Tommy Johnson Jr. is back in a Top Fuel dragster – for one weekend.
 
The top-five NHRA Funny Car driver will round out the four-dragster Rapisarda Autosport International team this weekend at the Sydney Nitro Champs in Australia.
 
The assignment comes in the wake of Johnson’s quarterfinal finish Sunday at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Baytown, Texas.
 
Johnson will join fellow American and NHRA racer Dom Lagana and RAIs ANDRA regulars Damien Harris and Wayne Newby.
 
Lee Beard, the former RAI team manager, will tune Johnson’s dragster. Beard, a three-decade veteran in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, is one of the most highly decorated NHRA tuners, with 53 wins and four U.S. Nationals victories.
 
Johnson’s most recent appearance for RAI came in the United States in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in 2013. He forged a close relationship with crew chief brothers Santino Rapisarda and Santo Rapisarda Jr..
 
He is expected to arrive at Sydney Friday morning ahead of the two-day event.
 
“We are delighted that Tommy will be racing for our team,” an elated team owner Santo Rapisarda said. “He will certainly be racking up the frequent flyer points, leaving Texas on Monday for a quick visit to his home in Indy then catching a flight to Australia. That’s quite a trip. He will arrive on Friday morning, go straight to the track, then get a good night’s sleep and be in shape for qualifying on Saturday.”
 
In his fulltime gig for Don Schumacher Racing, driving the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger that Terry Chandler funds, Johnson qualified eighth in the 16-car field at Houston and lost in Round 2 to teammate and eventual runner-up Jack Beckman. He launched first but then experienced tire shake and conceded the victory to Beckman.
 
Meanwhile, Santo Rapisarda was ironing out the details to bring Johnson across the Pacific Ocean to race in the NHRA’s idle week before the May 15-17 Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.  
 
“We have been toying with the idea of running four cars for some time and this weekend the dream will come true,” Rapisarda said. “It will be a real challenge, but that’s what drag racing is about, facing challenges.”
 
Australian AutoSport Magazine’s John Doig contributed to this article.

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