Aussie “Top Doorslammer” History is Made

John Zappia strengthened his lead within the ferocious season long chase for ANDRA Top Doorslammer class supremacy following a superb victory over a record setting field at Sydney Dragway last weekend.

Driving his ultra-powerful and highly feared Fuchs/ProComp Motorsports-sponsored ’71 Monaro, Zappia who is from Western Australia, won during the fourth round of the season series.

John Zappia reset the ANDRA national record while defeating a history making Top Doorslammer field at Sydney Dragway.

Zappia hit a final round time of 5.836 secs at 248.02 mph to turn back the late model Holden Monaro driven by Victor Bray’s son Ben.   Ben, racing his Sidchrome Monaro, ran a losing 5.913 secs at 246.89 mph.

With the win Zappia boosted his championship lead to 65 points from his nearest rival Peter Kapiris and there are just two rounds of the series remaining in the 2011/12 title chase.

The skilled driver also reset the ANDRA national record to a stunning 5.801secs which flashed up on the scoreboard during round one. 

“The Fuchs Monaro was flying today,” said Zappia.  “The final was a close one — I saw his (Ben Bray’s) fender out there in front and I was slowly creeping up.” 

The event produced for the first time in ANDRA Top Doorslammer class history an all 5-second qualified field of cars with the bump spot being set at 5.987 secs.  In fact two different racers, Gary Phillips and John Cannuli were credited with 5-secs time slips but did not qualify.

Robin Judd, driver of the Aeroflow Performance Products Studebaker, paced the TD field after qualifying with a 5.836 secs run before he bowed out in the semi-final round when he crossed the centerline while racing Zappia.   Judd did set top speed of the meet overall at 251.02 mph.

The ANDRA’s unique and mechanical marvel 400 CID Pro Stock eliminator class produced an unexpected winner when Shane Tucker scored.

Tucker, who is based from the state ofQueensland, steered his Monster Energy Pontiac GXP to its first win by combining some superb driving skills and hard team work. 

Shane Tucker's team earned a very determined victory in Pro Stock

His team experienced some serious mechanical issues in the second round which almost spelled the end of their event.  But Tucker’s team thrashed in the pits to repair the damage in time.

Tucker then rolled out for the final and delivered a great reaction time to defeat Jason Grima’s Ford Mustang with a 7.154 secs 192.49 mph to a much quicker 7.085 secs 192.58 mph.  

“We had a motto all weekend that said winners never quit and quitters never win,” Tucker said. “We said we’d turn this deal around and we’ve gone from non-qualifier three weeks ago to winning the race today. It proves that hard work pays off.”

The victory pushed Tucker all the way from 7^th to 3^rd in the updated Pro Stock championship points standing.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle Ross Lemberg claimed his first victory, scorching to a personal best time of 7.241 secs (low ET) in the final riding his Suzuki to win over Michael Gilbertson.

“What a great day, we’ve got our bike sorted out and to run a personal best in the final, we’re really happy with that,” he said.

The PSB winner at Sydney was Ross Lemberg

Editors Note: You can watch a video clip of both the Pro Stock and Top Doorslammer Final Rounds courtesy of our good friends at Drag News Australia : HERE

The next round of the ANDRA Pro Series will mark a return to Adelaide (in South Australia) for the first time in over a decade – April 13-15^th.  The Championship points chase will continue in Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Top Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. 

Posted by:  Bruce Biegler