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Fastest Ever Nitro Funny Car Pass Set At Willowbank Raceway
Gary Densham has kicked off round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series in the best way possible tonight – running Australia’s quickest and fastest ever Nitro Funny Car pass when he crossed the quarter mile in 4.86 seconds at 309.7mph (approx 495.52kph).
The result is the first Nitro Funny Car ‘four second’ pass to be run not only in Australia but also outside of North America, and also tops the speed ladder as the first pass in Australia by a Nitro Funny Car to come in at over 300 miles per hour.
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Densham was clearly ecstatic with the pass, which saw the 62 year old from Bellflower, California, smash the Willowbank Raceway track record that he set 13 years ago in December of 1995 (5.63s/259.37mph/approx 414.99kph).
“The crew have done a fantastic job, the fans are great, I am very proud of this accomplishment – to be the first to run four seconds,” said an elated Densham.
“I hope you guys love Funny Cars as much as I do, it has been a great day for Gary Densham.
“We certainly are going to look to come back tomorrow and do it again, we have good information (on track conditions) after that run and we will see what we can do – I just really hope the fans enjoyed it as much as I did.”
A similar run tomorrow will be all Densham needs to officially clinch the National Record, which is currently held by Victorian’s Romeo Capitanio (time record – 5.37s) and Helen and Peter Russo (speed record – 274.90mph/442.39kph) which have stood for 14 and 13 years respectively.
Densham's blistering run came in the second and final round of qualifying for the US vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Showdown and sees him at the top of the field ahead of Australian challengers Ricky Steffens, Mark Sheehan, Ashley Bailey and Damien Harris.
While the Nitro Funny Cars impressed the crowd, they weren’t the only ones with the ANDRA Professional categories of Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycle all taking to the track for their qualifying runs.
In Top Doorslammer, John Zappia saved the best till last with the first ‘five second’ Doorslammer pass of the night set in his final run and the final run of his category for the night – his 5.98 second pass at 240.00 miles per hour (approx. 384kph) sees him as the top qualifier ahead of Robin Judd.
In Top Alcohol – a field where many of the competitors had competed just days ago in Sydney on Sunday – Gary Phillips of Hillcrest topped the field with a 5.625 second pass at 254.09 miles per hour (approx. 406.54kph) ahead of John Cannuli.
While Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol head straight into their Final Eliminations tomorrow from 5.00pm, the Pro Stock Motorcycle category will have one final qualifying run to complete before heading to their elimination rounds, with Michael Gilbertson currently leading the field on 7.466 seconds at 179.21 miles per hour (approx, 286.73kph).
PaddockTalk Perspective
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