Phil Read Flies Into The Fifties And Into History!

For the decades of Top Fuel competition in Australia, the Jim Read Racing team are used to setting new marks and breaking new frontiers. After the first day of USA Versus Australia Top Fuel Drag Racing action at Western Sydney International Dragway last night, Phil Read smashed through one of the great marks in the sport by becoming the first competitor in Australia to produce a Quarter Mile pass in the magical 4.5 second zone- and it all continues from 5pm TODAY!

It had the big WSID crowd on its feet as the Auto One/Snap-on Tools/Fuchs Lubricants 'black mamba' Dragster flew through the speed traps and registered over 329 miles per hour as well.

"Words can't describe what the run felt like. I am so thankful to my brother and crew chief Bruce for making this possible. The crew really deserve this, they have worked long and tireless hours over the New Year period", remarked an elated Phil Read on the WSID return road in front of the large crowd on hand.

"I remember Bruce saying to me in the staging lanes before the run, 'she's either going to go or blow' I guess it was all go", adds Phil.

Perhaps the most remarkable factor about the whole feat is that the time was run in-front of Dave Grubnic and Scott Kalitta, tw o visitors from North America.

"There's nothing like a late Christmas present. This is very well deserved by all team members", said Jim Read.

The run certainly had ace USA spanner-man Jim Oberhofer's attention as well.

"Congratulations to Jim Read, Phil, Bruce and the whole team. I guess they listened to us last year and have the results to back up their hard efforts too," remarked the likeable Kalitta Motorsports team manager.

Later during the night Jim Oberhofer rolled up the sleeves as he tuned the Uplift Cranes beast when Scott Kalitta also managed to accomplish the amazing feat and run a 4.517 at over an earth-shattering 332 miles per hour.

With all this Nitro-fuelled mayhem, what remains is Jim Read Racing will be permanently etched in history as the first to achieve the amazing feat.