Reigning ANDRA Top Fuel champion Darren Morgan will miss the season opening round in Perth later this month due to budget concerns.
A New Year’s Eve email circulated to Darren Morgan Racing supporters revealed that without sponsorship the team would not be making the three day drive to compete in Western Australia.
The Nitro Max ANDRA season opener on January 10-11 is due to take place at Perth Motorplex.
It will be the first event four times Top Fuel champion Darren Morgan has missed since the team’s formation in 2007.
Morgan, arguably one of the most famous names in Australian drag racing, won four of the 11 meetings in 2013 to help him secure a third consecutive ANDRA Top Fuel title.
He finished a full 50 points ahead of his nearest rival Phil Lamattina.
“At this time we are sad to announce we will not be campaigning the first event of the 2014 ANDRA Drag Racing Series in Perth,” the team wrote.
“Unfortunately we have been unable to secure sufficient sponsorship to enable us to compete at this event. We are working diligently towards our goal of competing for the remainder of the 2014 ANDRA season.”
Top Fuel stars Lamattina, Martin Stamatis, Mark Sheehan and Rapisarda Racing are all believed to be making the trip to Perth.
