Dixon prevails and Xiberras sets up title showdown in exciting Nitro Champs

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: May 7, 2023

The 2022/23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship will go down to the death after an exciting Nitro Champs in Sydney.

Larry Dixon broke a seven-year drought to win the penultimate round of the championship at Sydney Dragway as points leader Damien Harris could only reach the D-Final.

Harris now heads to the Darwin finale with a 65-point lead over both Phil Read and Peter Xiberras.

Read was a no show for the C Final, while Xiberras won the B Final to be the big mover of the Nitro Champs.

Up front Dixon took on top qualifier Phil Lamattina in the Nitro Champs A Final and it was a one-sided affair.

Lamattina could not replicate his early pace when it mattered most and experienced problems straight off the hit.

Meanwhile, Dixon took a convincing Nitro Champs win with a 4.385s pass at 426.33kph.

Larry Dixon blasted his way to a first Top Fuel win in seven years. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography

The American was buzzing after the triumph, which was his first ever win on Sydney soil and first Top Fuel victory since Willowbank Raceway in 2016.

“Wow!” grinned Dixon.

“It is great. The last win I got in Top Fuel was at Willowbank Raceway in 2016, so this is pretty darn cool.

“I can’t thank Santo and the whole Rapisarda team enough for bringing me down here to do this. I love Top Fuel cars and they give me the opportunity to do this.

“I am just so happy.”

Harris’ difficult weekend which included crossing the centre line in round 2, ended with a D Final victory over Kyle Putland.

Following a fiery second round win, Read could not front up for the C Final which went to Shane Olive.

This opened the door for Xiberras to pounce and his Nitro Champs B Final victory over Wayne Newby (3.833 to 9.193) ensured the PremiAir Racing driver surged in the championship fight.

The result has given Xiberras plenty of hope to launch a counterattack on chasing another Top Fuel title.

PremiAir Racing’s Peter Xiberras made some big gains in the Top Fuel championship battle.

“To come home and finish on a high is really good, and great for the team,” he said.

“The B-Final victory also means we move into equal second ahead of the final event of the season, which is exceptionally important.

“With nothing between Read and I, and 65 points to Harris, there is going to be a lot to play for in Darwin.

“While of course we would have loved to go to the A-Final, after the issues we have had of late, we are very happy with what we have been able to achieve this weekend.

“We can’t wait to head up North and hopefully finish our season off in the best way possible.”

The final round of the 2022/23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship doubles up with the Darwin Triple Crown Supercars event on June 16-18.

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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Dixon prevails and Xiberras sets up title showdown in exciting Nitro Champs

Harris now heads to the Darwin finale with a 65-point lead over both Phil Read and Peter Xiberras.

The American was buzzing after the triumph, which was his first ever win on Sydney soil and first Top Fuel victory since Willowbank Raceway in 2016.

Harris’ difficult weekend which included crossing the centre line in round 2, ended with a D Final victory over Kyle Putland.

The result has given Xiberras plenty of hope to launch a counterattack on chasing another Top Fuel title.

“While of course we would have loved to go to the A-Final, after the issues we have had of late, we are very happy with what we have been able to achieve this weekend.

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