Sydney-sider Rick Gauci upstaged NHRA World #6 Funny Car racer Ron Capps to win the first Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car event at Sydney Dragway.
Using a non-traditional “pointscore” format – Gauci (a regular Top Alcohol racer) and Paul Messineo were locked on nine points after the three competition rounds, Gauci’s faster elapsed time tipped the victory in his favour.
Capps – the driver of the Don Schumacher Racing NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car in the States – was at the top of the pointscore heading into the final round, but he was unable to get the LA Hooker Funny Car down the track in the manner required to secure the win.
The field also included Phil Lamattina, a return to drag racing for Aaron Hambridge and Kiwi racer, Willy White.
Although delayed a day by inclement weather, the first ever Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car event drew a healthy crowd, with entertainment the name of the game rather than tradition.
The concept – the brainchild of ANDRA Hall of Famer Graeme Cowin – was to deliver the shock and awe of Nitro-powered racing with an entertainment package for the entire family.
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American star Capps was pleasantly surprised with the level of knowledge about NHRA drag racing the Australian fans possessed:
“I humbled with the level of enthusiasm for the sport of drag racing in Australia. I had no idea that Australia followed our sport so closely – it’s pretty cool,” he said.
With a huge investment of 13 cars turning out for the event, Cowin and his team – led by former Willowbank Raceway General Manager, Steve Bettes and former ANDRA CEO, Rob Sharp – they are looking to expand the concept to drag strips around the country.
