Hillcrest’s Gary Phillips ran the world’s fastest ‘doored car’ pass yesterday in Top Doorslammer (249.86mph/402.27kmh), Narangba’s Brett Stevens – whilst appearing in no less than three of the six Group One finals (Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Top Bike) – blitzed it by running a 252.66mph/406.76kmh pass in the Doorslammer category.
Stevens’ new world record follows on from the one he claimed yesterday by qualifying for what was Australia’s quickest Top Doorslammer field. By making it into the field, Stevens had the points to take the Top Alcohol championship and become the first person world-wide to take three professional bracket championships (07/08 Top Alcohol, 04/05 Top Bike, 03/04 Top Doorslammer).
“Firstly, thank you to Willowbank Raceway for the excellent facility, it is an excellent race track and this has been the most awesome weekend of racing I have ever experienced in my life,” said Stevens.
“I want to thank Jack Daniel’s, our major sponsor who has been with me for 15 years now and have backed me all the way, it has been a great thing.
“A big thank you also to my crew, and congratulations to Ben for the win.
“As for the 252mph, where did that come from?” laughed Stevens, “I don’t know! What I do know is this is the best race meeting I have seen or been a part of so thank you very much.”
Stevens’ wife and fellow Doorslammer competitor Kath Stevens also claimed her own world record today – with her qualifying run of yesterday evening since confirmed as the fastest pass by a female ‘doored car’ competitor in the world, with her being the first female to breach the 240mph (386.4kmh) mark with her 241.54mph (388.87kmh) pass. The Castrol EDGE Winternationals Top Doorslammer win went to Ben Bray, whilst John Zappia took the championship.
Of four professional brackets contested, the Stevens team claimed two wins and two runner-ups, three national championships, three world records, one ANDRA national record.
Another family setting records today were Bundaberg’s Tremayne brothers of Aaron and Tyronne. The 2007/2008 Pro Stock Champion and younger brother Aaron started the trend with a 7.118s before Tyronne came out immediately after and set a 7.07s pass, which he later backed up in his final run against Lee Betkash to see him claim both the Australia ET and Speed records for Pro Stock. Tyronne was the winner of that run to claim second behind his brother in the championship and claim the event title.
Phil Read in Top Fuel wasn’t going to let the Tremayne boys have all the fun though, with the owner of three consecutive Top Fuel championships including the current 07/08 title, setting the new Australian ET record in his semi-final run of 4.59s before heading to the Finals. Martin Stamatis lined up against Read and took the Castrol EDGE Winternationals win.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Peter Cochrane of the Brett Stevens Racing camp took the Castrol EDGE Winternationals title and the Championship, after beating out Michael Gilbertson who got to the final over Callum Godeassi by less than one thousandth of a second.
In Top Bike, Stevens and Troy McLean – the 07/08 Title winner, ran up against each other with Stevens progressing to the final before Kiwi Athol Williams beat him out for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals win.
All in all, today’s closing action of the three and a half day Castrol EDGE Winternationals was a fitting follow-on from what the fans got to see on Saturday, with West Australian Robin Judd joining Phillips and Stevens in setting world records at the time by running the world’s quickest ‘doored car’ pass at 5.90s.
Other championship winners on-track today were Phil Oho in Competition, Nino Cavallo in Super Stock, David Rundmann in Competition Bike, John Ward in Supercharged Outlaws, Mark Eadie in Modified, Greg Fowler in Super Sedan, Adam Ewing in Modified Bike, Tony Wallace in Super Street, Loughlin Boyde in Junior Dragster and Joe Catanzariti in Super Gas. For full results and championship standings please visit www.willowbank-raceway.com.au
Next up and new for 2008 at Willowbank Raceway is the Spring Top Fuel Championships, which will see all the action from Top Fuel, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock and the Rocket AllStars Series hit the track for September 26 and 27.
2008 CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS RECORDS SUMMARY:
World Records
- Brett Stevens – World’s Fastest ‘doored car’ pass – Top Doorslammer – 252.66mph (406.76kmh) – eclipsing that of Gary Phillips set yesterday.
- Robin Judd – World’s Quickest ‘doored car’ pass - Top Doorslammer – 5.90seconds
- Brett Stevens – first person in the world to take three professional bracket championships (07/08 Top Alcohol, 04/05 Top Bike, 03/04 Top Doorslammer)
- Kath Stevens – World’s Quickest Female – first female to run over 240mph - 241.54mph (388.87kmh)
Australian Records
- Gary Phillips and Aaron Lynch - Australia’s fastest side-by-side pass – Top Doorslammer – Phillips 6.07s/249.86mph versus Lynch 6.02s/243.77mph
- Gary Phillips – first in Australia for sedan-style racing to breach 400kmh, Stevens has now joined him.
- Phil Read – Australia ET Record – Top Fuel - 4.59 seconds
- Tyronne Tremayne – Australian ET Record – Pro Stock – 7.07 seconds
- Tyronne Tremayne – Australian Speed Record – Pro Stock – 192.22mph (309.47kmh)
WILLOWBANK RACEWAY MAJOR EVENT CALENDAR 2008 / 2009 SEASON
2008 SEPTEMBER – 26 / 27 – SPRING TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ANDRA Championship Rounds - Top Fuel – Top Alcohol – Pro Stock – Top Bike PLUS Rocket Allstar Racing Series Round – Group 2,3,4
2009 JANUARY - 2 / 3 – INTERNATIONAL NIGHFIRE NEW YEAR SERIES - ROUND ONE
ANDRA Championship Rounds - Top Alcohol - Top Doorslammer – Pro Stock Motorcycle - PLUS USA vs AUST Nitro Funny Car
2009 JANUARY - 16 / 17 – INTERNATIONAL NIGHTFIRE NEW YEAR SERIES - ROUND TWO
ANDRA Championship Rounds - Top Fuel – Top Bike - PLUS USA vs AUST Nitro Funny Car
2009 APRIL – 17 / 18 – 2009 TIN TOP TITLES
ANDRA Championship Rounds - Top Doorslammer – Pro Stock – Pro Stock Motorcycle
2009 JUNE - 5 - 8 CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS
ANDRA Championship Rounds - Top Fuel – Top Alcohol – Top Doorslammer – Top Bike – Pro Stock – Pro Stock Motorcycle – PLUS Rocket Allstar Racing Series Round – Group 2,3,4
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