NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel rookie, Terry Sainty, has long held a dream to race in America at the highest level – Top Fuel.
Sainty will realise that dream when he takes to the Auto Club Raceway, Pomona, California, on Thursday for the first Top Fuel qualifying session at the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals.
Sainty and the Sydney-based Rapisarda Racing started their 2011 NHRA US tour, testing at Firebird International Raceway, Phoenix, Arizona, last weekend, and while the test sessions were rain interrupted, the team came away with valuable information for this weekend’s Winternationals.
“It has been a long held dream of the Sainty family to race in the USA with our own team, however, that hasn’t been able to happen,” Sainty said.
“This is weekend is the start of the next best thing, being able to come and compete in the NHRA. My sincerest thanks must go to Santo Rapisarda and the Rapisarda Racing team for allowing me an opportunity of a lifetime.
“It’s also great to have Mum (Margaret) and Dad (Stan) here (at Pomona) with me to witness this awesome part of my career.”
Rapisarda Racing team manager, Santo Rapisarda Jnr, said despite the rain in Phoenix, which interrupted the test sessions and forced the team to stay on until last Monday in order to get in some extra testing, the team came away with valuable information for the Winternationals.
“It’s a shame we lost two days due to weather at Phoenix, however, we need to look at the positive side of things, we did get to make some passes and the information gained was very good information, which will be put to good use at Pomona,” Rapisarda said.
“The two runs the team made on Monday, although not being full (1000-foot) track passes, the early incrementals showed to be quicker that the team’s 1000-foot personal best of 3.93-second run, recorded during the October 2010 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals event.”
Rapisarda Racing plan to contest at least 12 NHRA Full Throttle events.
Follow the Rapisarda Racing 2011 US tour on the Rapisarda Racing website, www.rapisardaracing.com.au.
