Rough-N-Ready Racing were back in the winner’s circle after retaining their March Meet 7.0 pro title at Redding Motorsports Park in California.

With driver Tony Trimp behind the wheel of their 1965 Mustang GT funny car, the Bermudian-owned amateur drag racing team were handed the title when rival Jason Vanderpool suffered mechanical breakdown in the final at the event last weekend.

“We ended up running a 7.05 at 188mph while our opponents had mechanical issues at the starting line,” team spokesperson Jacqueline Williams told The Royal Gazette.

The final between the two rivals was held during the Funny Car Fever event and had been delayed for several weeks.

“Both teams had initially agreed to finish the race at the next heritage event,” Williams added. “Imagine having to wait almost two months to know the results of a final round.

“The nerves were up, but so were the team’s spirit. The team was going to what they normally would do for any race and keep positive.”

Williams attributes the success to being mentally focused and committed as a team.

“The key to our success this weekend was really just staying focused,” she added.

“We knew going into this race we had to be on our A game and if being on our A game meant doing regular maintenance, then so be it.

“The team had so much determination and we went out and gave it our all.”

Harvey Williams Jr’s team endured mixed fortunes in their second appearance of the season at Redding Motorsports Park after relinquishing their Funny Car Fever pro 7.0 title and also coming up short in their attempt to secure a maiden win in the 2024 California Independent Funny Car Association championship.

“Not only were we fighting for the 2024 7.0 pro March Meet title, we were also fighting for our first win in CIFCA and the NHRA heritage series for 7.0 pro,” Williams said.

“We knew we were going into battle to try to take all three wins, but that wasn’t the case.

“Although we did not come home with our first CIFCA win or 7.0 pro, we came home with the most important win and that’s our 2024 March Meet 7.0 pro victory. That win was worth everything, even if we didn’t win in our other two classes.”

Rough-N-Ready Racing impressed in their previous appearance at Redding Motorsports Park, reaching the semi-finals in the season-opening Kool April Nites Drags at the venue this month.

The team have enjoyed considerable success, winning three CIFCA titles as well as the National Hot Rod Association-sanctioned California Hot Rod Reunion and Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet at the Famosa Dragstrip in Bakersfield, California.