Funny Car Has Stevens Smiling

[SpoolMan]

Australian Drag Racing legend Brett 'The Boss' Stevens has been smiling non-stop for the last month after the birth of his first child in early December. He has also kept this happy feeling at his 'office' on the race track after a successful meet at Boxing Day Drag Racing Bonanza at Western Sydney International Dragway on December 26/27.

Racing his Kitten Car Care Products Funny Car, Stevens nailed the Number One Qualifying position in the Top Alcohol bracket for the first time after competing in the category for only a little over 12 months.

His 5.640 second time for the quarter mile was also under the National Top Alcohol Funny Car record and was run at an incredible 255.92 mph (411.86 kph) giving him the quickest and fastest times in Top Alcohol for the entire event.

After winning through to the semi finals during the elimination rounds, Stevens campaign came to a disappointingly premature end when he broke an oil line during his burnout forcing him to withdraw.

"After a shaky start to qualifying we have finally shown the capability of the new car in competition," Stevens said.

"On our first run the tyres went up in smoke and on the second run the car turned sharply after launching and I had a bit of a wild ride to keep it off the walls."

"We made a few adjustments for our last qualifying run and it ran straight down the middle in a sub-record time so we were extremely happy."

"It was a little disappointing to go out in the semi's the way we did because we were a genuine chance at taking out the event and it would have been a great way to finish the 2005 calendar year for the team."

"Our focus now will be on the remainder of the season and clawing our way up the Championship ladder."

Stevens is hoping to keep this form going into the New Year when he lines up his Kitten Car Care Products Ford Mustang Funny Car again at Willowbank Raceway for the National Open on January 6/7.

The National Open will feature both Round 4 of the Australian Top Fuel and Top Alcohol National Championships over two action packed nights with the first event of 2006 shaping up to be a blockbuster event.

"We are about half way through the season and I really want to keep the momentum from Sydney going to give us a shot at the Championship," Stevens said.

"The pressure is now on to replicate our performances (from the Boxing Day Drag Racing Bonanza) at Willowbank."

"With our local knowledge in Queensland and out proven setups we will be gunning to win the event and hopefully reset some records in the process."

"There is still plenty more in the car so watch out."

The National Open will also include the second and final leg of the USA vs Australia Top Fuel Showdown featuring star NHRA driver Dave Grubnick taking on the local Dragster drivers.

With the countries best Top Fuel and Top Alcohol pilots mixing it up, backed by various other support categories, the event is sure to deliver plenty of action packed entertainment for lovers of raw horsepower with a strong possibility of records tumbling.

NATIONAL OPEN DETAILS

Location: Willowbank Raceway Champions Way Willowbank QLD 4307

Schedule: Friday Jan 6 Qualifying 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Saturday Jan 7 Qualifying 11:00am - 4:00pm Eliminations from 4pm

Ticket Prices: Friday Jan 6 Pit Paddock Admission Only Adults: $25 Students with ID: $13

Saturday Jan 7 General Admission Adults: $34 Students with ID: $20

Pit Paddock Admission Adults: $42 Students with ID: $28 Children 13 & under: FREE

Thanks to NMD for the story.