Aussies Abroad: Harker takes the Wally

July 8, 2014

Posted by: ANDRA

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From Top Qualifier to Event Winner, Steve Harker swept the Top Alcohol Funny Car Class in his Speed City-CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Motor Oil and Crane Trucking, Monte Carlo at this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 3-6 in Norwalk, Ohio.

Australian racing veterans and longtime NHRA competitors, Steve Harker and wife, Jenelle debuted at this past weekend’s event in only their seventh national event since returning to the sport after a three year break and proving they hadn’t missed a beat. Harker took the top honors of being the number 1 qualifier in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Class after impressive runs of 5.55 seconds at 265.12 mph and 5.54 seconds at 264.39 mph.

Consistency is the game and Harker proved his experience as tuner and driver throughout the event, kicking things off in round one with a 5.58 at 263.41 mph win over a red-lighting Todd Robertson.

The consistency continued in Round 2 as Harker again laid down another bracket car performance with a 5.58 at 262.82 mph pass to defeat Fredd Tiggers’ 5.60 at 261.47 mph pass.

Semi-Finals time paired Harker and Todd Veney in a wacky battle that saw Harker getting the win light with his slowest run of the weekend 5.65 at 262.74 mph defeating Veney’s 5.81at 252.19 mph pass.

In a wire-to-wire battle Harker faced off against Central Region Champion Chris Foster in a race that had the fans cheering in the grandstands. Both drivers were out to win and left nothing on the table with Harker pulling a 0.026 reaction time to Foster’s competitive 0.063 reaction time fighting Harker all the way to the 1320ft finish line. A half a car length is all it took for Harker to drive around Foster to win the event that was decided on the start line as Harker defeated Foster’s quicker 5.61 with his slightly slower 5.62 at 240.77mph pass.

With support from NGK Spark Plugs, Hedman Hedders, Leanders Clutch, CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Motor Oil and Speed City, Steve Harker and team now look to take a few weeks off before competing at the LODRS Central Regional Event in St Louis, MO August 8-9.

TOP FUEL

Richie Crampton and his GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster team finally figured out Summit Motorsports Park, but it wasn’t enough to overcome points leader Doug Kalitta.

Crampton made his best pass of the weekend in Round 1 of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals on Sunday, but he ran into the Kalitta buzz saw.

“That was a heck of a good run,” Crampton said. “Unfortunately, it was just against the wrong opponent.”

Crampton’s pass was 3.779 seconds at 323.35 mph, but No. 2 qualifier Kalitta went even quicker with a run of 3.752 seconds at 327.51 mph that was low of the round.

“We struggled in qualifying and that makes the first round tough,” Crampton said. “Nonetheless, Doug was there for the taking on the starting line, but I left a little on the table there. Subsequently, we lost both ways.”

Kalitta’s reaction time was .092-second, but Crampton couldn’t take advantage of it and left a tick behind. With Kalitta’s speedy pass, Crampton trailed from the hit, and despite a speed of 290.44 mph at the eighth-mile the rookie came up short.

Crampton, the leading contender for the NHRA rookie of the year award and a winner in Top Fuel this season, gets a weekend off before racing in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on July 18-20 at Bandimere Speedway.

PRO STOCK

After the highs of reaching the semi final one week earlier, Shane Tucker experienced elimination in the first round of Pro Stock when Vincent Nobile’s 6.590 at 210.31 mph was enough to defeat the Queenslander’s 6.623 at 209.35 mph. Nobile cut an 0.004 light making it tough from the get go for Tucker but he continues to improve with a string of solid showings on his most recent NHRA tilt. The Rob Tcuker Racing Team will now return to Australia for a breif period.