HARRISBURG - He's an Australian living the American dream.

NHRA Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton now drives the 320-mph GEICO/Lucas Oil Dragster after being a team crew member for eight years. He was named the team’s driver late last year by team owner Morgan Lucas.

"I was content to stay working as a mechanic on the race team; maybe become a crew chief because in reality motorsports is just so tough to land such a good driving job," said Crampton in an interview Thursday with CBS 21 News Sports Director Jason Bristol. "I dreamed about becoming a driver some day and competing in the NHRA Mello Yello series and when it finally came true and I got the opportunity to, it was a dream come true."

Crampton will run the NHRA Nationals this weekend at scenic Maple Grove Raceway near Reading.

After claiming his breakthrough victory at the Toyota NHRA Summer Nationals in early June at Englishtown, N.J., he raced to a dramatic victory at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. He is one of the championship contenders in the six-race Countdown to the Championship -- the NHRA’s playoffs.