For the first time in ANDRA Championship Drag Racing history, the 3000 plus horsepower, supercharged V8 sedans of Top Doorslammer will rock the Valley in Round 7 of the ANDRA Drag Racing Series.
Ten Doorslammers from across the country will attempt to squeeze into an eight car field for vital Championship points in what is becoming another chase to reel in six time Champion John Zappia following his back to back victories at the X-Champs and Fuchs Winternationals.
One of those looking to close the gap is Queenslander Stuart Bishop who currently sits in second place, 106 points behind Zappia.
Although the Wallace Bishop Jewellers team faces an uphill battle to make up ground, the 2014 season has already proved highly successful for one of the only competitors in Doorslammer using a torque converter successfully as opposed to a traditional clutch set up found in many other race cars.
“Anything is possible,” says Crew Chief Daniel Reed. “Zappia will be extremely tough as always. We will just go out there and do the best we can.
“If we manage to gain some points on him, great, if not, we will have gained some data and knowledge for next year. Getting some race laps under our belt is the best way for us to keep moving forward.”
This will be the first time Reed has visited Hidden Valley Drag Strip with a Doorslammer but he does have some experience to draw upon with his Dad, Steven Reed, having competed in Top Alcohol at this event last year.
“(I’ve) never raced there with the Doorslammer before. I’m sure the track conditions will be stout. It won’t be like going to some of the more rundown tracks.
“A lot of money has been spent on it recently, and I’m sure the track crew have the knowledge and experience to make the traction every bit as good as Sydney, Perth and Willowbank.
“Matt Abel has run a few 5.90s there recently, and Zap has run a 5.8 there in the past, so we will go there with our ‘good’ track set-up and go from there.
“Darwin has a fantastic track, and is a great destination for motorsport. The whole city really gets behind it. It’s fantastic for ANDRA to have another quality complex on their calendar.”
Gates open at 5pm on Friday July 11 and 2:30pm on Saturday July 12. Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Top Fuel Motorcycle are scheduled to be on track from approximately 6pm.
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