"VAN" (Sports Desk - 07.01.2025) :: After getting its 2024/2025 NDRC Top Fuel Championship season off to the best possible start, Hydraulink Jim Read Racing are hoping they can open the books on 2025 with similar flair at Willowbank Raceway’s New Year Nitro this weekend (January 10-11).
At the 2024/2025 season-opener, the championship winning Sydney-based team and its driver, Phil Read, walked away from Dragway at The Bend with the event winning NDRC Christmas Tree trophy, the NDRC Top Qualifying Medallion, and set a new Australian record thanks to running the quickest Top Fuel pass ever set in the country (3.72 seconds, run at 522.62kph).
Now, the current title leaders are hoping to continue that dominating form at round two, set to be held at Queensland’s premier drag racing facility this Friday and Saturday.
“When we look back on how our season started, it may have been a few months ago, but we are still on a high!” Phil Read grinned.
“It was a picture perfect event for us from start to finish, and we took home all of the chocolates. It really couldn’t have gone any better and it is safe to say it has filled us with confidence for the rest of the championship chase that lays ahead.
“Having said that – we certainly haven’t been taking it easy, instead making the most of the few months’ break between the mid-October opener and this weekend to make sure we are as absolutely and completely prepared as possible for all that Willowbank Raceway will throw at us in the middle of the Queensland Summer.
“No stone has been left unturned, and we can’t wait to get on-track at this incredible facility and hopefully do it all again this Friday and Saturday.”
Hydraulink Jim Read Racing Crew Chief, Bruce Read, said he and his crew are laser-focused on making the most of the opportunity that lays in front of them after such a good start.
“One hundred percent the result at Dragway at The Bend gives us a lot of confidence in our current program which we have been chipping away at for over a year, but at the same time, this weekend is going to be a completely different scenario – running in the peak of the Queensland Summer season at a completely different track,” Bruce Read said.
“Of course, we have the utmost faith in Justin and his team at Willowbank Raceway to have the track in tip top condition, but every time you head out to any event it is a whole new ball game.
“Having said that, we have a lot of good history behind us at this venue in the past, our recent results show we have the right program under us now.
“We are also very pleased to once again have our friend, legendary crew chief Jim ‘Jim O’ Oberhofer, as part of our team for this event, which just buoys our confidence even more.
“Phil and I and our entire team are absolutely hungry to make sure it all comes together so we can have a serious crack at another national title.
“They deserve it, our fans deserve it, and all of our valued sponsors who have once again got behind us for 2024/2025 deserve it, so you better believe it that we will be bringing everything we have got to Willowbank Raceway this weekend.
“I highly recommend the fans come out and enjoy the show – it is going to be a big one!”
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