The season-ending Winternationals was the fourth time Judd had reached a final in the 2008-2009 Australian Top Doorslammer Championship series.

Judd also finished runner-up in the Top Doorslammer Championship for the second time. He was runner-up in the inaugural 1999/2000 series.

With 16 competitors vying for a place in the eight-car field, Judd was top qualifier with a 5.912sec at 241.80mph after the first qualifying session.

Despite running another five-second pass (5.924sec at 243.11mph) in his William Buck/K & B Exclusive '59 Studebaker, Judd slipped to second spot behind archrival, John Zappia (5.901/238.98), after the second session.

In an attempt to run a quick pass to regain the top qualifying spot, the third and final session saw Judd's Studebaker over-power the track and shake the tyres off the start line, prompting Judd to abort the pass.

The final qualifying order saw Judd (5.912/241.80) stay in second place just behind Zappia (5.901/238.98) and ahead of fellow sub six-second qualifiers, an improving Maurice Fabietti (5.913/240.51), Ben Bray (5.979/242.59) and Matt Able (5.998/237.72), in the quickest-ever eight-car field to date in Australian Top Doorslammer history.

"We knew we had to run a quick pass, probably a high 5.8(sec), to regain top spot from Zap (Zappia). Stuey (crew chief Stuart Rowland) hopped it up for the last qualifier, but unfortunately it didn't come off, so we had to settle for the number two position, but that was OK considering the quality field," Judd said.

Judd has now qualified in second place in all three 2008/09 (season) Australian Doorslammer championship series events held at Willowbank.

He has also qualified second in five of the seven series events run during the 2008/09 season.

In first round of eliminations, Judd (5.913/241.54) ran another five-second pass to defeat Sean Mifsud (6.078/227.27) in the sixth quickest-ever side-by-side Top Doorslammer race run in Australia to date.

Judd (6.340/238.22) then advanced to the final when he defeated a quicker Steve Stanic (6.219/235.85) on a hole shot in the semi final.

For a fourth time in the 2008/09 season, Judd met Zappia in a final.

In the final, Zappia (5.909/242.85) crossed the finish line just ahead of Judd (5.943/245.63) in the second quickest-ever (elapsed time) and fourth fastest-ever (mph) side-by-side Doorslammer race in Australia. Judd and Zappia also hold the record for the quickest-ever side-by-side, at Willowbank in April.

By finishing runner-up at the Winternationals, Judd also finished second in the 2008/09 Australian Top Doorslammer championship series behind Zappia and ahead of third placed Ben Bray.

"After beating Sean Mifsud, I thought we were on track to take our first win for the season. I then had a lucky win against Steve Stanic in the semi after suffering bad tyre shake. If it wasn't for Steve's uncharacteristic slow reaction time, I would not have survived that run.

"Zappia has been the man to beat all season and he extended his perfect record by winning again in the final. It (the final) was another close race, but again, we were not quite good enough.

"The William Buck/K & B Exclusive team really like racing at Willowbank, and while we second qualified and were runner-up in all three events run at Willowbank this season, we will certainly be all out to finish one place better next season.

"I'm also pleased guys like Fab (Maurice Fabietti) are now running consistent fives (second passes). Whereas I was the one who took it up to Zap this season, I am sure a few others and I will be able to turn the tables on him next season.

Courtesy of John Collins