Australian Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton has won his first NHRA event, taking out the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Crampton beat points leader Doug Kalitta in a thrilling final round, 3.819 to 3.848, becoming just the second Australian-born pro winner in NHRA history, on a weekend where not even shredding front tyres could stop the Geico team. “Has this really happened?” Crampton said. “I’m absolutely over the moon with this win. I already know I’m the luckiest guy in the pit and now we’ve proven it. This is beyond anything I could have ever imagined to go from a crew guy to standing here with a Wally (trophy) in just a few months time. “I’m so humbled that GEICO, Lucas Oil, and Toyota showed faith in me and gave me this awesome opportunity. I’m really quite stunned at the moment.” Adding a special twist to the occasion, Crampton’s father Al was on the starting line for the memorable moment. Crampton’s parents are visiting from Adelaide, South Australia, primarily to help with new baby girl Emma, whom Crampton and his longtime girlfriend Stephanie Laski welcomed into the world on May 20th. “The timing was perfect,” Crampton said. “I had a really tearful moment with Dad at the top end when he arrived down there. He’s the reason I’m racing. The sacrifices him and my mum (June) made taking me to go-kart races and the drags back home when I was a boy, all the encouragement, I simply wouldn’t be here without them. “The only problem is Mum’s back in Indiana with Stephanie and she’ll be quite upset she missed this, I’m sure. I can’t wait to get home and share this moment with everyone there.” When he takes a moment to reflect on this victory, Crampton will realise he earned the hardware. After qualifying No. 2 on the grid, he seemed to be the clear favourite in the opening round until he noticed his right front wheel was going flat as he backed up from the prerace burnout. “I’d never had that happen, so I didn’t know whether to give up or just go for it,” he said. “I decided to just go and it was surprising how well the car steered considering the rubber was shredding the entire way down the track.” Crampton then had to pedal his car in both the quarter and semi-finals to get to the other end, outdriving JR Todd and reigning world champion Shawn Langdon in the process. The final against top qualifier Kalitta was a straight-up drag race with Crampton winning with a 3.819 at 320.51 mph to Kalitta’s 3.848 at 317.34 mph. Including the reaction times, Crampton’s margin of victory was just .009-second. “Doug’s had the car this year so far, so to better him that round was a real accomplishment,” he said. “I bet this news will ring across Australia pretty well. I’m doing my best to represent Australian drag racing, and I know we have a lot of folks keeping up with us down there. I bet some pints will be downed at the pubs tonight!” {fcomment}

It was a totally different track on day two of the official Fuchs Winternationals Warm Up with the sun putting some good heat into the track which promised there would be some good numbers from a few teams.

Mother Nature had the final say on day one of the Winternationals Warm Up, beforehand though there was still plenty of action as teams work to fine tune ahead of next weekend’s showcase Winternationals.

The Fuchs Winternationals is ready to rock Brisbane but first many of those racers will be doing pre-event testing at the official warm up this weekend May 31-June 1.

Brothers Aaron and Tyronne Tremayne are ready to fire at the Fuchs Winternationals after rebuilding not one, but two damaged engines.

Mark Drew will be tackling Australia’s biggest drag racing event, the Fuchs Winternationals, with a brand new ride as he attempts to claim his first Top Fuel Motorcycle championship.

The strengthening of Top Fuel in Australia continues with the second full, eight car field of the season set to compete at the Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway on June 5-8. Part of the reason for this growth has been the strong foundation racer association Top Fuel Australia has been setting for its member teams. Top Fuel Australia has successfully sought funds for its members to ensure that teams from around the country can cover some of the basic costs involved with attending a drag racing event, such as transport or air fares for crew members – rain, hail or shine. By lowering this first risk barrier, the result has been teams who are feeling more confident about travelling, knowing they have the security of meeting their costs under all circumstances, and an improving show for race fans around the country. In a statement on behalf of members, Top Fuel Australia says that the future is looking bright for competitor numbers. “It is hoped that the Fuchs Winternationals will represent the first of many full and oversubscribed fields for Top Fuel in the future. “The growing confidence among teams to attend events around the country is a win for everyone involved. Racers love having strong fields to compete against, venues love a full field to promote a great show and of course the fans get to witness nitro racing at strength.” Another of Top Fuel Australia’s roles has been to build relationships with venues on behalf of members and this has seen a continuation of positive development with Willowbank Raceway and its hard working staff and board. “A good working relationship with venues makes everything run smoothly for events and when the organisation goes smoothly the racing seems to benefit. Willowbank Raceway has always been known as a racer’s track and it is certainly living up to that reputation.” The Fuchs Winternationals marks the eighth round of the ANDRA Top Fuel Championship, which then heads to Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to complete the season. {fcomment}

Rob Tucker Racing has announced they will lease motors from Elite Motorsports for the remainder of the team’s part-time season campaign. The decision aims to enhance rookie driver Shane Tucker’s position in the tightly contested NHRA Pro Stock category. 

If the Managing Director of Australia-wide luggage leader Zelows has his way this weekend, there will be a new face in the Top Alcohol field at the upcoming FUCHS Winternationals (5-8 June).

The 2014 NT Titles presented by 7Mate was a high for some but a sad weekend for others, with a mixture of personal bests and unfortunate crashes splattered across the two nights of racing at Hidden Valley Drag Strip.

Rick Gauci has taken his second Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars win, running as quick as 3.81 seconds on the eighth mile at Benaraby Raceway, Queensland. Gauci had three wins on the night, enough to hold out Portland winner Daniel Schultz who took second and Paul Messineo who finished third. Benaraby Raceway was packed to the brim with fans keen for the biggest ever nitro show to be held at the regional venue. Fans were treated not only to the new breed of nitro racers such as Nathan Peirano and Daniel Schultz but also a few legends of the past such as Harold Campbell and his ‘Insanity’ Funny Car. Starting his licensing procedures in the ‘Time Traveler’ was Zac Peirano, leaving father Peter very proud. We will bring you a more detailed wrap up soon, but here are some videos from the event that we have collected from around the interwebs. Above, a YouTube compilation from Aidan Duncan. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. Paul Messineo goes 3.91 in ‘Dark Horse’ to defeat a 4.05 from Peter Leahy and ‘Superbad’. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. A 4.18 from ‘Supacharger’ and Daniel Schultz outguns a 4.36 from Nathan Peirano in ‘Time Traveler’. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. A pedalling 4.21 from Anthony Begley in the new, and popular, ‘Stormtrooper’. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. Rick Gauci runs low ET of 3.81 in ‘Nitro Express’. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. Justin Walshe grabs a first round win in ‘Let’s Boogie’ as Aaron Hambridge red lights ‘The Bandit’ out of contention. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. Peter Leahy gets way loose in ‘Superbad’ on this night pass. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. ‘Stormtrooper’ unleashes the Force on ‘Let’s Boogie’. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. ‘Time Traveler’ travels through 201 metres at pace and knocks out ‘Bad to the Bone’ driven by Glenn Moore. Post by Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars. ‘Nitro Sheriff’, driven by Josh Leahy, puts on a show. {fcomment}

From the past three rounds of the ANDRA Top Fuel championship, West Australian fireman Allan Dobson has emerged victorious each time, seeing him in the box seat of the Top Fuel title chase as it heads to Willowbank Raceway’s Fuchs Winternationals (5-8 June).

Australian-born NHRA Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton and girlfriend Stephanie Laski have welcomed their first child into the world on Tuesday afternoon.

With 150 cars entered for round three of the Queensland Drag Racing Championship the sportsman racing on offer was tough and great value for the spectators that made it to this event.

Drag racing is on the most part a very safe sport and incidents are rare, which makes this match up from the recent APSA event at Sydney Dragway all the stranger as two turbocharged monsters end up in flames in the same race!

Willowbank Raceway and ANDRA are pleased to announce the introduction of a 16 car Top Doorslammer field for June’s FUCHS Winternationals (Thursday 5 June to Sunday 8 June).

The three day long APSA Pro Street testing marathon culminated in a epic day at Sydney Dragway.

Drag racing is my sport. It’s your sport. It’s our sport. I love this sport like a fat kid loves cake and these are the reasons why the golden age is not behind us, it’s still to come.

After spending years as a WA state championship bridesmaid, Roger Harris finally broke through for his first Modified Bike title this season at Perth Motorplex and has decided on a new challenge when the new season resumes later this year.

Testing continued today for those over-powered under-tyred APSA Pro Street cars ahead of this weekends shootout.

Twenty-eight year old Grace Howell will make her debut in the Australian professional ranks at Willowbank Raceway’s FUCHS Winternationals (5-8 June 2014), competing in the Pro Stock category.

Hidden Valley Drag Strip is set to be the home of horsepower this weekend as the 2014 NT Titles Presented by 7mate kicks off on Friday night with teams from across the Territory converging on the Valley.

The 2014 APSA Pro Street Shootout series will really crank it up this Saturday at Sydney Dragway, before then though we will be teased with a preview during a few days of testing.

Ten of the world’s quickest and fastest sport compact racers will take to the Willowbank Raceway quarter mile on Friday and Saturday 6th and 7th of June as Factory Xtreme showcase the very best side-by-side turbocharged drag racing on the planet.

The Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Show has a new star – it’s not a driver, crew chief or stunt rider – it’s a new car and the launch of Stormtrooper is likely to be a fan favourite with the kids, as well as the parents.