SHEEHAN UPSETS DENSHAM IN AUSSIE EVENT
Sat, 2009-01-03 14:28
Brisbane drag racer escapes injury in firey crash during Top Alcohol Final
Rookie
driver Mark Sheehan has taken an upset victory over ‘the Master’ Gary
Densham in the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Showdown, round one of the
ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series, at Willowbank Raceway
tonight.
The result, which saw Sheehan take the win from the US legend - who had earlier in the evening clinched and reset the National time and speed records in the class after running the first ever ‘four second’ pass outside of North America and the first 300 plus mph run on Friday night - will no doubt inspire a spirited rematch at Willowbank Raceway for round two of the Series on January 16/17.
Both drivers left the line strong in tonight’s final, before the 62 year old Californian Densham found the limit mid-track as he tried to push for a 4.80s/320mph pass to top off his impressive record-breaking passes and had to shut off early.
Brisbane drag racer escapes injury in firey crash during Top Alcohol Final
Rookie driver Mark Sheehan has taken an upset victory over ‘the Master’ Gary Densham in the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Showdown, round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series, at Willowbank Raceway tonight.
The result, which saw Sheehan take the win from the US legend - who had earlier in the evening clinched and reset the National time and speed records in the class after running the first ever ‘four second’ pass outside of North America and the first 300 plus mph run on Friday night - will no doubt inspire a spirited rematch at Willowbank Raceway for round two of the Series on January 16/17.
Both drivers left the line strong in tonight’s final, before the 62 year old Californian Densham found the limit mid-track as he tried to push for a 4.80s/320mph pass to top off his impressive record-breaking passes and had to shut off early.
Despite Densham’s demise, Sheehan had well and truly earned his place in the final by running the quickest time by a resident Australian Nitro Funny Car entry earlier in the night and his final run was strong with a 5.64 second pass at 222 miles per hour (approx 355.3km/h).
“Job done,” grinned Sheehan as he arrived back at his pits after the final.
“As we prepared for the run I was confident we could match Gary, but when we took off the car had tyre shake and while I normally would just drive through it, this time it shook harder than I have ever felt before and so I started to lift and when you do that against Gary Densham you know its all over.
“But then I saw his candles (flames) go out and so I got back on the noise and ‘drove it out the back door’ for the win. While it would have been nice to also get a four second pass, we know we are capable of it and are sure we can do it in round two.
“It has been a privilege to race against someone of such a quality outfit, they have inspired our whole team with how they conduct themselves, their professionalism and efficiency – it has given us something to aim for.”
Prior to Densham’s early shut-off in the final he had already put in some amazing performances, which saw him clinch the national time and speed records and then further reset the speed record to now stand at 4.86 seconds and 310.56 miles per hour (approx 496.86 km/h)
“The final run was just one of those things where when you are not sure how hard you can go, and you try and see if you can do a 4.80 second pass or maybe 320 miles per hour to top off your previous runs, and you find out you can’t,” laughed Densham.
“We thought maybe we could have gone harder but unfortunately we found the limit and it just let go, and if I had known that at the time I would have probably kept on it and tried to drive through for the win but at the time it felt a lot worse and like something had broken in the drivetrain and with round two in two weeks I didn’t want to risk it.
“Apart from that though it has been a great weekend, the car has run really well and everyone seems pretty happy which is great.
“We made the National Record and then we made it a bit faster, and we are really looking forward to getting back here in two weeks and doing it all again.”
While the Nitro Funny Cars wowed the crowds the ANDRA Group One categories of Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Motorcycle also had plenty for the fans.
In Top Doorslammer, a highly anticipated finale between West Australian’s Robin Judd and John Zappia had everyone on edge, with Zappia taking the win to extend his championship lead when Judd experienced trouble in his run and had to shut off early.
The pair are the only two racers in the category to make it to the finals so far this season and are becoming known for trading five second passes (they are the only two cars to ever run a ‘5.80s’ pass in the country).
“What a fantastic result and effort by the crew, the Striker Crushing and Screening Monaro ran well all day and we were able to run three five second passes here this weekend which we haven’t been able to do here in the past,” said Zappia.
“To stay in front of Robin Judd and move forward in the points chase is a great result for the team and the sponsors Striker Crushing and Screening and Fuchs Lubricants and I just really want to thank them and the fans for supporting us.”
In Top Alcohol, it was a firey finale between local competitors Gary Phillips of Hillcrest and Steve Reed of Bunya in the final, with Phillips taking the win as Reed experienced a spectacular engine explosion (A further release for broadcast media with details of footage will be sent shortly).
“To get the top qualifier, low elapsed time and top speed and then win the Event – that is the maximum points right there and sees us and the Lucas Oil Products Funny Car back in the championship hunt, and that is great,” said Phillips.
“The 5.59 second pass I ran in the final is a personal best for me and it is the first 5.5 second pass we have done in this car as well as being its breakthrough win.”
In Morgan and Wacker Pro Stock Motorcyle, Rhett Lougheed took the win from Jason Lee on a holeshot (quicker reaction time) when both ran an elapsed time of 7.09 seconds. The win comes on debut for the former Competition Bike competitor and shows that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the category.
In other racing, victory went to Michael Bailey in Super Gas, David Rundmann (Custom Central Competition Bike), Scott Boyde (Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster), Mark Wacker (Californian Image Modified Bike), Darren Doeblien (Ipswich and District Welding Super Street), Paul Doeblien (Super Sedan), Kerstyn Dance (Modified), and Tim Caswell (Crossroads Freightlines Supercharged Outlaws).
Mark Sheehan was victorious for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series (Brock Parcell)
The result, which saw Sheehan take the win from the US legend - who had earlier in the evening clinched and reset the National time and speed records in the class after running the first ever ‘four second’ pass outside of North America and the first 300 plus mph run on Friday night - will no doubt inspire a spirited rematch at Willowbank Raceway for round two of the Series on January 16/17.
Both drivers left the line strong in tonight’s final, before the 62 year old Californian Densham found the limit mid-track as he tried to push for a 4.80s/320mph pass to top off his impressive record-breaking passes and had to shut off early.
Brisbane drag racer escapes injury in firey crash during Top Alcohol Final
Mark Sheehan was victorious for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series (Brock Parcell)
The result, which saw Sheehan take the win from the US legend - who had earlier in the evening clinched and reset the National time and speed records in the class after running the first ever ‘four second’ pass outside of North America and the first 300 plus mph run on Friday night - will no doubt inspire a spirited rematch at Willowbank Raceway for round two of the Series on January 16/17.
Both drivers left the line strong in tonight’s final, before the 62 year old Californian Densham found the limit mid-track as he tried to push for a 4.80s/320mph pass to top off his impressive record-breaking passes and had to shut off early.
Despite Densham’s demise, Sheehan had well and truly earned his place in the final by running the quickest time by a resident Australian Nitro Funny Car entry earlier in the night and his final run was strong with a 5.64 second pass at 222 miles per hour (approx 355.3km/h).
“Job done,” grinned Sheehan as he arrived back at his pits after the final.
“As we prepared for the run I was confident we could match Gary, but when we took off the car had tyre shake and while I normally would just drive through it, this time it shook harder than I have ever felt before and so I started to lift and when you do that against Gary Densham you know its all over.
“But then I saw his candles (flames) go out and so I got back on the noise and ‘drove it out the back door’ for the win. While it would have been nice to also get a four second pass, we know we are capable of it and are sure we can do it in round two.
“It has been a privilege to race against someone of such a quality outfit, they have inspired our whole team with how they conduct themselves, their professionalism and efficiency – it has given us something to aim for.”
Prior to Densham’s early shut-off in the final he had already put in some amazing performances, which saw him clinch the national time and speed records and then further reset the speed record to now stand at 4.86 seconds and 310.56 miles per hour (approx 496.86 km/h)
“The final run was just one of those things where when you are not sure how hard you can go, and you try and see if you can do a 4.80 second pass or maybe 320 miles per hour to top off your previous runs, and you find out you can’t,” laughed Densham.
“We thought maybe we could have gone harder but unfortunately we found the limit and it just let go, and if I had known that at the time I would have probably kept on it and tried to drive through for the win but at the time it felt a lot worse and like something had broken in the drivetrain and with round two in two weeks I didn’t want to risk it.
“Apart from that though it has been a great weekend, the car has run really well and everyone seems pretty happy which is great.
“We made the National Record and then we made it a bit faster, and we are really looking forward to getting back here in two weeks and doing it all again.”
While the Nitro Funny Cars wowed the crowds the ANDRA Group One categories of Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Motorcycle also had plenty for the fans.
In Top Doorslammer, a highly anticipated finale between West Australian’s Robin Judd and John Zappia had everyone on edge, with Zappia taking the win to extend his championship lead when Judd experienced trouble in his run and had to shut off early.
The pair are the only two racers in the category to make it to the finals so far this season and are becoming known for trading five second passes (they are the only two cars to ever run a ‘5.80s’ pass in the country).
“What a fantastic result and effort by the crew, the Striker Crushing and Screening Monaro ran well all day and we were able to run three five second passes here this weekend which we haven’t been able to do here in the past,” said Zappia.
“To stay in front of Robin Judd and move forward in the points chase is a great result for the team and the sponsors Striker Crushing and Screening and Fuchs Lubricants and I just really want to thank them and the fans for supporting us.”
In Top Alcohol, it was a firey finale between local competitors Gary Phillips of Hillcrest and Steve Reed of Bunya in the final, with Phillips taking the win as Reed experienced a spectacular engine explosion (A further release for broadcast media with details of footage will be sent shortly).
“To get the top qualifier, low elapsed time and top speed and then win the Event – that is the maximum points right there and sees us and the Lucas Oil Products Funny Car back in the championship hunt, and that is great,” said Phillips.
“The 5.59 second pass I ran in the final is a personal best for me and it is the first 5.5 second pass we have done in this car as well as being its breakthrough win.”
In Morgan and Wacker Pro Stock Motorcyle, Rhett Lougheed took the win from Jason Lee on a holeshot (quicker reaction time) when both ran an elapsed time of 7.09 seconds. The win comes on debut for the former Competition Bike competitor and shows that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the category.
In other racing, victory went to Michael Bailey in Super Gas, David Rundmann (Custom Central Competition Bike), Scott Boyde (Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster), Mark Wacker (Californian Image Modified Bike), Darren Doeblien (Ipswich and District Welding Super Street), Paul Doeblien (Super Sedan), Kerstyn Dance (Modified), and Tim Caswell (Crossroads Freightlines Supercharged Outlaws).
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