Darren Morgan (near lane) and Cory Mac in the final round. (John Bosher photo)

The final of Top Fuel was a long time coming what with all the rain interruptions, oil downs and the like and it looked close on paper between Darren Morgan and Cory McClenathan. McClenathan had run low ET of the meet in the first round (with a 4.659) however Morgan had run quicker in the semis 4.745 to 4.88 so it was anyone’s race. As it turned out the race was decided on the line with McClenathan taking a good lead off there (.070 to .150) that he turned into a 4.685/314.17 to 4.675/317.87 that were holeshot win. This race mirrored a large number over the weekend very close between both competitors.

Darren Morgan (Jon Van Daal photo)

Cagey veteran shoe Darren Morgan showed that he had lost none of his previous championship winning form by being the only driver in the eight car field to get down the tricky Sydney Dragway quarter mile in the second qualifying session. His 4.872 was three quarters of a second in front of second placed Wayne Newby, however he slipped to fourth by the end of qualifying. In the first round he faced Terry Sainty in the family dragster with the latter being shut down on the line.