Xiberras chasing success in special anniversary
Peter Xiberras is hoping to mark a decade of Top Fuel racing with a special result at the Riverbend Nationals this weekend.
The second National Drag Racing Championship round at the new Dragway at The Bend marks a 10-year anniversary for the PremiAir Nulon Racing squad led by Xiberras.
Xiberras, who currently sits fifth in the NDRC Top Fuel standings hopes to mark the decade on a winning note.
“It has been an amazing 10 years,” he said.
“From the highest of highs of back-to-back championships and records to those events that just didn’t go our way, through it all I have loved going racing, and been so lucky to have the support of a lot of amazing people behind me.
“I can’t wait to get on track this weekend and hopefully we can bring home the best results possible to help really celebrate this milestone as it should be celebrated.”
Xiberras stepped up to Top Fuel after previously racing in Super Sedan and Supercharged Outlaws with his first event at Willowbank during Easter 2014.
He would go on to appear in his first final that same year at the Australian Nationals, before taking his first event win in 2018 at the New Year’s Thunder event with the major highlights back to back Top Fuel championships in 2021 and 2022.
At one point Xiberras also held track records at Willowbank Raceway, Perth Motorplex and Sydney Dragway all at once, whilst he was the quickest racer outside of the USA with a 3.742 second pass at 325.22 miles per hour at the 2021 Winternationals.
However, Xiberras recalled his Top Fuel debut was “a bit of an accident”.
“I started out with a hot rod and it had all this power but I just couldn’t use it (on the road), so I bought a Capri with a 400 SB Chev and started in Super Sedan, running in the tens to start with before tuning it down to 9.40, and then got a dragster with a blown engine in it and started in Supercharged Outlaws, running in the sevens and down to 6.52,” Xiberras recalled.
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“My start in Top Fuel in 2014 was a bit of an accident! I was looking for a transporter to allow us to travel to the Winternationals and further afield, rather than just racing at Eastern Creek, as we had been in the Supercharged Outlaws car at that point.
“Someone was selling an entire Top Fuel operation, including a truck and trailer, and so I went to see them about the truck and trailer. Somehow, I came home with the whole thing!
“I had no plans to get into Top Fuel, I went with one plan and came home with another, but what a ride it has been, and I wouldn’t trade the last 10 years for anything.”
After a decade of racing, Xiberras had many people to thank.
“First of all, I must mention my wife, Carmen. She is such an incredible support to me in racing and in business, and I could not do this without her,” Xiberras said.
“When I started in Top Fuel I didn’t know what Carmen would think, I figured she would either tell me ‘no way’ or love it…thankfully she loved it, and it has been a real family affair with her and my kids, James, Rebecca, Hayley, and Christopher. It has been great to race with them alongside me every step of the way.
“And then there is Tim Adams. He has been with me heading up my Top Fuel operation from day dot, handling all the tuning, engine inspections, builds and more, and I cannot thank him enough for all of the effort and dedication he has shown to PremiAir Racing over all this time.”
The 2024 Riverbend Nationals begin on Saturday at Tailem Bend.
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