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Morgan begins top fuel title defence

Posted on September 9, 2011

TEAMWORK: The world’s youngest national Top Fuel title-winning crew chief, Ben Patterson, and driver/team owner Darren Morgan, sitting behind the wheel, discuss set-up before another blistering run down the quarter mile.

SUNRAYSIA’S top fuel drag racing gladiators Darren Morgan and Phil Lamattina will launch into yet another Australian Top Fuel drag racing season this weekend at the opening round in Sydney.

Morgan goes into the new series as defending champion following a stellar 2010/2011 season which he wrapped up with one round to spare.

“Last season was mega for us. It was amazing to have walked away with the championship – not just personally – but for the entire crew,” team owner/driver Morgan said this week.

“They work extremely hard and they are all volunteers that travel with us from Mildura.”

The return to Sydney for this weekend’s season-opener marks a return to a happy hunting ground for Morgan and his Hungry Jacks Mildura dragster, which took out the same round last year.

“Last year, we won the Nationals in Sydney. This year I hope that we can do the same,” he said.

The Sunraysia-based reigning Australian Top Fuel champion is brimming with confidence going into this weekend.

“There’s a top field that will be on hand for the event, including Cory McClenathan. Knocking him out of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals a few weeks ago was undoubtedly one of my career highlights, especially as it was the first ever run for the car.

“It was cool to think that I got the holeshot on a guy noted for his reaction times and I’d love to be able to do it again,” Morgan said.

United States-based McClenathan is the current top fuel world number three and made a guest appearance at the recent Winternationals.

He’ll return to Sydney Dragway this weekend as part of a massive 10-car top fuel line-up.

Despite a dominant 2010/2011 season, Morgan hasn’t been resting on his laurels.

Crew chief, Ben Patterson, who became the youngest crew chief anywhere in the world to win a top fuel title at 21-years-old, has once again spent time in the United States during the off-season, picking up tips from the Clay Millican team.

Phil Lamattina meanwhile is looking forward to a positive season ahead after a difficult 2010/2011 campaign which saw massive changes behind the scenes, including a change of crew chief and relocating his racing operations to Sydney.

But the off-season has provided a chance for the team to re-group and is looking stronger than ever based on a recent test at Sydney.

Lamattina said the team produced some quick times as well as providing a chance for new crew chief Aaron Hambridge to continue acquainting himself with the Fuchs dragster.

The Lamattina team showed flashes of brilliance last year with some blisteringly quick times, however a string of difficult qualifying positions made life tough for the team.

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