Thanks in part to the Dom Lagana-Lee Beard combination, Rapisarda Autosport International swiped three of the first four Top Fuel spots in last weekend’s Nitro Thunder at Sydney Dragway.
 
Lagana defeated RAI teammate Damien Harris in the “B Final” of the penultimate race in Season 2 of the 400 Thunder Australian Professional Drag Racing Series. Wayne Newby, who has raced with the NHRA in the United States, cemented his lead with only the June 8-11 Gulf Western Oil 50th Winternationals remaining. Newby used a holeshot to win the final round against seven-time NHRA winner Richie Crampton in a tire-smoking duel.

The season will conclude at Willowbank Raceway, near Brisbane.

Beard, who tunes Lagana’s dragster, said he was a little frustrated by the format and the racetrack.

“We took two wins on race day but ended in third place,” Beard said. “I think the format is a bit confusing. I can see how they want to put on the best show possible, have all the cars run every round and the fans get to see lots of racing. On the day, we were just not quick enough. That’s to take nothing away from Wayne and Richie, who both made the final. We gave it our best shot and ran in the 4.50s. Going into the final round, everything I gave the car the track ate up.”

Newby needs only to qualify at the Winternationals to make history in becoming the first racer in Australia to secure titles in the Top Alcohol and Top Fuel classes.
 
“The final was not pretty, because both cars struggled to get down the track,” Newby said. “I’m thrilled to take the win, but in all honesty, I’m happier for my crew chief Santino Rapisarda, who, if all goes to plan at Willowbank, will join his brother Santo Junior in winning Australian championships in Top Fuel.

“Santino and his crew had the car dialed in from the very first practice run, and I got to do the fun part: drive the car,” he said. “I also want to thank the track staff of Sydney Dragway who got a lot of ‘stick’ in the week leading up to the meeting but delivered a great race track on the day and silenced the critics.”
 
Santino Rapisarda said, “Technically, we need to enter and qualify at Willowbank to win the title, but that’s in the future. At the moment, I want to pay tribute to the crew who have delivered our second win in a row. All the hard work has paid off. We run three cars but are one big team. None of us would be here today without the passion and love that our dad, Santo, has for the sport.”
 
Santo Rapisarda Jr., crew chief for Harris’ car, said, “We struggled with traction, and a best run of 4.66 was below our expectations. We were a bit greedy in the first couple of runs, then the track got cold and we missed it. But every run you make you learn from. To see a Rapisarda car take the win was a great result for the family, and we are looking forward the Winternationals.”
 
Crampton drove a new Lamattina dragster to a 4.538-second elapsed time, which was just two-hundredths of a second from the Sydney Dragway record and three-hundredths away from the quickest pass in Australian drag racing history.