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Diana Harker Englishtown final summary
KDH Racing with Diana Harker Diana Harker Makes History at Englishtown Englishtown, NJ -- 25year old rookie driver, Diana Harker made history at the Lucas Oil Super Nationals this past weekend by claiming her first NHRA National Event win in ...
Published: Jun 25, 2008, 12:28 AM
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KDH Racing with Diana Harker
Diana Harker Makes History at Englishtown
Englishtown, NJ -- 25year old rookie driver, Diana Harker made history at the Lucas Oil Super Nationals this past weekend by claiming her first NHRA National Event win in the Top Alcohol Dragster Class and by doing so became the first Australian Female to win an NHRA National Event.
In only her sixth National Event career start, Harker began her dream weekend by qualifying in the number 5 spot after smoking the tires in the first session then making passes of 5.39 and 5.50 to secure the Lend America A/Fuel team a solid start for eliminations.
After Saturday's tragic loss of Scott Kalitta and all racing rescheduled till Sunday, the Top Alcohol classes never saw round one of eliminations till late Sunday Afternoon. Harker paired against 12th qualifier, Jackie Fricke and in one of the closest races of the weekend, Harker took the win by 0.0053 with a 5.55et to Fricke's 5.57et.
Moving into round two, Harker lined up against Richard Bourke and wasted no time taking the lead off the start line and never looking back to claim the win with a 5.43et at 256mph pass to Bourke's 5.56et 235mph pass.
Neither semi-final opponents, Harker or 71-year old Ken Winward had ever made a National Event Final but Harker would head to the money round after laying down an impressive 5.39et at 259mph pass to defeat Winward's 5.57et at 254mph pass.
Harker looked set to take on Dave DeAngelis in the final round and as both drivers left the start line together, DeAngelis soon found his car facing tire shake and watching on as Harker wheeled her Lend America A/Fuel dragster to the finish line and her first ever career National Event win.
"I'm still in shock" Said Harker smiling "My team did an amazing job to turn the car around between rounds and what can I say about Randy, he's proven time and time again his strength both as driver and crew chief so I am really honored to be working with him, his family and team. I know I've come along way as driver since I started working with Randy last year and I couldn't be prouder or happier for our whole team knowing how hard we've all worked to get to this point. This win has given our team a good boost of confidence and I am really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve for the rest of the season. Also I can't thank our sponsors Lend America, Aeromotive, Lucas Oil and Hedman Hedders enough for their support because without them we couldn't have made this dream possible."
Harker joined her twin sister Kate on the NHRA Circuit in the Top Alcohol ranks in 2007 and is only the fourth Australian female to compete in the NHRA as fellow drivers Sue Ransom and Rachelle Splatt have competed in the Top Fuel ranks but Harker will be forever written in the History books as the first female winner.
-credit: kdhr
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