PHOENIX (Feb. 24) - GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton is heading home this week. Crampton will fly to Adelaide, Australia, and will attend the V8 Supercar race in his hometown this weekend with Lucas Oil Vice President of Sales & Marketing Sam Dale.
"I'm heading back to my hometown for the first time in 18 months," Crampton said. "The V8 Supercar race is a huge event, and I'll be hanging out with several of the teams that are currently using Lucas Oil."
The V8 Supercar race is part of a touring-car-style series that hosts events on road and street courses in Australia. The race Crampton will attend is held on the Adelaide Street Circuit.
"I'm pretty excited to get back and watch that great race on the streets of my hometown," Crampton said. "I'm also excited to see family and friends who I haven't seen in quite a long time."
Crampton will also spend time with journalists in his native country talking about his current ride in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for me to meet with a lot of the Australian motorsports media who are interested in what's been going in with me here lately," said Crampton, who is a U.S. citizen. "I know there are several television and radio personalities who are going to be in attendance who have scheduled some time to get with me, and I'm appreciative of that.
"I'm looking forward to explaining what I've been up to in the U.S. and the homecoming story about how I got to drive the GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster."
Crampton will also meet with officials from Toyota Australia to further his relationship with the manufacturer, which is a partner with his Morgan Lucas Racing team.
"Toyota Australia has a big group of people, and I can't wait to visit with all of them and extend that relationship," Crampton said. "We're looked after in the States by Toyota, but Toyota is a worldwide company, and Australia is a huge market for them. It's a great opportunity to hang out with the people from Toyota and get to know everyone a little better."
Crampton is scheduled to fly Monday night and because of the international date line will arrive in Adelaide on Wednesday night. The V8 Supercar race is held Thursday to Sunday, and he'll head back to the United States next Tuesday, regaining the day lost on the flight to Australia.
