|
Phillips Pumped for QT Tin Top Titles |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
Brisbane Top Doorslammer drag racing heavyweight Gary Phillips is hell bent on claiming a maiden Australian championship for the category and that’ll ensure fireworks during this Saturday’s penultimate round at Willowbank Raceway during the QT Tin Top Titles.
To fans across the country it seems something of an anomaly that a driver who has 12 Australian Top Alcohol titles to his credit, has been unable to chalk up a Top Doorslammer crown.
But such is the nature of a sport where just tenths and hundredths of a
second represent the margin between winning and losing that this
veteran still has yet to tick off that goal in his career.
Phillips has enjoyed solid results which have seen him among the top rung of competitors for the past eight years.
That same consistency has proved the key to the Queenslander’s 2007
charge, leading a star-studded pack of proven performers going into
this weekend’s crucial showdown.
On the back end of four straight finals appearances he’s shown he has
the mettle and desire to go all the way and is counting on a bit of
luck to convert another finals fling into a QT Tin Top Titles winner’s
trophy.
“We have an 89-point buffer out in front but haven’t been able to
convert on track form into an outright victory, so it’d be nice to go
into the season ending Winternationals (June 8-10) with a bit more
confidence,” said Phillips.
“In saying that we only need to continue with what we’ve been doing this year to claim the Championship.
“But like all the drivers I’m aiming for outright victory which is something that has eluded us so far this season.
“We haven’t been able to take a trick.
“First off we broke a spark plug in the final against Victor (Bray) at
the Nationals at Willowbank last September, next it was a blower drive
in Perth up against Peter Kapiris then to top it all off the past two
rounds has seen Brett (Stevens) get the better of us.
“Last time round it was only Brett’s quicker reaction at the start line
that gave him the holeshot win, so we’re obviously not that far off and
hopefully we’ll put it together this weekend.”
A runner’s up Championship trophy in 2005, when young gun Ben Bray
claimed the title, is the closest Phillips has come to tasting the
victory champagne.
John Zappia, Brett Stevens and Victor Bray are all within striking
distance for the 2006/07 spoils, but the Brisbane driver prefers to
focus on his own backyard.
“We’ve got a healthy lead going into the Tin Tops, we’ve been the most
consistent and remain progressive in our approach, so there’s no reason
we can’t go on with it.”
“That’s why we’re in the points lead, we’ve consistently run the Lucas
Oil Products Top Doorslammer on its merits and run to what the track
will take.
“That becomes even more important this weekend because it’s a one day
event and you just can’t afford any breakages to spoil the momentum.
“We’ve worked hard but the fat lady hasn’t been called to the stage, as a matter of fact she hasn’t even got out of her chair.
“But come Saturday night we hope she’ll be warming the vocal chords and
then singing a sweet song at the Winternationals in June. ”
The QT Tin Top Titles will ensure a packed day and night of drag racing
action which kicks off with qualifying from 8am this Saturday.
Feature qualifying is set down for 10.15am, 12.30pm and 2.45pm before Willowbank Raceway shapes up to eliminations from 6.10pm.
Anticipation reigns with the return of the most incredible all-sedan
confrontations as Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Pro Street Outlaws and
Pro Turbo categories headline this time honoured tradition of
Queensland drag racing.
In essence the format of the QT Tin Top Titles will see the realisation
of drag racing activities inclusive of the vastly popular Fast Fours
Jamboree and Powercruise scenes which have continually attracted
massive interest among drag racing fans.
|
News