Following non-qualification in Round 1 at Perth Motorplex earlier this year, Steven Reed faced a challenge to get back into contention for the 2014 Top Alcohol ANDRA Drag Racing Series championship.

Team Bray Racing is currently putting the final touches on their preparation for the biggest drag racing event of the year – the FUCHS Winternationals.

For current ANDRA Pro Stock Champion Jason Grima, his 2014 campaign so far hasn’t quite delivered the on track results he had hoped for. But he knows how tough Pro Stock is and how things can turn around quickly from race to race.

Just days remain until more than 400 racers hit the track at Willowbank Raceway for the largest championship drag race held outside of the US – the FUCHS Winternationals (Thursday 5 June to Sunday 8 June).

When the FUCHS Winternationals kick-off at Willowbank Raceway next weekend (June 5-8), Chris Porter (Top Fuel Motorcycle) and Luke Crowley (Pro Stock Motorcycle) will be looking to make a mark in their respective title defences, and they say Willowbank Raceway is the best place to do it.

Richie Crampton made a little bit of history overnight, becoming the 100th different driver to win an NHRA Top Fuel event and the second Australian to take a pro win. Drag News Australia listened in on his post race media conference.

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).