Lucas Oils Phillips goes back-to-back and sets TAFC record

Gary Phillips has claimed sensational back-to-back wins at the Santo's Super 3 Extreme Drag Race, the 17-time Australian Champion resetting the Top Alcohol Funny Car national record with his Lucas Oil Products Monte Carlo in the processes.

Phillips set the quickest time in the event's first qualifying round, recording a 5.470/250.04 to pace the field by over a tenth (Canulli – 5.594) before storming to a record setting 5.438 second pass at 262.40mph in the elimination round, securing his spot in the A Final.

Phillips had luck on his side in the final when Canulli's Funny Car was unable to fire, the Lucas Oil Products Funny Car spinning the tyres and breaking the blower belt – coasting across the line with a 21.458s run.

"I am certainly a happy little Vegemite, we went out there and didn't try anything different for the final after running the record in the previous run, we just went out there and tried to repeat it," Phillips said.

"I can't remember the last time I broke a belt but it picked the best time to do it rather than in the previous run!"

Phillips said the weekend could not have been any better for the Lucas Oil Products team.

"Let's look at it – we were the number one qualifiers, we got the lowest elapsed time and the top speed, we took the points lead back in the ANDRA championship, and we took two wins from two events – it just doesn't get any better than that," he said.

"It has been a fantastic weekend, we didn't hurt anything except the belt, the car is fine and it was great to get these results for Lucas Oil Products and Speedflow.

"Thanks has to go to them and also to the crew, my wife Debbie, my son Cheyne, they all have done a great job."

In the B Final, Phillips' long-time on-track archrival, Steve Reed took the win on a solo pass after Darren Fry was unable to front due to blower damage from the previous round.

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