support of our sponsors and our racing peers over the years. Thank You All! Gates Belts and Hose, Sprintex Superchargers, Honda MPE, Crawford Real Estate, Speed Torque, Ranch Auto Engineers, JPP, Bravo Resources, SignHere Signs, TomCat Hardchrome, Gulf Western Oils, Sainty Engineering.