Read and Stamatis set the pace

Martin Stamatis and Phil Read raced their Jim Read Racing Top Fuel Dragsters to the number 1 and 2 qualifying positions at Willowbank Raceway’s 2010 Winternationals for day 1 of Friday qualifying.

 

 In the first round of qualifying, Read launched and shut-off, but it was Stamatis who thundered up the Willowbank Raceway to record a great top qualifying 4.657-second time at 310.34 mph (499.44 kmh) on the warm afternoon track.

 

After a turn around on the cars with no problems for the crews, it was back into it for round two where Stamatis and Read paired up for the day’s final qualifying session, and with the sun now set and the track a lot cooler, both JRR cars burned out and lined up for a fantastic race against each other which saw Stamatis blast away for another great 4.68 winning time at a slowing 298.35 mph (480.14 kmh), beating Read’s 4.75 with a fast chasing 315.86 mph (508.32 kmh), which was good enough to jump him into second place on the qualifying list.

 

Commenting after the runs, Stamatis was quietly confident with his Billview dragster saying that it was good to have a consistent car: “It’s great to be in the number 1 position here in Willowbank.  Now that we have a car that can get our power down the track for the full quarter mile is good for me, and allows me now to just concentrate on doing my job.  It’s a credit to all of my crew, and the entire JRR team who put the long and tiring hours into these machines back in the JRR workshop to make it all happen, and for my Crew Chief Robert Cavagnino was spot on for his tune-up for the day.  We will be back tomorrow for two more qualifying sessions, and we are happy with our top spot 4.65 which has given us a great amount of confidence now knowing that we are back running quick times again”.

 

Phil Read was also happy with his Auto One dragster saying: “if we can keep our number one and two qualifying positions like this for tomorrow, that would be great!  To see both Jim Read Racing cars qualify first and second today is a huge confidence boost for our entire team for all of the hard work that they do.  Our Auto One car is back performing where it should be, and thanks to my brother Bruce Read who tunes the car, we can come back to the track tomorrow slightly relaxed now knowing that both Jim Read Racing cars have qualified on top and in second place, so let’s hope it stays that way for tomorrow”.

 

After a cold and chilly start to the day today at the Willowbank Raceway, the sunny skies finally came around after some cloud cover cleared up in the afternoon, and with the forecast looking much the same for tomorrow, the Top Fuel action for day two of qualifying is sure to bring with it some great racing action, along with the other 480+ race Entrants who have piled in for one of the biggest events on the annual Australian Drag Racing calendar.

 

Day two of the ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel qualifying action is scheduled to run from 1.30pm, with the final session scheduled for 5pm.

 

For more information on this year’s 2010 Winternationals, visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au and www.jimreadracing.com.au