Australian Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton made good in his second event back as a driver on the NHRA tour, reaching the final round of the Carolina Nationals at Zmax Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Despite problems with the engine lifting the blower at the end of most of his runs, Crampton survived scathes with Scott Palmer in round one (3.75 def 3.86), then championship leader Steve Torrence (3.76 def 3.78) and Brittany Force (3.80 def 3.85) before bowing out to team mate Doug Kalitta in the final after the SealMaster dragster dropped cylinders during the run.
It has been a busy week for Crampton, with the Adelaide native also competing in the first three days of Hot Rod Drag Week with his 57 Chev wagon.
“We tried hard with the SealMaster/Toyota Racing dragster and came up a little short but it was a great result all round for Kalitta Motorsports with a team final round, Doug Kalitta and the Mac Tools car grabbing the NHRA Wally, and Dougie taking the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points lead,” Crampton said.
The tour moves on to St Louis, Illinois this weekend.
