INDIANAPOLIS, IN – I felt very privileged to attend the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis this year. It was a pilgrimage that began for me in 1967 as a spectator, in 1969 as a competitor, and in 1990 as a Pro Stock championship-winning car owner. The field of 836 racers included 37 Canadians competing this year.
Team principal Eric Latino and son Matt, of Port Hope, Ontario, both qualified alongside their eight fellow KB Titan teammates in the Pro Stock category, as did Stratford, Ontario’s Ken Lee with the Kenny Delco-driven, Frank Iaconio-powered Camaro.
The KB Titan group enjoyed a great U.S. Nationals. Dallas Glenn secured his first U.S. Nationals title, earning a special 75th Anniversary Diamond Wally in the process, by defeating Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the Pro Stock final round, 6.599 seconds to 6.629 seconds.
Although Eric Latino lost in the opening round on Monday to Greg Stanfield, Matt Latino, Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford and Glenn all advanced to the quarter-finals. In the prestigious Pro Stock Challenge shootout held earlier in the weekend, Cody Coughlin defeated Greg Stanfield, 6.642 seconds to 6.645 seconds.
In Top Fuel and Funny Car there were 45 entries on hand, including Quebec’s Dan Mercier. Maddi Gordon, driving the Ron Capps Motorsports Top Fuel dragster tuned by Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Famer Rob Flynn, advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Billy Torrence in round one, 3.763 seconds at 336.99 mph to 3.774 seconds.
In Funny Car, Stratford’s Spencer Hyde qualified fourth with a 3.94-second run and also earned a berth in the elite Funny Car All-Star Callout held during the historic 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Top Fuel winner Shawn Langdon defeated NASCAR and IndyCar legend Tony Stewart in the final round, 3.804 seconds at 333.99 mph to 3.904 seconds.
In Funny Car, Jack Beckman drove the John Force tribute PEAK Camaro to victory over Matt Hagan, running 3.965 seconds at 327.35 mph to Hagan’s 4.03-second effort.
In Pro Mod, British Columbia’s Justin Bond moved into the championship lead heading into the final three-race shootout by virtue of his runner-up finish. Bond fell to defending NHRA Pro Mod world champion J.R. Gray in the final round, 5.701 seconds to 5.759 seconds. The J.R. Gray Camaro is tuned by Lee White. Also involved in the two- car Al-Anabi team are Pro Mod legend Todd Tutterow and western Canadian native Mark Savage.
The alcohol categories included British Columbia’s Stan Sipos and the similarly prepared entry of Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Les Davenport, driven by Phil Esz. Defending national champion Shawn Cowie of B.C. remains in contention for a third consecutive national title.
In Indianapolis, noted former Top Fuel driver and respected chassis builder Richie Crampton carried the day in Top Alcohol Dragster, winning with a 5.255-second pass at 272.56 mph.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent Thursday and Friday in the pits and tower with NHRA racer friends and officials, sitting in the stands for several hours and watching more than 300 Stock and Super Stock entries was equally amazing.
I must confess that age may be creeping in. Temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius, corrected altitude approaching 4,000 feet and track temperatures near 140 degrees really made me appreciate our racers.
Sean Gaffney, Wally Clark, Louis Gill, Mark and Chris Howes, Ryan Bonifero, Dan Velenosi and Doug Box, whom I would meet again 48 hours later at Toronto Motorsports Park, are all great Canadian drag racing ambassadors. Gill advanced five rounds in Super Stock before losing to eventual champion Pete D’Agnolo. Thank you all very much.
The Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge was won by Stephen Comella, whose 8.430-second pass defeated Jason Line, who also ran 8.430 seconds but fouled by .013-second. Top speed honors went to Charlie Westcott at 160.10 mph.
As for myself and my travelling buddies, we headed home early Saturday morning and arrived at Toronto Motorsports Park just in time for far more comfortable temperatures and one of the strongest Canadian Pro Mod qualifying fields ever assembled.
Jay Santos led the field with a 3.675-second run, followed by Ray Commisso at 3.678, Sal Cammisuli at 3.700, Claude St. Maurice at 3.727, Al Martorino at 3.753 and Sam Andreacchi at 3.757 seconds. Also on ground were Travis Guéguen (nitrous), Sienna Wildgust (twin turbos) and Steve Boardman.
Seventeen cars are officially involved in Ian Hill’s series as paid members, with six more already committed for 2027 and beyond. Thanks to Ian Hill and our great facilities at Toronto Motorsports Park and Grand Bend.
For perspective, our eighth-mile racers routinely cover the back half of the track in under two seconds. Jay Santos remains the record holder at TMP with a 3.58-second run and has also recorded a 3.62 at Grand Bend. These performance numbers are impressive and internationally competitive.
GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM TMP BY PETER ANDERSON. STORY CONTINUES BELOW…
During final eliminations at TMP, Jay Santos posted a .010 reaction time and a 3.65-second run. Raymond Commisso responded with a .040 light and a 3.69-second pass. Their qualifying speeds were virtually identical at 206.74 mph and 206.73 mph (334.9 km/h).
Notably, Al Billes and ABR engines and tuning were involved with five of the top eight qualifiers.
Please consider following Ian Hill’s Canada Heads-Up website and this Inside Track column, as well as the John Scotti Canadian NHRA Drag Racing Series website and the TMP Facebook page for full results.
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