Numbers stack-up for Judd

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Perth Chartered Accountant, Robin Judd, does not have to do the sums to know how the numbers stack-up in the quest to win his first Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship.


Judd, who has won two events so far this season – Australian Nationals, Sydney and Goldenstates, Perth Motorplex – will go into the championship series-ending Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway, Ipswich, June 10-13, with a nine-point lead over arch-rival John Zappia.

While in the $20,000 three-event – Westernationals, Perth, Nitro Champs, Sydney and Winternationals – Karcher Shootout, Judd is 20 points behind Zappia.

However, Judd can take comfort in the knowledge that only once in the Top Doorslammer championship series’ 11-year history has the driver leading the series going into the Winternationals lost the championship.

That was the first Top Doorslammer championship series (1999-2000) when Dave Koop led Victor Bray by two points and Judd by eight points.

At the season-ending 2000 Winternationals, Judd top qualified, Koop lost in round one, Judd lost the semi final to Bray, who then red lit and lost the final. Judd was runner-up to Bray in the Championship series.

Judd trailed Zappia going into last year’s Winternationals. He was runner-up to Zappia in that event and the championship.

“I know all the possible scenarios. The facts are we have to finish in front of Zap (Zappia) to win the championship. But our goal, planning and focus is on winning the Winternationals and if that happens, the championship will be ours plus the Karcher Shootout making it a clean sweep,” Judd said.

“We cannot rely on historic probabilities to win the championship. 

“The William Buck K & B Exclusive team have worked hard all season to lead the championship going into the Winternationals and we will be doing everything in our power to leave Willowbank with the championship.”

While Judd is not fazed that 20 drivers will be vying for a place in the eight-car field, he does concede that the William Buck K & B Exclusive team cannot afford be become complacent.  

“I don”t look at there being 20 competitors, there seems to be an elite group at the top of the bracket, which I see as the ones to beat. But Top Doorslammer racing can be very unpredictable and anything can happen.

“No doubt the 2010 Winternationals is the toughest event we have taken on for a long time and we will have to be on our game. But, like any other race meeting, we have to first qualify, hopefully putting the William Buck K & B Exclusive Studebaker into the top-half of the field and then take it one round at a time.

“Preparation will be the key. My engine builder/chief mechanic, Andrew Fowler, and crew chief/tuner, Stuart Rowland, head-up what I think is one of the best drilled crews in Australian drag racing and the entire William Buck K & B Exclusive team will be giving it their best shot,” Judd said.

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