Rajan Wilcox
The Finke Desert Race, Australia's toughest off-road race, saw Toby Price and navigator Jason Duncan claim victory in the car category in 2023. Price's win was his third straight victory in the car category, adding to his six titles in the bike category. This was also Price's ninth overall win, cementing his place as a motorsport legend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Winner of the 2023 Finke Desert Race | Toby Price |
| Navigator | Jason Duncan |
| Second Place | Greg Gartner |
| Third Place | Travis Robinson |
| Time | 03:34:14 |
| Previous Wins | 6 in the Bike category, 3 straight wins in the Car category |
| Competitors | 127 starters in the Car category, 556 entrants overall |
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What You'll Learn
Toby Price wins the 2023 Finke Desert Race
Toby Price has won the 2023 Finke Desert Race, his third consecutive Car Category win and ninth Finke Desert Race win overall (six in the bike category and three in the car category). This year's edition of the Tatts Finke Desert Race saw Toby Price triumph again, with the Dakar star taking his third straight win in the Car category, adding to the six titles he's already won in the Bike category.
Price recorded the fastest time in the Prologue, as well as the highest top speed. His 4 minutes 36.710-second lap beat out Beau Robinson by 2.257 seconds, with Travis Robinson third fastest, 10.362 seconds off Price's time. This was 6 seconds faster than his 2022 Prologue effort. The 226 km leg for Day 1 from Alice Springs to Finke was clear for Price with a flawless run, setting the fastest time in the Cars with a 1:38:35.3, just over 3 minutes faster than the second-placed car.
"We came into this one a little unprepared - coming back from the Baja races – we didn’t know what to expect," Price explained. "But we just wanted to go flat out, put on a show and wring the neck of the TSCO Trophy Truck. We’ve got three in a row, so we’re stoked. To have three in a row – and nine championships out here – it’s pretty crazy.”
The lure of a tenth King of the Desert crown will almost certainly see Price return to Finke in 2024, but his future at Finke beyond next year is uncertain.
Price's first major win was in 2003 when he won both of the two top divisions in the Australian Junior Motocross Championships. He then went on to win the Australian Off-Road Championship in his first year of professional competition in 2004. He has since won the Finke Desert Race multiple times, as well as the Hattah Desert Race, the Western Australian Desert Tri-Series, and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, among others.
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John Finke: a tuner/driver
John Finke is a tuner, driver, team owner, crew chief, and champion racer in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster race category. Finke was introduced to the sport of drag racing as a teenager when his brother Rob took him to a race at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey. Since then, he has pursued his passion for drag racing.
Finke has made his mark in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster race category, winning 2 East Region championships and 11 regional event titles. In addition, he has earned multiple Jeg's All-Star berths and 3 NHRA National Event titles. Finke's experience as a driver and tuner has contributed to his team's success in achieving various championships.
Finke Racing's second A/Fuel Dragster is driven by Jackie Fricke, who is licensed to race in 5 NHRA race categories. She began attending drag races at the age of 5 with her father, Rich, a regular participant in the NHRA Summit ET Series. Fricke started bracket-style drag racing at 16 and has since won various Big Money Bracket Races and NHRA National events. In 2008, she transitioned to a supercharged alcohol dragster and, in 2013, teamed up with her friend John Finke. Together, they have achieved success, with Fricke winning a Jegs Allstar Championship and 4 Regional Championships.
John Finke's dedication to his craft and his pursuit of excellence in drag racing have not only contributed to his team's success but have also inspired others to follow in his footsteps. His journey and achievements in the world of drag racing showcase his talent, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the sport.
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Jackie Fricke: a driver/tuner
Jackie Fricke is a driver and tuner who is currently licensed to race in five NHRA race categories. She is the force behind the wheel of Finke Racing's second A/Fuel Dragster.
Fricke is no stranger to high speeds and competitive sports. She began attending drag races at the age of five with her father, Rich, a regular participant in the NHRA Summit ET Series. Inspired by her father, Fricke began bracket-style drag racing at the age of sixteen. She has successfully won various Big Money Bracket Races as well as NHRA National events.
From a young age, Fricke knew that she wanted to compete in the Top Alcohol ranks. In 2008, she transitioned to a supercharged alcohol dragster under the guidance of Tom Jones and, eventually, Joe Cantrell. Five years later, she teamed up with her good friend, John Finke, and joined Finke Racing. Since then, she has earned many firsts, including a Jegs Allstar Championship and four Regional Championships. She is a multi-time NHRA National and Regional event winner.
Fricke is also fortunate to have the support of her family, many of whom also drag race. Her husband, Shawn, is a multi-time NHRA Northeast Division champion, and her sister, Amy, is a crew member on Finke Racing.
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Top Fuel drivers ranked
Top Fuel is a type of drag racing that features the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world. The fastest competitors can reach speeds of 338.94 miles per hour (545.5 km/h) and finish 1,000-foot (304.8 m) runs in 3.641 seconds.
The most prolific active driver in Top Fuel is Tony Schumacher, who has won six Top Fuel championships. He is followed by Gary Scelzi, who has won back-to-back championships, and Shirley Muldowney, the first female driver in the Top Fuel category, who has won three championships during her career.
Other notable Top Fuel drivers include Don Prudhomme, who had four straight championships (1975-78) and 49 total career wins, including nine in Top Fuel; Don Garlits, who held the national record with a 5.63 blast in 1975; and "the Snowman", who won the NHRA world championship in the early 1970s and went on to pioneer a direct-drive combination for Top Fuel that set the standard for the class.
In recent years, Antron Brown has dominated the Top Fuel scene, ruling the 2010s with 50 Top Fuel wins and 16 in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Steve Torrence has also had a successful run, winning back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019 and finishing in the top 10 in nine seasons. Shawn Langdon had a dream season in 2013, winning both the Top Fuel championship and the U.S. Nationals.
Outside of the NHRA, Finke Racing has made its mark in the Top Alcohol Dragster race category, with John Finke winning 2 East Region championships and 11 regional event titles. Jackie Fricke, who drives Finke Racing's second A/Fuel Dragster, has also successfully won various Big Money Bracket Races as well as NHRA National events.
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Finke Desert Race: car category under a cloud
The Finke Desert Race, Australia's toughest off-road race, saw Toby Price and navigator Jason Duncan claim victory in the car category. This was Price's third straight win in the car category, adding to the six titles he has already won in the bike category.
Price's triumph in the car section was followed by motorsport legend Greg Gartner and Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship leader Travis Robinson. The Gold Coast-based international star drove his trophy truck from Finke to Alice Springs on day two in a time of 01:43:11, alongside navigator Jason Duncan, to finish with an overall time of 03:21:46.
The 2023 edition of the race was under a cloud due to a coronial inquest into the death of a spectator at the 2021 event. The inquest accused the Finke Committee and Motorsport Australia (MSA) of failing to act on safety issues raised after the 2021 fatality and a previous report from 2018. The car category was given the go-ahead less than a month before the race weekend, under a special MSA permit that mandated major changes to spectator access. These restrictions applied to the length of the 226km course and particularly to crests, jumps, and high-speed corners that carried additional risk.
The 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race began with the 8.3km Prologue, which determined the starting order for the two-day, 452km competition. Price recorded the fastest time in the Prologue, as well as the highest top speed. The first day's run from Alice Springs to Finke was held on a course dampened by recent rain, which reduced dust but also pounded suspension components as the racing surface was harder. The firm track was a factor in 28 entrants in the car category failing to finish the first leg, and the conditions also impacted Price's performance on the opening 226km run. Despite being more than two minutes slower than the previous year, Price still managed to secure his ninth overall win.
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Frequently asked questions
Toby Price won the 2023 Finke Desert Race, alongside navigator Jason Duncan.
Toby Price has won the Finke Desert Race nine times.
The Finke Desert Race is Australia's toughest off-road race, a two-day, 452km competition.
David Walsh, a four-time King of the Desert, won the 2023 bike section of the race. Greg Gartner and Travis Robinson have also placed highly in the car section of the race.
