Gary Phillips ANDRA Top Alcohol Wrap-up

Phillips fishing for a five!

Coming off a rewarding weekend of consistent low six second runs in the Tin Top Nationals at Willowbank Raceway, the Lucas Oils team can smell their first five second pass, but according to driver Gary Phillips, they won’t break anything trying.

“At the moment, if a 6.01 doesn’t keep you in the field, I’ll go fishing instead!” said the typically jovial Phillips. “But make no mistake, we’d love to run our first five, but it would be crazy to do it at the cost of an engine."

Phillips can almost smell a five second pass in the Lucas Oil Products ‘53 Studebaker after posting three consistent 6.00 second elapsed times at the Tin Tops.

However, with the consistent 5.80 second elapsed times of defending title holder John Zappia, Phillips is feeling the pressure to step up the combination in his ’53 Studebaker, well aware that the West Australian is in a league of his own.

“We’ve got to be realistic about the way we go racing. There’s no extra points or dollars for running a five, but it’s getting to the point where it’s the only way to win races. We’ll keep being consistent and chipping away at it. It’s only a matter of time.”

With only two round remaining in the championship, the chance for Phillips to repeat his 2007 ANDRA Championship win is out of the question, however, it’s still a three way battle in Top Alcohol where Phillips and his Lucas Oil Products Chevy Monte Carlo funny car trail series leader Steve
Reed by a mere 35 points.

“We’ve got nothing to lose now, so we’ll throw everything at it and hopefully make some steps forward. We’ve got a lot of work to do preparing both cars for both rounds, but at this stage, we’re looking good for a top three finish in both categories come the end of the season.”

The Lucas Oil Products team will make the trip south to Western Sydney International Dragway next week in preparation for the Nitro Champs, before hauling north to return to Willowbank for the Winternationals four weeks later to round out a successful season in both categories.


Story and photo by Bennie Bishop of Benzpress – 0433 112 959