Amanda Cobb | October 20, 2024 | Photo: Cackling Pipes
Hydraulink Jim Read Racing has not only won the Aeroflow Spring Nationals – round one of the 2024/2025 NDRC Top Fuel Championship chase – but also Top Qualified at the event with the quickest Top Fuel pass ever set in Australia (3.72 seconds, run at 522.62kph).
The Reads were the toast of the town on Sunday at Dragway at The Bend, working their way through to the A-Final with wins in round one (3.793/486.2kph, over defending champion Damien Harris) and round two (3.835/434.49kph over Kyle Putland), before triumphing over Wayne Newby in the A-Final with a 3.762/516.74kph effort to Newby’s 8.035/80.52kph pass.
Driver Phil Read – who was racing while raising funds for Snap-On’s Socket to Breast Cancer campaign this weekend – was ecstatic with the result.
“That proves (the record) wasn’t a fluke!” enthused Read after taking the victory.
“It felt good, it felt really good from start to finish, it just took off and it was flying; smooth as.
“A 3.76 is great, we thought it would run 3.77. I think we are starting to get a handle on this at this track, so hopefully we can keep it going!
“Thank you to all of our partners, we couldn’t do this without you, and also to my crew – they are just the best.
“And to Dad (drag racing legend Jim Read) and Denise (watching at home in Sydney), look dad – no oil!” he laughed.
“This place (Dragway at The Bend) is the mecca of drag racing – it is so, so smooth, and is just a great place to be.”
For Crew Chief Bruce Read, the result has been a long-time coming.
“This has been 12 months in the making since I went to America and worked over there and came back with a whole new plan,” Bruce Read said.
“This result is a testament to my guys sticking with me and having faith in me that we would eventually get it right, and also to our sponsors for sticking with us – particularly Hydraulink, Snap-On, and Valvoline.
“This is a bit of a strange feeling for me at the moment, last night when we broke the Australian record I was just speechless, absolutely gobsmacked, and that is still the case now after the win – it is not often I am lost for something to say, but I am just blown away by what we have been able to achieve together this weekend.
“Top Fuel racing really is the greatest show on earth and this was a great weekend, it was OUR weekend, and we couldn’t be happier.
“To put this in perspective, we ran a 3.72, a 3.79, a 3.83 and a 3.76, all with the same motor in the car all weekend.
“Compare that to the Winternationals where we used four motors in four runs and never made it down the track – this just really demonstrates how amazing this weekend has been.
“I said it before but I will say it again – this is a credit to my crew for putting in the hours over the off-season and keeping the faith. As one of my guys said to me today, we are in this together, and that is so true.”
Hydraulink Jim Read Racing will next be on-track with the NDRC Top Fuel Championship for round two to be held across January 10-11, 2025, at Willowbank Raceway.
Hydraulink Jim Read Racing is supported on track by Hydraulink, Valvoline, Snap-On, McDonalds, FXD Workwear, Comp Cams, PremiAir Hire, Odyssey Batteries, PMP Motorsport Products, Oasis Aquatics, Oasis Heat Pumps, Speed Gas, Spa Electric Pool Lighting, Pacific Pools and Sander Engineering. The team also thanks Richard Smith for his assistance with photography services. To learn more about Hydraulink Jim Read Racing, visit https://www.facebook.com/JimReadRacing
Amanda Cobb | NDRC | Jim Read Racing | Photo: Cackling Pipes
