QDRC SHINES AT WILLOWBANK RACEWAY
16 July 2015
Round three of the 2015 Queensland Drag Racing Championships saw more than 100 competitors shine at Willowbank Raceway while professional racers Gary Phillips and John Cannuli made returns to the drag strip after dramatic exits from the recent Fuchs Winternationals.
Taking victory were Chelsea Leahy (Knijff Earthmoving Modified), Ashley Thomson (Powercruise Super Sedan), Neil Tschutura (Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street), Tammy Goldthorpe (Modified Bike), Ethan Oberg (Wallace Bishop Loyal Watches Junior Dragster) and Dale O’Dwyer (Super Gas).
The victories of fast femmes Goldthorpe and Leahy in particular were popular, with the Gold Coast’s Leahy one-half of an all-female final for her class alongside Nikki Usher, who took home the runner-up honours, as did Chloe Ramsay (runner-up in Junior Dragster).
“It was a great day (to win) my first event in modified in my fifth event in my dragster,” said Leahy after the event.
“(We were) consistent all day, thank you to my family and Rob (Harrington) for all of their help and support!”
Also impressing was Scott Cortina - who claimed the win in the crowd-pleasing Kenda Tires Drag Radial class which enjoyed its biggest field ever within a QDRC event at the weekend - and Phillips and Cannuli.
The two Top Alcohol racers were on-track testing following incidents at the Fuchs Winternationals – Phillips withdrew from the event after a dramatic crash with the side wall during Friday qualifying, while Cannuli suffered a devastating fire during the semi-final for the same class on Sunday. An event victory would have seem him snatch away the Top Alcohol championship from Phillips, who with Cannuli’s semi-final loss took home his 17th title in the professional category.
The next round of the QDRC will hit Willowbank Raceway on the 22nd of August. For full event information please click here. For full results from the 11 July event, please click here.
For more information including a full event calendar, please visit willowbankraceway.com.au or follow us on Facebook.