Legendary US Crew Chief headed for OZ Top Fuel
By Timothy Neal
Date posted: 6 December 2022
Big-time Top Fuel American crew chief Jim Oberhofer will rejoin Hydraulink Jim Read Racing for two rounds of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship.
Affectionately known as ‘Jim O’, the famous US dragster crew chief has been a leader in professional drag racing for four decades.
Jim O spent 31 years at Kalitta Motorsports, before shifting to Rick Ware Racing in Top Fuel Dragster, where he prepared the machinery for six-time world champion Clay Millican.
He last came to Australia to assist Jim Read Racing in 2020, and will stay out for the New Year Nitro event on January 6-7, before participating at Sydney Dragway’s Top Fuel Slam on January 27-28.
“I am very excited about coming over. I have always enjoyed heading to Australia and being around the Read family – I always say they are my Australian family, and Bruce Read is one of my dearest friends and a brother to me,” Oberhofer said.
“He was just here in the States racing with me on Clay Millican’s car and we went to Reading, Charlotte and Saint Lewis and we had so much fun, raced hard, and had a great time.
Phil Read too out the C final over Kyle Putland in the Jim Read Dragster Perth Motoplex in November’s Goldenstates
“I truly love hanging out with him and trying to help him achieve his goals on his race car, and being around the entire Read family, they have just been so awesome to me, and I can’t wait to get back down to Australia.
“I am definitely looking forward to getting back down there and helping Bruce and Jim and Phil put that car in the winner’s circle!”
With his assistance, Jim O is confident of getting Phil into a competitive machine, but knows full well of the quality of teams that they’ll be up against.
“The Rapisarda team is so strong and the Lamattinas and Xiberras, these guys are so strong, and they have so much talent and great equipment behind them,” Oberhofer continued.
“So to me it is going to be like butting heads with some bad boys down there in Australia – they are really, really strong and that is what you want! You want to be able to race people like that who are bringing their A-game to the starting line every time and that is what we are going to try and do.”
Jim O was last out in OZ in 2020 where he worked with his long-time friends at Jim Read Racing
Jim Read met the experienced crew chief nearly 20 years ago when he was still at Kalitta Motorsports, and they have had a productive friendship and working relationship since.
“I only recently came back from racing with him for three weeks at the end of their NHRA season over there, and it will be great to have him over here again to assist us with the tuning of the car. He has raced with us before and each time we have improved, so hopefully we can celebrate a win together on this trip!”
Phil Read – a three-time Top Fuel Champion – took his 10,000 horsepower Hadman Chassis to a C Final victory at the Goldenstates in Perth, and will be hoping to push his championship credentials with the help of Jim O come the New Year Nitro.
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.
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