Phil Lamattina kicked off his pursuit of a first Top Fuel title since 2014 with a victory over Kyle Putland in the A-final at the Riverbend Nationals on March 28-29. In the B-final, reigning champion Wayne Newby triumphed over teammate Damien Harris. In Nitro Funny Car, Josh Leahy secured the win against Morice McMillin, while Damon Paton marked a personal best of 4.04 seconds against Adam Murrihy in the B-final. In Doorslammer, John Zappia claimed victory over Peter Lovering, and Daniel Reed won in Pro Alcohol after Cheyne Phillips red-lit. Zoran Gajic also took home the Pro Mod trophy.

Rain disrupted qualifying for Top Fuel, Doorslammer, and Pro Alcohol on day one. In Top Fuel’s rounds, both Harris and Newby faced unexpected defeats, with Lamattina overcoming engine issues to eliminate Newby. The A-final showcased Lamattina’s speed, while Putland encountered traction problems, resulting in Lamattina’s win. He acknowledged the luck involved but expressed pride in his son Luca’s Junior Dragster victory.

The Nitro Funny Car competition saw Leahy edging out Paton in a thrilling duel to reach the A-final, where he ultimately triumphed over McMillin. In Doorslammer, Zappia faced challenge from Lovering but secured victory even with mechanical issues. The event demonstrated the unpredictability of drag racing, with several upsets and impressive performances marking a dynamic weekend in the sport.



Source: competitionplus.com