Phil Read Keeps Championship Alive After Win In Perth

Veteran top fuel driver Phil Read in the Hydraulink Top Fuel dragster took home a monumental round win at the MAC Track 52nd Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex last weekend. It was a must-win round for Phil as he fought to keep his championship prospects wide open, narrowing the gap to championship leader Damien Harris from Rapisarda Autosport International.

The three-time ANDRA national champion took the win in the A-final over PremiAir Racing owner/driver Peter Xiberras in a thrilling final that saw an incredible drive job from Phil to clinch the round win. Phil said:

“That was a fantastic race," said Read. “The car shook hard. I had to give it a pedal and it shook again. I peddled a couple more times and then finally got it down the track. It was close, but I was ninety-nine per cent sure I had the win.

“What a final, and what a day. Once again Top Fuel proves it is the greatest show on Earth.”

Phil’s round win secures P2 in the championship, narrowing Harris’ championship lead to just thirty points. Damien Harris took home third place with an incredibly narrow win in the B-final against RAI team mate, Wayne Newby. The race was so close, it required extended deliberations of the slow- motion camera to declare a winner (also due to significant timing issues over the weekend).

It was a massive weekend for WA local and the newest member of the Top Fuel fraternity, Kyle Putland, who took his first ever race win in the C-Final against Phil Lamattina.

In ADRC Top Doorslammer, it was Western Australia’s Daniel Gregorini who backed up last year’s Westernationals and Goldenstates wins here in Perth with another A-Final win, this time over Kelvin Lyle. Gregorini took the win on a holeshot, with a 5.752 second pass at 410.22kph over Lyle’s 5.747 at 413.14kph run. Daniel said:

“Today went well, we ran some seventies and got a holeshot win in the final – getting a holeshot win is always pretty cool. So we are the back to back Westernationals winners, and we won at the Goldenstates as well – we just seem to keep winning in Perth!”

Two rounds remain in the championship chases for the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship for Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle – the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway across May 5 and 6, and the season-ending Nitro Up North in Darwin on June 16 and 17.

To learn more about the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championships, visit www.topfuelchampionship.com.au