Winter Wonder Land for Benny Bray

The first round of Group One qualifying for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals saw “Benny the Kid” claim bragging rights at the Bray family table – beating his legendary father Victor Bray to the magic ‘five second club’ with his Top Doorslammer pass at Willowbank Raceway.

As the ‘kid’ of the famous racing family – 51 year old dad Victor is a six-time Australian champion while 24 year old Ben has three to his name, both father and son have been racing towards the ‘five’ second pass along with the rest of Australia’s Top Doorslammer field.

Speaking with commentators immediately following his run, Ben's only regret was that he wasn’t able to immediately celebrate with his dad, who ran his own pass immediately after Ben and was still coming back on the return road.

“I always said to Mum and Dad that if I was going to do it I wanted to do it at my home track and now that I’ve done it I can’t believe it,” said a clearly elated Ben Bray.

“I guess at the end of the day I have won three championships and lots of races and all I can tell you is that the feeling of that five second pass is just amazing.

“Thanks to Castrol, Mack Trucks Gates, Hogs Breath café, Armor All and everyone who has supported me through the good and the rough – this is just unbelievable!”

Bray’s run of 5.97 seconds at 241.03mph in his Castrol EDGE Top Doorslammer was a fantastic start to the week end and it just got better and better.

The second run of qualifying for Top Doorslammer delivered even bigger smiles when Ben took his Castrol EDGE Monaro down the quarter in just 5.924 seconds - bettering his first-ever five second pass from the night before. - This pass was two thousandths of a second off the Australian ET record (5.922s - John Zappia)

Three-time Australian champion Ben Bray brushed aside the disappointments of what could only be described as a difficult year to claim the Castrol EDGE Winternationals title.

It was Ben’s second ‘Winters’ crown and came on the back end of a tidy pre-event test day. Team Bray (after a long battle) appears to be dialling in the Castrol EDGE Monaro well.

A series of good reaction times and a fantastic semi final win against John Zappia that saw Ben lay down a 6.011 to Zaps 6.033 brought the Willowbank Raceway fans to their feet.

His finals victory was the icing on the cake to finish off a fantastic Castrol EDGE Winternationals for Team Bray.