WinterNats 24 Sunday Debrief

Peter Xiberras and PremiAir Nulon Racing have taken their Top Fuel dragster to a B-Final win in front of a full house for the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.

The event held at the newly upgraded Willowbank Raceway marked the final round of the 2023/2024 NDRC Top Fuel Championship, with Xiberras moving from fourth in the points to third place by the end of the four-day event this weekend.

While the engine is barely cold after the finals, the team is already looking ahead to what comes next.

“To take the B-Final win with a nice clean pass of 3.866 at 316mph and secure third in the championship is a nice way to end the Winternationals,” Xiberras said.

“And how amazing was the crowd out here this weekend – it really was just phenomenal, and nothing beats racing in front of passionate fans like what we have experienced out here this weekend. The atmosphere was just unbelievable.

“Having said that, we are definitely stuck in the ‘eighties’ zone, and we will be doing all we can over the off-season to work out what is causing us not to be able to be back in the ‘seventies.’

“In qualifying, we ran 3.800 at 318.75mph to be second quickest, and it looked like we were on the right track, but then a 3.829 in round one against Newby at 321.20mph saw us scratching our heads.

“We threw everything at it, changing things to try and get it to respond in the 60 foot over round two (3.863 at 320.50mph) and the final, but it just doesn’t like what we are doing. And to red light in round two was also something I wasn’t happy about, but sometimes that is what trying looks like, and I can tell you, we are trying as hard as we can!

“So, over the off-season, we will be looking at our whole program and turning it all upside down to try and improve our 60-foot performances, which will provide the lift we need to start punching out those ‘seventies’ again.

“We know we can do it – we had the record until recently, it is just a matter of working out the magical combination.

“We can’t wait to get back on the track for the new season and see what we can do! But in the meantime, thank you so much to each and every one of our fans and sponsors for all of their support all season long, we couldn’t do this without you, and it means so much to us.”

Xiberras was fourth heading into this weekend’s proceedings, sitting not far behind Phil Lamattina. Lamattina was unable to compete this weekend, following a loss this week.

“I know we have a lot of banter going back and forward throughout the season, but we truly did miss Phil this weekend and we wish him and his team and family all the best as they grieve the loss of their Uncle Tony,” Xiberras said.

For more information on PremiAir Nulon Racing, please visit www.premiairracing.com or follow the team on its social media platforms at www.facebook.com/PremiAirRacing/, www.instagram.com/premiair_racing/, www.linkedin.com/company/premiairracing/ and www.twitter.com/premiairracing