For factory Mopar pilot Lee Bektash, the 2013 Nitro Champs was a standout event, as the long time drag racer converted the potential in his Chrysler-powered Pro Stock machine to ANDRA Gold.
“What an event!” exclaimed Bektash.
“We managed to top qualify, run our first 6-second pass and win the event. If you said to me at the start of the weekend that we would get all three, I would have told you that you were crazy.”
A long-time racer in Super Gas before stepping up to Pro Stock, Bektash has had to wait five years before taking his first ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree in the professional class.
“Our team has done a good job but we haven’t been able to crack the top step of the podium, but maybe the champagne tastes a bit sweeter when you have to work for it though,” smiled the Victorian.
Bektash defeated Scott Porter in the final of Pro Stock after Porter left the line too early, resulting in a red light.
Whilst the final round might have been straightforward, the path to get there was anything but simple.
“We had a massively oversubscribed field try to make the 16 slots for race day.
“The first round of racing saw a flurry of 6-second passes and we managed to read the conditions and make pass in the 6-second to get us through.”
For the Mopar team, they couldn’t be happier with their new racecar, the Dodge Avenger that was a former Mopar USA factory car, arrived only a few weeks before the Sydney event.
“Our team is just so lucky and appreciate to have the support for Mopar and Fiat Professional. This is for them.”
“Mopar’s investment in drag racing is working out pretty well between Wayne Daley and his Diamond T Dodge and myself, Mopars have won the last three rounds of Pro Stock, amongst some of the toughest competition ever.”
“We are looking forward to Willowbank, the track is great there and we hope to be able to add some more bling to the trophy cabinet,” concluded Bektash.
The next round for all ANDRA categories including the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship is the Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, June 7-10.
