Australia Awaits Its Most Successful Drag Racing Export/Grubnic Settles Back Into Aus

[SpoolMan]

A former Brisbane drag racer, who has retained relative anonymity in Australia despite finishing in the top five of the World's richest quarter mile competition is set to ignite Queensland's Willowbank Raceway on January 6/7.

Forty-three year old Dave Grubnic has developed a cult status among North American fans, while driving in the super competitive Powerade NHRA Drag Racing Series the past 11 years.

Now for the first time he returns home to grace Queensland's traditional home of the sport during a New Year's Top Fuel spectacular.

He'll be supported by the entire Michigan based Kalitta Motorsport crew, piloting the proven StriVectin dragster that assisted him in recording a career best fourth placing in the NHRA this season.

That machine is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 330 mph (531km/h), which makes this International superstar of the sport the quickest and fastest competitor to ever test their mettle at the Ipswich strip.

That's a huge wrap for the former Carindale resident who'll be plying his trade among family and friends on January 6.

"It's another dream come true for me to be racing at Willowbank next year," said Grubnic.

"It does mean a lot to me and who knows how many opportunities like this will ever come along again.

"The car I'm going to be driving at Willowbank is my back-up car that I did a bunch of 4.40 second passes in during last season.

"We'll go out there and give it our best shot! I can't guarantee we're going to run 4.40's but we're definitely going to go out there and give it our damnedest and run as quickly as we possibly can."

Grubnic will arrive in Australia later this week and spend some quality time with his parents in Brisbane before heading to Sydney in preparation for a huge Boxing Day Top Fuel exhibition.

Then it's back home to Brisbane, back to where it all started for this dedicated self starter.

"I don't know what happened I went and watched a pair of Nitro Funny Cars when I was 16 and the needle went in and that was the end of it, I was hooked on drag racing for life.

"I'm the oddball! There was no family background in racing or anything.

"Dad's a spray painter and Mum's a seamstress and when I first committed to do this they looked at me as if I had two heads.

"But as it's all turned out they're both very proud and keep track of what I'm doing in the States.

"So it all seems to have paid some dividends again and it's going to be great racing in front of some familiar faces on January 6/7.

If Grubnic can continue his forward spiral in North America's elite drag racing scene he may very well become Australia's next International motorsport champion.

It's an exciting time for Willowbank Raceway and with such anticipation surrounding 'Aussie Dave's' debut, officials are confident of a huge show to kick start 2006.

thanks to NMD for the story.