The 2013 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway is shaping up to be one of the very best. With Darren Morgan and Phil Lamattina locked in equal 1st position on 487 points, round 8 of the ANDRA Top Fuel Championships will be a knock ‘m down, drag ‘m out affair with victory catapulting the winner to the top of the leader board.
Returning to the traditional eliminations format, 6 Top Fuel Dragsters will begin qualifying this Saturday with eliminations on Sunday. Of special interest is USA Racer Tommy Johnson Jr, who will be racing the Rapisarda Autosport International dragster campaigned by Larry Dixon at last month’s Extreme 3 event at Willowbank Raceway.
For Darren Morgan though it’s business as usual as the team looks to gap the field and put some points between Darren and Phil Lamattina. “We won the last event in Sydney and after two runner-ups at the Extreme 3 event we’re busting to get to the track and lay down some stout numbers.”
After two rounds featuring the new Three Round Format Darren and the team are keen to get back to traditional eliminations racing. “The two back-to-back Three Round Format events have been brutal on the team. We’re excited about running traditional eliminations and putting on a great show for the fans”.
Like Darren, tuner Ben Patterson is keen to see what the team can do on Saturday’s qualifying. “With the championship battle so close it could be the little points that make the difference; the points you get for top speed, quickest ET and qualifying position.”
“At the Extreme 3 meeting we had a couple of technical issues and these have been sorted out. The team has had a lot of success at Sydney Dragway and we aim to keep it that way.”
The Nitro Champs will also see the return of Nitro Funny Car as an exhibition class. These short-wheel based cousins of the Top Fuel Dragster will be on track twice on Saturday and once on Sunday. And with oversubscribed fields in most Group 1 categories, the Nitro Champs will be an event not to be missed.
For all the action and more make sure you get to Sydney Dragway this weekend for an over-dose of Nitro. On Saturday you can see Darren Morgan Racing in Group 1 qualifying action from 11:40am and eliminations on Sunday from 11:30am.
Darren Morgan Racing would like to thank their sponsors, K Trans WA, Shannons Insurance and Victorian American Imports along with their many associate partners.
Current ANDRA Top Fuel Championship Points
1. Darren Morgan 487
2. Phil Lamattina 487
3. Steve Read 287
4. Mark Sheehan 184
5. Allan Dobson 182
6. Damien Harris 171
7. Luke Shepherd 87
8. Larry Dixon 72
9. Martin Stamatis 63
10. Terry Sainty 44
