Top Fuel Title Battle Wide Open: Nitro Up North Event Preview

Just sixty-five points separate the top three contenders for the most prestigious prize in Australian Drag Racing, the Stan Sainty Cup. Rapisarda Autosport driver Damien Harris leads the championship with 515 points, while three-time title winner Phil Read and two-time and reigning champion Peter Xiberras are tied in second place with 450 points each.

“I am feeling confident. The guys at Rapisarda Autosport International are working hard to do all the prep that is required, and we will see what Darwin brings,” Harris said.

Read is hopeful of claiming his fourth Top Fuel national title for the Hydraulink Jim Read Racing team, which would be his first since 2008.

“We are definitely feeling confident that we can win the race.” Read said.

“You can rest assured we will be doing all we can to put ourselves in the best possible position for the title, and Darwin is a great place to race with a great crowd. Nitro Up North is a great event and hopefully we can come away with a win.”

Reigning champion Peter Xiberras will have dual duties this weekend as the team owner of both the Supercars and Top Fuel PremiAir Hire Racing teams. However, all the focus must lie first and foremost on the Top Fuel Championship decider. If Xiberras can claim the title, it will be his third consecutive national Top Fuel championship in the PremiAir Racing Top Fuel Dragster.

“With a third championship on the line and 65 points between the top three, there’s a lot to play for in Darwin,” Xiberras said.

“We will have to have luck on our side, but this is drag racing, and absolutely anything can happen – we have seen that time and time again."

“We have said it before and we will say it again, anything could happen come the final day of racing in Darwin at Nitro Up North – you do not want to miss this!” Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship Co-Promoter, Andy Lopez, said.

Nitro Up North is set to bring the noise to the top end this weekend as it plays host to the final rounds of the 2022/2023 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship for Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle. For more information head to https://www.topfuelchampionshi...