US Drag Racer Hillary Will took out an emotional victory driving her Kalitta racing Dragster to a win in the inaugural Scott Kalitta Memorial meeting at Sydney's Eastern Creek Dragway.
Will defeated local racer Terry Sainty in a rain delayed final running here fastest time of the weekend with a 4.743 at 303.16 mph to beat Sainty's 5.284 at 260.51 mph pass.
The meeting which started on Boxing Day was marred by rain which saw the final eliminations delayed until Sunday.
The weekend's biggest incident happened Friday when Mildura driver Darren Morgan lost a wheel in his race with Alan Dobson. Morgan's car rolled and crossed into the path of Dobson who thankfully managed to avoid Morgan's car.
Of more concern was the errant wheel which bounced into the area at the side of the track narrowly missing track officials and photographers. The wheel eventually came to stop when it hit a trackside ambulance.
The spectacular crash made National television news in Australia with the Nine Network in particular beating the story up into “again questioning the safety of the sport.”
Will's victory driving the Kalitta team car was highly emotional as she won the trophy bearing the name of her former team mate and friend Scott Kalitta who was tragically killed in a Funny Car crash in the USA earlier in 2008.
Speaking after the win Will said "This means so much to me and this team, to get this trophy and take it back to the States is such an honor for us. Scott was my mentor, and he was like a brother to me. We miss him so much, but we are so happy to win this trophy for Connie, Doug, Scott's wife Kathy, and his boys, Corey and Colin and the entire Kalitta family."
Hillary Will KB Racing/MAC Tools 4.743 @ 303.16 mph
def.
Terry Sainty Sainty Engineering 5.284 @ 260.51 mph
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The return of Australia's Drag Racing Nationals to Australia's biggest city, Sydney, seems to have paid off with a massive entry of 450 cars and bikes for the event at Western Sydney Dragway, September 12-14. Ten spectacular Top Fuel Dragsters head the line up with defending champ and second generation racer Phil Read starting favourite on his home strip.
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Monday, December 29, 2008
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