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2013 NHRA: Dixon, Beard & Rapisarda Autosport Int'l Headed 'Down Under' To Compete At Willowbank Raceway On March 29-30
Three-time NHRA champions Larry Dixon and Lee Beard and their Rapisarda Autosport International team are headed “Down Under” for the Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme drag racing event at Willowbank Raceway in Australia on March 29-30.
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It was confirmed Wednesday that the Indiana-based NHRA Top Fuel team will compete in Willowbank Raceway’s two-day Easter spectacular. Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane. For more information, visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Dixon, the second most successful driver in NHRA history with 62 wins, said he looks forward to making his mark at Willowbank Raceway this Easter weekend.
“I am very excited to be heading ‘down under’ for the Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway,” said Dixon. “I have heard a lot of great things about the racing in Australia, and I am really looking forward to getting on track and competing over the quarter-mile at this new event.
“The three-round format is something that is used here in the U.S. quite a bit for exhibition and non-NHRA events, so I am pretty familiar with it. I have actually raced it once before with Shirley Muldowney where I was fortunate enough to get the win. Hopefully I can have the same kind of success this time around.”
Dixon, Beard and the Rapisarda crew will travel to Australia right after the NHRA Amalie Gatornationals on March 17 and prepare the team’s equipment which is based “Down Under.”
“Once we arrive in Australia after the Gators, we will be heading straight to Santo’s race shop to take a look at the equipment and get the right set-up prepared. So by the time we pull in to the gates, we will be ready to race. As far as taking in any of the Australian sights, that will have to wait until after the racing is done. But hopefully we will have some time for some sightseeing after a successful event!”
Beard, the team’s Director of Operations, is ready for the new Australia adventure too.
“I haven’t participated in much racing outside of the United States other than at the opening of the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi,” said Beard. “So I am very much looking forward to heading to Australia to compete with the Rapisarda family, especially after visiting Sydney over the New Year. The three-round format is something we are very familiar with and given the event’s significance to the Rapisarda family, I am very honored to have been invited to take part.”
But Beard admits the Aussie trip won’t be just for sightseeing. He is ready to go racing.
“Preparation is something that is very important to me,” said he said. “So as soon as we get into Australia, I will be working hard to create a set-up that will allow us to be competitive and able to put together a great event for Santo and his family.”
The Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race will feature the Louie Rapisarda Trophy Race, in honor of Santo’s son (a Top Fuel driver) who passed away in 1990. Thanks to a partnership between Rapisarda and Willowbank Raceway, a special commemorative trophy for the winner of the Top Fuel bracket will be on offer.
“I am honored to be able to represent Santo and his family at this great event in memory of his son Louie,” said Dixon. “I know about this event and the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race is something which is very special to Santo and his entire family, so I hope we can get some great results together for him when we head to Willowbank Raceway later this month.”
For Santo Rapisarda, this Easter at Willowbank Raceway is shaping up to be something special.
“Not only does this event feature a memorial trophy in honor of my son Louie,” Rapisarda explained. “But in Larry and Lee, we will be bringing some top ranking NHRA-class experience to the race track with us this Easter – I think that is pretty special.
“Thanks to their experience we will hopefully have a winning edge over our opponents for this event, especially given the fact that we will be tackling what is a exciting new format for Top Fuel racing in Australia.
This announcement really underlines our commitment to this event. We truly are bringing all hands on deck, it means a lot to us and we are going to be chasing after the win with everything we have got.”
Dixon and Beard started their tenure with the Rapisarda Autosport International team at Pomona Raceway in February of this year with two events already completed.
“So far the season is off to a good start for us,” said Rapisarda. “We have qualified at both events and have made some great advancements since bringing Larry and Lee on board, such as resetting our personal best elapsed time and speed markers and making improvements in our parts performance and maintenance.
“A win at Willowbank Raceway in memory of Louie would be a great way to cap off what has been already been a promising start to our 2013 season.”
PaddockTalk Perspective
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