For a slender moment during the Top Alcohol Final of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Ipswich’s Willowbank Raceway Debbie Reed appeared to have re-written the Australian Drag Racing record books.

Having to win the Final against Aaron Hambridge to become the first female to win an Australian Drag Racing professional championship Reed appeared to have achieved the honour when Hambridge jumped the start lights.

However, as fate would have it Reed made contact with the concrete wall at around the 330ft mark while travelling at over 200 km/h resulting in exclusion, handing the Winternationals win to Hambridge and the Championship to Gary Phillips.

“I am absolutely heartbroken,” said Reed.

“I would really love to come back next season and fight for it, to have it over again.

“Unfortunately at the moment though, as much as I want to keep going with our current funding situation it just isn’t looking possible without a corporate partner, but you never know and I guess we will just have to wait and see.”

For Phillips, who was defeated by Reed in the semi-final, the series win was the 14th of his illustrious career (13 Top Alcohol, one Top Doorslammer).

“It is Debbie’s birthday today and Cheyne’s birthday tomorrow (Phillips” wife and son) and I asked them what they wanted for their birthdays and I have been able to give them what they asked for,” said Phillips.

“We had a lot of sponsors out here today including Lucas Oil Management and Orix Trailers and to get this result for them is just brilliant.”

John Zappia completed an undefeated run throughout the 2008/2009 ANDRA Drag Racing Championship Series with a victory in the Top Doorslammer final courtesy of a 5.90 second pass at 242.85 mph (390.83 kph) ahead of Robin Judd.

“We have now run 18 races with no defeats, and only need to run two more undefeated meetings to beat Benny Bray’s record of 24 straight wins,” said Zappia.

“It is the perfect end to the perfect season, the Championship and Event Gold Christmas Trees as well as the Karcher High-Pressure cleaner from bracket sponsor Karcher – which the crew is already lining up to use!

“At the end of the day without everyone involved – especially the crew who just work so hard and the sponsors including Striker Crushing and Screening, Mickey Thompson and Fuchs – we couldn’t do what we do and I am just really thankful to all of them for their efforts.”

Having secured the Series Championship by qualifying for the Top Fuel field yesterday Phil Lamattina continued his impressive run during today’s racing.

Lamattina lined up alongside Allan Dobson in the Castrol EDGE Winternationals final. The pair raced side by side off the start line but as they reached half track Dobson’s engine exploded leaving Lamattina to power his way to victory with a 4.70 second pass at 320.28 mph (515.44 kph)

“I am absolutely ecstatic, just wrapped,” said Lamattina.

“This is my maiden championship as a driver, the second as part of the team, and I just can’t say enough about Theo, Pavtec, all of the team, the boys just make me look so good it isn’t funny.

“Also my sponsor Fuchs, and the family and my wife Sarah – I am just wrapped up to my eyeballs with this result and I couldn’t be happier!”

When Tyronne Tremayne was defeated by eventual runner-up Lee Bektash in the semi-finals it handed the ANDRA Pro Stock Championship to his younger brother Aaron for the second year in a row.

Shane Tucker secured the Pro Stock victory at the Castrol EDGE Winternationals with a holeshot win in the final over Lee Bektash where both drivers completed the quarter-mile pass in 7.13 seconds.

“Yeah it is great to have won again, and for me and Tyronne to be 1-2 two years in a row,” said Aaron.

“I didn’t have any mixed feelings on the startline as I helped Tyronne prepare for his run – as long as one of us wins I am happy and as I said it was the original plan for him to be number one, but I am happy to take the title again of course!”

In the two-wheeled Group One categories it was the New Zealander Athol Williams who claimed the ANDRA Top Bike Championship with a victory this weekend. Phil Howard won his third consecutive Pro Bike event with a win over Peter Cochrane, while Michael Gilbertson claimed the championship. 

For today’’s full results please visit www.results.willowbankraceway.com.au.

Source: www.andra.com.au