Less than a day after pulling in to the spectacular Yas Drag Centre at Yas Marina Circuit, the two Yas Marina Top Fuel dragsters roared to life at the first NHRA Worldwide member track. Tommy Johnson Jr. and Rod Fuller made test runs in their teal and white Top Fuelers before the inaugural Yas Drag Festival, March 19-20, begins Friday.

With temperatures in the low 90s, the two Yas Marina teams made two shakedown runs before Johnson and Fuller raced the full 1,000-foot course. On his final test lap, Johnson, a nine-time NHRA winner, clocked the quickest pass, 3.911 seconds at 490.26 kph (304.98 mph), and Fuller, who has earned seven NHRA Top Fuel trophies, also ran in the three-second range, 3.966 at 466 kph.

“The track was really good and surprisingly tight,” Fuller said. “The track crew did a great job of prepping, and getting two full runs down the track under four seconds really made it worth it. It was a productive first day. We’re all ready for the royal audience tomorrow night.”

“I really have to credit the staff here at the Yas Drag Centre,” Johnson added. “George Case, formerly of Maple Grove Raceway, and Larry Crispe of Bandimere Speedway and Rashed Al Qubaisi of the track here at Yas Marina did a fantastic job of preparing the facility. They deserve all the credit for making today a success.”

The two-day inaugural drag racing event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will feature more than 100 race cars and motorcycles, including Pro Mods. The two Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel dragsters will make runs at 6:30, 8:30, and 11 p.m. Friday and 6:30, 8:30, and 10 p.m. Saturday.

source http://www.nhra.com