Three-times ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel champion Phil Read will be upgrading to a new chassis in order to improve both his performances and safety, with first runs to be made this Friday, December 3 at Sydney Dragway.
The dragster is from top USA team Kalitta Motorsport and has the latest in upgrades used by teams in the world’s premier drag racing series.
“Racing at the peak of the ANDRA Pro Series requires the best in equipment so we’re not cutting any corners,” Read said.
“The new Auto One/Valvoline/Wynn’s/Snap-on/McDonald’s dragster has the latest in not only performance but also safety upgrades; it’s good to have that kind of confidence when you’re travelling to over 500kph in a touch under five seconds.”
The plan is for the team to make three passes in the car to make sure that everything is perfect ahead of round three of the championship in Willowbank.
“All things going well, the car will make its first competition runs at the next round of the Pro Series,” Read said.
“But we still have the current car as our back up of course and that is a proven competitive combination.”
The livery on the new dragster sees the Jim Read Racing team reverting to a traditional red with a chrome stripe across the panels.
“It looks similar to what Dad used to race with, with a modern twist,” Phil said.
“It’s all designed around offering maximum exposure to our partners both at the track and on the national One HD coverage.”
The start of the season has been something of a mixed bag for both Phil Read and Jim Read Racing team mate Martin Stamatis, who sit in fifth and seventh respectively but have so far had a monopoly on top qualifying positions and low elapsed times.
“We know we have the performances to move back to the top of the ladder; we finished one-two last season for a reason,” Phil said.
“To be honest it’s just some luck we need to go our way, Queensland has been good to us in the past and we will definitely be looking to turn our season around when we race there.”
Off the track, Phil Read and the Auto One/Valvoline/Wynn’s/Snap-on/McDonald’s dragster recently made an appearance at the Detroit Diesel heavy machinery workshop in Singleton where the nitro-fuelled motor was fired up for an appreciative audience.
“We started the car up twice and gave the local area a shake; thanks to all the staff for making it a great day,” he said.
Fans wanting to check out the new Auto One/Valvoline/Wynn’s/Snap-on/McDonald’s dragster for the first time should head to Sydney Dragway this Friday night for the Full Throttle Friday event, which also features a full complement of Sydney’s best drag racing vehicles.
Phil Read and the Jim Read Racing team would like to thank their partners: Auto One, Valvoline, Wynn’s, Snap-on, Detroit Diesel, McDonald’s, Champion Spark Plugs, Odyssey Batteries, Goodson, Kalitta Motorsports, Kenny Signs, Hurlcon and Crane Cams.
