After a challenging start to their 2007 Top Alcohol Dragster debut, the Harker-Meyer team hit a home run at the weekends Division Two Lucas Oil Event held in Reynolds, GA October 20-21. Australian rookie driver, Diana Harker piloted the Pro Care RX, Miller Industries, Aeromotive, Seal Gunk, Lucas Oil and Meyer Truck Centre A/Fuel dragster owned and tuned by Randy Meyer, successfully driving her way into a career best semi-final finish.
In one of the toughest qualifying fields to date, with 18 Top Alcohol Dragster entries fronting for the fierce eight car field Harker laid down a 5.50et at 247mph in the first qualifying session however this would not hold and the team were bumped into the number 9 position going into the final session. Under lights, Harker drove the Meyer A/Fuel Dragster to a career best run of 5.41et at 250mph and secured the number 5 qualifying spot advancing the team into their first ever round of eliminations.
Sunday's round one eliminations paired the young Australian driver against the A/Fuel Torco Racing team of 'Dyno' Dave Heitzman, the number 4 qualifier. Harker took a huge startling line advantage over Heitzman and never looked back taking her first ever round win in just her third race event debut, as tuner Randy Meyer repeated the car performance with another stellar run of 5.44et at 262mph defeating the Torco Teams 5.45et at 258mph.
Advancing into the semi-finals, Harker faced off against fellow Canadian's and eventual event winners Dan Mercier and Team. Number One qualifier, Mercier proved a strong competitor for the Harker-Meyer machine as Harker's car dropped holes at the hit and never recovered slowing to a 5.76et at 249mph as the Canadian drove by to take the win with another consistent 5.38et at 271mph pass.
"What a fantastic weekend this has been. I couldn't be more excited with the teams performance and now Randy is really starting to get a handle on the car and feeling comfortable with my driving I believe we can look forward to hopefully making another strong finish before the season end." said Harker
With three Lucas Oil Divisional event debuts under their belts, the Harker-Meyer Team now look forward to their season finale and their first ever NHRA National Event debut at the Automobile Club of Southern California Finals in Pomona, CA November 1-4. Harker will also be greeted at the event by her twin sister, Kate Harker who will pilot the Skull Shine, Torco Race Fuels Pro Care RX A/Fuel Dragster owned and tuned by Tom Conway in what will also be the first NHRA National event that will see the twins campaigning together in the Top Alcohol Dragster class.
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