The Castrol EDGE Winternationals are shaping up to be a cracker of a weekend with the first round of professional qualifying kicking off at Ipswich’s Willowbank Raceway this evening.

The professional categories of Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Karcher Top Doorslammer, Morgan & Wacker Top Bike, Pro Stock and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Bike all took to the track to complete their first qualifier, with two more to be run tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s finals.

Top Alcohol is already set to be a mammoth battle, with husband and wife team Steve and Debbie Reed from Brendale as well as Hillcrest’s Gary Phillips all fighting for the title in the closest remaining battle of the Group One championship brackets.

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals are shaping up to be a cracker of a weekend with the first round of professional qualifying kicking off

at Ipswich’s Willowbank Raceway this evening.

The professional categories of Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Karcher Top Doorslammer, Morgan & Wacker Top Bike, Pro Stock and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Bike all took to the track to complete their first qualifier, with two more to be run tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s finals.

Top Alcohol is already set to be a mammoth battle, with husband and wife team Steve and Debbie Reed from Brendale as well as Hillcrest’s Gary Phillips all fighting for the title in the closest remaining battle of the Group One championship brackets.

During opening qualifying it was the fast femme who gained the upper hand with a 5.72 second pass at 242.59 mph (390.41 kph) across the Willowbank Raceway quarter-mile.

“I am pretty happy with that, the championship is definitely on my mind – I really want it,” said Debbie Reed.

“There is no wager between me and Steve as yet, but I've got my sights set on the win this weekend – he has had his go and so has Gary Phillips, it is my turn.

“This could be my last season due to funds, and if that is the case I want to have gone out with a bang.

“A one-two in the championship would sit well with us I think – hopefully I don’t get Steve in the first round and I would like to see us both go through to the end, but it would be even better if I can come out on top.”

Behind Reed came Phillips courtesy of a 5.74 second pass with an impressive speed of 251.54 mph (404.81 kph) and John Cannulli with a 5.78 second pass at 219.83 mph (353.78 kph), while Steve Reed is languishing down the order after experiencing issues off the line.

In Pro Stock no less than 19 competitors are attempting to qualify for the eight-car field, with Ayr’s John Barbagallo currently leading the field in front of defending champion Aaron Tremayne.

Barbagallo has the championship on his mind as one of the main contenders alongside the Tremayne brothers Aaron and Tyronne, with the trio finishing 1/2/3 in 2008 and currently sitting the same in the standings entering this weekend's final points scoring event.

“This is the best way to start off the weekend for us, to be the quickest car out there,” said Barbagallo.

“It is hard to know how we will run tomorrow as it will be in the middle of the day, but we are happy with the car and if we can go out there and stay in front of Aaron and Tyronne we can try and make it stick for the championship.

“I was third behind those two last year and this year we are back here again - I could have finished second last year but it didn’t happen when I went out in the first round to Aaron, so hopefully we can make it through for 2009.”

Phil Lamattina edged a step closer to his maiden ANDRA Drag Racing Series Championship with a blistering pass at over 300 miles per hour in the Top Fuel category.

“We are very happy with that result, we just had to qualify to secure the championship and now we have done that with the Fuchs Top Fueler," said Lamattina.

"Well, we won't be happy until Sunday night when we have that trophy in our hands, but now at least we can relax and focus on winning and enjoying this meeting with the championship monkey off our back."

The opening round of qualifying in the Top Doorslammer saw three drivers break into the five second bracket with Robin Judd leading the way with a 5.91 second pass. Maurice Fabietti posted the second quickest time (5.93 sec) ahead of second-generation racer Ben Bray.

In Morgan & Wacker Top Bike and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Bike Kiwi Athol Williams – who will officially claim the ANDRA Top Bike championship this weekend - and Phil Howard are on the top of the timesheets respectively.

The action for day three of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals kicks off from 8am tomorrow with the second round of qualifying for the Group One categories being contested from 11:30am.

V8 Supercar stars Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup will take to the quarter-mile strip in their TeamVodafone V8 Supercars for a trio of match races in the afternoon.

Tickets start from $48 for Saturday (cheaper for students with ID) and children 13 and under are free – for more information please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au to purchase tickets Ipswich and District Welding

Super Street, Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster, Californian Image Modified Bike, Super Gas, Modified, Super Sedan and Crossroads Freightlines Supercharged Outlaws all completed their qualifying today, while Lifestyle Floorcoverings Competition, McKern & Associates Super Compact, Custom Central Competition Bike and Lifestyle Floorcovings Super Stock will complete their final qualifiers ahead of their first races tomorrow morning.
 

 

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