Jim Read Racing PR: Like Father Like Son - Another Australian Top Fuel Championship to Jim Read Racing!
Like Father Like Son - Another Championship to Jim Read Racing! Second generation driver Phil Read has followed in his fathers footsteps by securing both a Winternationals crown and his first Australian Top Fuel Championship, after the staging of the season-closing Castrol Edge Winternationals up in Queensland. Phil now can proudly carry the number 'TF/1' on his Auto One, Snap-on Tools, MTU Detroit Diesel machine after claiming the Australian Championship in motorsport's ultimate 'fire and brimstone' class of racing! "Phil was only a year old when I tasted success in this sport, so seeing him win the Championship obviously means an awful lot to me," exclaimed team principal and Drag Racing icon Jim Read on developments during the Winternationals event at Willowbank Raceway. With the continual threat of rain during the Winternationals, making that first Friday qualifying session count was paramount. Word throughout the pits was that there was a distinct possibility of no further qualifying opportunities on Saturday due to forecast significant rain. Queensland mainstream media and the motoring press went into hyper drive around the country, as the stunning season climax was set to be waged and the question on the top of everybody's lips was "who is going to win the Top Fuel Championship - Phil Read or Darren Morgan?" Both drivers were deadlocked in points coming into the season closer for the championship. With Top Qualifier and ET bonus points up for grabs, championship contenders Read and Victorian Darren Morgan went aggressive in the tune-up of the 7,000 horsepower rocketships on Friday night. Morgan aborted early into his run after looking very strong early, only to see Phil Read really serve notice. Despite coasting through the finish line, Read was able to scorch out a 4.89 second pass with a shut off just past half track after engine componentry failure began to tell during the later half of the run. The indicative times were truly world class too, with an impressive 3.12 time at over 270 miles per hour at half track! As the forecasters had predicted, rain put paid to any racing opportunities on Saturday, which meant if the Jim Read Racing team could finish on equal terms on the weekend or obviously better than Morgan - the Australian Championship was theirs! On Sunday race day - Read raced first-up against Roy Smith and the throttle linkage broke 2.8 seconds into the run. Despite this dose of bad luck, the time indicators were similar to the teams head-turning 4.65-second run in Sydney earlier in the season, suggesting the team were on the right track. In unforeseen drama, Darren Morgan lost his first round match-up and that gave Phil Read his maiden Australian Championship win as a driver. "We got the win against Roy and that meant we could really throw everything at it in the semi-final solo pass. Even though Darren is out now, we really want to produce some big numbers to finish strongly," replied Phil Read. In the semi-final, Read ended up shutting the Auto One, Snap-on Tools 'black mamba' off early in the run to coast into the final. "We got greedy for the solo...I will admit we went with a 4.50-second tune-up there. The Track was very good, it was just the atmospheric weather conditions were not ideal for Top Fuel." Crew Chief Bruce Read was heard talking to Kalitta Racing setup-whizz Jim Oberhofer during the cool evening on Sunday. "When we told Jim O that our corrected altitude was below see level and we explained how cold the air temperature was, he expressed amazement and suggested we could advise them, as they have never raced in such conditions before," smiled Bruce Read upon reflection of the discussion. In fact Team Read were amazed throughout the Winternationals event, as to how closely Kalitta Racing was monitoring the teams progress and it filled Bruce and the entire group with pride. "It was amazing to have Dave Grubnic and Jim Oberhofer phone us and congratulating us literally as we finished passes out there. They were proud of our efforts and that meant plenty to us as a team." In the final against Luke Shepherd it was instant tyre smoke for the car as it broke the input shaft on the clutch, which sent it directly into a 1-to-1 situation (a driveline lock-up producing direct-drive only). Trying to escort the fastest accelerating vehicle on the planet when the clutch is in full lock-up is an excruciatingly difficult exercise. All appeared lost in the final as the Santos Cranes machine strode away over the early portion of the run, only for the car to eject a blower belt. This opened up a new opportunity for victory for Phil Read...one he grabbed with both hands. In an amazing peddling display (where he rode off and on the throttle more than eight times!) - Read was able to amble past Shepherd to round out a fairytale finish to the Australian season! "It was a good weekend to win the meeting and championship, but frustrating that we weren't able to run on Saturday and chase some big numbers," remarked Phil on his performances. The recent passing of marketing honcho and close team friend Ian Kleeman was an inspiration throughout and was obvious to all... "Ian's name was on the car and I ended up slapping the sticker next to the cockpit area every time we won a round...it means a lot obviously considering recent events involving Ian." Looking back at the season, Phil Read is able to pin point specific moments in the Championship that started to swing things their way. "Obviously the new car has been a big factor in the turnaround. It has been to every final round of the Championship since it landed in Australia with 2 finals for Dave Grubnic and 4 for me. Bruce Read and Rob Cavagnino have been key factors in what has been a championship winning year. They have worked well together with the mentoring of Jim as well and the results speak for themselves. Kwinana was the event that defined the team this season and set us on course for the championship. We had a new car, new team and we gained so much momentum from there. With so many new factors in Perth, we enjoyed an event with no teething problems with car or crew and it was the perfect outcome for us to really make a run for the Championship. What really excites me is we will hit the ground hard in September for the new season at the ACDelco East Coast Nationals and look to really build on our success in Top Fuel this season." Jim Read Racing would like to thank the following people for their assistance this season in the pursuit of the Australian Top Fuel Championship: Thanks to Auto One and all their associated store locations. Barry Young and Nick Hudson and all the Snap-on Tool franchise holders. MTU Detroit Diesel, Champion Sparkplugs, Hi-Tec Oils, Coca-Cola , Readymix, American Racing Wheels, West Coast Customs, Hurlcon Pool & Spa Equipment, Kenny Signs, Odyssey Batteries, Crane Cams, Impact Race Products and Wilson Marketing. Phil Read would like to personally thank: Jim Read Bruce Read Rob Cavagnino Denise Read Julie Read Noel Eggins Ken Yeatman Jason Puckett Michael Ryan Danny Firley Dave Archer Ian Spears Dean Neal Special thanks to Jim Oberhofer, Connie Kalitta, David Grubnic and everyone at Kalitta Motorsports. Also to all the other competitors and teams that make Drag Racing the best sport in the country to be involved in (a true family sport). For more information or to obtain hi-res print quality images - please contact PR Manager Dean Neal on 0409 403 974 or dean@wsid.com.au.