Australian Top Fuel team, Rapisarda Racing, will return to race in the (National Hot Rod Association) NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year.

Rapisarda Racing contested the final two NHRA Full Throttle events, at Las Vegas and the NHRA Finals at Pomona, late last year with regular team driver Mark Mariani at the wheel.

The team qualified at Las Vegas, defeating Cory McClenathan in round one of racing.  

This year, the Australian team will contest at least 12 NHRA Full Throttle events with experienced Sydney Top Fuel drag racer, Terry Sainty, performing the driving duties.

Australian Top Fuel team, Rapisarda Racing, will return to race in the (National Hot Rod Association) NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year.

Rapisarda Racing contested the final two NHRA Full Throttle events, at Las Vegas and the NHRA Finals at Pomona, late last year with regular team driver Mark Mariani at the wheel.

The team qualified at Las Vegas, defeating Cory McClenathan in round one of racing.  

This year, the Australian team will contest at least 12 NHRA Full Throttle events with experienced Sydney Top Fuel drag racer, Terry Sainty, performing the driving duties.

Rapisarda Racing team manager Santo Rapisarda Jnr, confirmed the team had considered several US-based NHRA drivers, including Steve Torrence, McClenathan and Tommy Johnson Jnr, before offering the drive to Sainty.

Rapisarda said if Sainty cannot make any of the scheduled US events, Johnson has agreed to drive the car.

At this stage, Rapisarda Racing will do the Winternationals (February 24-27), Pomona, California, Las Vegas (April 1-3), the Four-Wide Nationals (April 14-17), Charlotte, North Carolina, Southern Nationals (May 13-15), Atlanta, Georgia, Summer Nationals (May 20-22), Topeka, Kansas, Thunder Valley Nationals (June 17-19), Bristol, Tennessee, Norwalk, Ohio (June 23-26), Brainerd, Minnesota (August 18-21), the US Nationals (August 31-September 5), Indianapolis, Indiana, Arizona Nationals (October 14-16), Phoenix, Las Vegas Nationals (October 27-30), and the NHRA Finals (November 10-13), Pomona.

Rapisarda said the team have not ruled out doing the western swing, the Mile-High Nationals (July 22-24), Denver, Colorado, Sonoma, California (July 29-31) and the Northwest Nationals (August 5-7), Seattle, Washington.

He also said if the team is doing well in the Full Throttle points chase, other events could be added to the NHRA schedule.   

Rapisarda said the team will continue to race in the (Australian National Drag Racing Association) ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel championship events with its Australian-based team between the planned NHRA Full Throttle events.

Sainty said while it was a dream to race in the US when he first started driving in 1992, in recent years it was not a consideration, until Santo Rapisarda Snr asked if he would be interested in the US drive.

“When I was younger it was a dream to take our (Sainty-built) engines to the US and race, but that was squashed when the NHRA banned that engine design. Since then, I have not thought about going to the US as part of another team.”

Sainty, who owns and runs an industrial machinery maintenance company, said the Rapisarda offer is an extremely generous one and he is one hundred percent committed to racing in the US.

“Mum and Dad are very supportive and it was Dad’s (Stan) dream to take the original (Sainty) motor we built for America over there to race. I suppose this is the next best thing, racing in the NHRA with one of Dad's best mates, Santo (Rapisarda Snr).

“Santo (Snr) is a very generous man. I am extremely proud and privileged to drive his car in the US. It is a great opportunity and I'm one hundred percent committed.”

 

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