Australian Drag Racing stalwart Gary Phillips is back in the winners circle posting his first win of the season in the Top Alcohol Lucas Oil Products Funny Car. In an all out domination of the category,

Philips not only won the event, but took a clean sweep of the round posting the fastest time and subsequently personal best of 5.59 sec for the 400m journey and top speed of 254mph (408km/h) elevating him to second on the national points table.

“This is fantastic,” said an elated Phillips, happy to clinch his first win for the season. “We had our major sponsors at the event and it all went like clockwork to bring home the win.”

Coming off a disappointing result one week earlier in Sydney, where the car’s form didn’t translate into race wins, Phillips felt right at home back in the winners circle where he has spent much of his stellar 39 year career.

“You never get sick of winning that’s for sure, and this win with the bonus points for taking top speed and fastest time will put us back in the race well and truly.

But not far from his thoughts despite the win was long time opponent and close friend Steve Reed who faced Phillips in the final, only to have a savage explosion turn his car into a 400km/h fireball, completely blowing the body of the chassis.

“It all happened behind me thankfully for us, but no one likes to see a fellow racer go out like that, and that’s a cruel blow for the whole Reed family,” said a sympathetic Phillips, having watched the race already posted on internet video website ‘youtube’ with almost 9000 views since Sunday.

The Top Alcohol win for Phillips made up for a disappointing end to his Top Doorslammer campaign at the same event, with a seat swapping frenzy between both cars throughout the weekend coming to an abrupt halt on the start line of the Doorslammer semi final, when the engine failed to fire.

“The Lucas Oil Products Studebaker was in great form with a 6.09 in the first round of qualifying, but when we made it to the semi’s against Robin Judd, the crank trigger malfunctioned,” said Phillips, plagued by the failure of one hundred dollar part.

Regardless of the outcome, Phillips was still promoted to third in the Doorslammer points tally, with the added bonus of top speed points for claiming 249.58 mph during qualifying, setting the remainder of the season up for some fierce battles.

Phillips next outing in the Top Alcohol Funny Car however will be at the famed Perth Motorplex at the end of January, where there is the very real opportunity to take his stand at the top of the point tally with only 4 rounds remaining in the national title, before returning to Western Sydney for double driving duties again for both Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer at the same event.

Story by Bennie Bishop at Benzpress.com 0433 112 959
Photo credit: Angus McMaster