Darren Morgan has been crowned 2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Champion after the final round at Willowbank Raceway.
The victory for Morgan and his AEG Powertools team is his second consecutive title and third overall after wining the Top Fuel Championship back in 2004/2005.
Three championship crowns places Morgan in an exclusive club of Drag Racing’s greats as he becomes just the third man to win three titles in the Top Fuel category’s history.
“What an amazing finish to the season and I’m so happy we’ve been able to finish the year strong and make it back-to-back Top Fuel Championships!” Morgan commented.
“Firstly I have to thank my amazing team who have done an incredible job all season to get the AEG Powertools DMR team this victory.
“The result is just superb for our team and especially our crew chief, Ben Patterson - who is instrumental in getting the car down the track. Last season he was the youngest crew chief anywhere in the world to have won a Top Fuel Championship and to back that up with another Championship is just perfect.
“There’s a whole team that put their heart and soul into our effort, including Rodney Sparrow, David Thornton, David Smith, Norm Moylan, Brendon Liddle, Dennis Ehmsen, George Becerra, Steve Dale, Will Mrgan, Ben Patterson, Ben Evans, Marc Ohalloran, Barry Anderson, Colin Beasley, Karyn Beasley, Barry Corboy, Natalie Morgan, Caitlyn Morgan and Rory Morgan as well all the other people who have assisted throughout the season.”
Morgan headed into the Winternationals event 2.5 points behind series leader Damien Harris but quickly jumped ahead by obtaining a five-point fastest mile per hour bonus in qualifying.
With both Harris and Morgan losing out in Round 1 it saw a nervous wait to see if anyone else could take away the mph points Morgan had acquired.
There was also a threat from Andrew Cowin who could beat both drivers if he won the event and took one set of the bonus points.
However Alan Dobson beat Cowin in the final which handed Morgan the championship win by a slender 1.5 points over Harris after six exciting rounds of the 2011/2012 series.
“It certainly was a nervous wait at the end but that’s what makes this sport so unique and so exciting for both the teams and the fans,” added Morgan.
“On behalf of the entire Darren Morgan Racing team I would like to thank our major sponsors AEG Powertools, Shannons Insurance and Kennards Hire along with our associate partners Castrol, Victorian American Imports, Hertz, Disc Brakes Australia, Lovells Springs, Aeroflow, Rocket Industries, Champion Spark Plugs, Permatex, Timken, The Brake Man, Hedman Headers, PPG, GTS Transport, Cabac, CRC, Crow Cams, Groovey Tube, Hungry Jacks, MacNaught, Fusion, Mildura Tourism, Mechanix Wear, JB Automotive, Elgas, Orrcon Steel, Torque Calibration Services, Creative Options, The Mill Hotel and John Judd Industries.
“Without the support of such great sponsors and our investors none of this could have been possible.”
2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Championship standings:
Darren Morgan 521
Damien Harris 519.5
Andrew Cowin 496.5
Phillip Lamattina 463.5
Terry Sainty 149
Mark Sheehan 149
Cory McClenathan 143
Allan Dobson 113
Phil Read 110
Mark Mariani 88
