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HISTORIC NIGHT FOR WOMEN IN
MOTORSPORT AT SYDNEY DRAGWAY |
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A historic night of
racing concluded with a the first ever
all-female Top Fuel Final Round at the
Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder at Sydney
Dragway, in front of a massive crowd on
Saturday night.
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Rookie sensation Kelly Bettes outclassed
a solid top fuel field to best Top Fuel
Veteran Rachelle Splatt in what was
Bettes’ third consecutive win in the 400
Thunder Championship Series.
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“I grew up as a kid watching Rachelle
race in top fuel, and to be in the final
against her in the first all-female Top
Fuel final – this is a dream!” Bettes
said after the victory. “I feel like
this is a dream, 3 consecutive wins in
my first season – it’s incredible”.
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The racing action was marred by a round
2 crash involving Top Fuel Racer Peter
Xiberras. Xiberras’ car lost traction at
around 40 meters from the start line,
with the car veering across the
racetrack and impacting the opposite
wall. The car returned to it’s wheels
and remained upright. Xiberras was
conscious and talking with medical staff
and was transported to hospital for
further evaluation.
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With the win,
Bettes took over the championship points
lead from Damien Harris. Bettes takes a
33-point lead into the final round of
the Championship the Gulf Western Oil
Winternationals at the historic
Willowbank Raceway.
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The slugfest style
battle in Pro Slammer continues with a
dramatic win to John Zappia over first
time finalist, NSW-based Sam Fenech.
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The predictions of
yet another Paul Mouhayet / John Zappia
final round failed to materialise after
the former crossed the centreline in the
second-round match-up against Andrew
Searle, costing him valuable bonus
points that ultimately cost him a spot
in the final as well as his slender
championship lead.
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Zappia now lead the
title chase with one round to go by less
than a round of racing, with a 16-point
margin separating the Pro Slammer
Championship contenders with just one
round of the series to run.
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Maurice Allen took
a surprise victory in Pro Bike after his
motorcycle threw a chain in testing on
Friday night, resulting in considerable
damage to the bike including body and
chassis components.
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The bike was
hastily repaired overnight and although
it wasn’t pretty, it was enough to take
a victory over points leader Corey
Buttigieg.
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For the first time
in 8 races, the Pro Stock winner did not
have the surname Tremayne. Wayne Daley
bounced back with a monumental effort
after
crashing at the last round of the
Championship in Adelaide to best the
current championship leader and 6 time
Australian Champ Aaron Tremayne in the
final.
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Daley enjoyed a
consistent car all day with very quick
6.90 second runs throughout the event.
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The Pro Stock
Championship remains alive but a
91-point deficit between Tremayne and
number 2 Jason Hedges will be tough to
overcome with just one round of the
championship left.
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The Pro Alcohol title chase will go down
to the wire with the number 1 and 2 in
points, Steve Reed and Russell Mills,
battling it out yet again in the final
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Steve Reed remained
perfect for the season at Sydney
Dragway, with his third win from three
outings in the Premier State.
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The 400 Thunder
Series will now move to Willowbank
Raceway for the final round of the
2017/18 Championship, the Gulf Western
Oil Winternationals on June 7-10.
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For more
information on 400 Thunder, please visit
www.400thunder.com.au or check us
out on Facebook.
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