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Victor,
Ben and Mat…All remain in top eight in ANDRA points WILLOWBANK-RACEWAY --- Ben Bray and his Castrol EDGE, Mack Trucks, Holden Monaro team were racing against history at the annual Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles. Throughout Ben's relatively young career he has made it to at least one final by this point of the championship. As the No. 5 qualifier, he was positioned to grab his first final round appearance of the season but that bid ended in the first round against Gary Phillips. Even though Ben did not reach the final he is optimistic about his chances heading to Sydney. "This weekend actually was a lot better for us than the score board would lead you to believe. I am upbeat about my car because it is definitely improving. We just need a few more runs. In my first qualifying pass I just blew the tyres off it on the start line. So after a very quick chat with Dad and my crew we decided to try a combination we felt would work. This would eliminate the dependency of getting revs on the start line exactly the same every time. We then made two good runs at 6.05 and then with a very small step up a 6.03. In the 1st round on Sunday even though we lost with a 6.05 against Gary's 6.01 we had a great race". said Ben. "We have all the old stuff back in it. Our chassis is working well and I am definitely excited about that. Later in the after-noon during a gap in the program I was able to run a test pass and see if we could get it to where we want it. So with nothing to lose we hotted the Monaro up and ran 5.924 at 243mph. I have to say that car has never pulled like that before. I thought at one stage I was driving my Funny car. I would like to thank Willowbank management for that opportunity, thus saving the need for a return test day. Willowbank is a great race track and they do a good job. I'm looking forward to getting back here for the Castrol EDGE Winter Nationals." Victor's race week-end also ended in a first round match-up with series leader John Zappia. They had met thirty-four times previously with a 23-11 record to Victor. However the now, 'Man of the Moment', Zap Rat took his career mark against the 6-time champion to 23-12, with his third consecutive round win over Bray. "I should have used my 1st round against Zap as a test pass but old habits die hard and I just had to race him. Unfortunately at the moment when I give the old Chevy a hot tune up she just shakes the tyres. I knew luck would have to be on my side also, but I did not even get a glimmer. We are going to make some changes to my car over the next week, so we will go down to Sydney under the radar and hopefully come out and turn some heads" said Victor. Mathew Abel qualified in 10th unable to improve on his personal best from the last meeting in Perth so consequently missed out on the Elimination on Sunday. "I knew
going into this meeting with 15 good cars entered, that it was going
to be tough to make the field but not impossible. I'm improving
all the time with my starts and gear changes. I was also lucky enough
to have a couple of test passes on Sunday during the program breaks.
I had two good runs, however, during my final pass I did substantial
damage to the engine and I could have done without that due to the
fact the next event is only 2 weeks away. We have a new blower coming
for my car and I hope to have it for the Nitro Champs. We just need
a few more runs and I think we are there." said Matt VICTOR BRAY,
51, Castrol EDGE 1957 Chevy BEN BRAY, 26,
Castrol / Centry Battery's Monaro CV8
NEXT EVENT:
Updated Championship points table.....here T.B.R. Images by Daniel Ward.....here
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