INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park once again lived up to its reputation as drag racing’s “big show.” Nearly 800 competitors, including a strong Canadian contingent, filled the pits for the sport’s most prestigious event. Fans packed the grandstands, while racers were greeted by a new control tower, ongoing facility upgrades and some of the best on-track performances in recent memory.
Canadian racers left their mark. Defending NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world champion Shawn Cowie of British Columbia advanced through one of the most competitive fields in event history. Cowie ran 5.254 seconds at 276.69 mph (445 km/h) to defeat Jamie Noonan, a member of the well-known engine development family. Noonan had earlier set low elapsed time of the event at 5.156 seconds.
In Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car, the legendary “Bubble Up” machine of Canadian Motorsport and Drag Racing Hall of Famer Ron Hodgson claimed victory. Western Canadian Nathan Sitko drove the flopper to a winning 1,000-foot pass of 4.782 seconds at 233.96 mph (376 km/h).
Hall of Fame tuner Les Davenport was again competitive, preparing strong entries for Stan Sipos and Phil Esz, with Esz qualifying No. 1 in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Mark Savage of Ontario tuned Mike Stavrinos to the NHRA Pro Mod victory with a final-round 5.719-second pass at 251.63 mph over first-time finalist Derek Menholt. The other Savage-prepared entry, driven by J.R. Gray and co-tuned by Todd Tutterow, sits second in championship points with three races remaining. Veteran Rickie Smith, who recorded the event’s top speed at 253.80 mph (408 km/h), is third in the standings.
In Top Fuel, Tony Stewart reached the final but lost to Justin Ashley on a holeshot. Ashley’s 3.83-second run edged Stewart’s quicker 3.81. Stewart still took over the points lead in the chase for the championship. Brittany Force recorded low elapsed time at 3.666 seconds and set the fastest speed in NHRA history at 343.51 mph (553 km/h).
Ontario’s Spencer Hyde clinched a berth in the six-race Countdown to the Championship by securing the #9 spot in The Countdown. Hyde bumped Cruz Pedregon out of the playoff field. At Indy, the Funny Car final featured two John Force Racing drivers, with Austin Prock defeating Jack Beckman in 3.903 seconds. Beckman had earlier run low E.T. of 3.865, while Bob Tasca III posted top speed at 337.24 mph (542 km/h). Prock’s efforts, combined with his Mission Foods All-Star Callout success, earned him $340,000 for the weekend.
A special tribute to Canadian crew chief Bernie Federley was held at the John Force Racing shop on Thursday. Ten speakers, led by John Force, shared memories, with heartfelt remarks from Federley’s longtime friend and fellow Hall of Fame member Terry Capps. Federley’s family and friends joined many in celebrating his contributions to the sport.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders broke out of a mid-season slump, winning her 50th NHRA national event. She defeated Matt Hartford in the final with a 6.56-second pass to Hartford’s 6.60. Greg Anderson set low E.T. of 6.491 seconds, while his KB Titan teammate Dallas Glenn posted top speed of 211.79 mph.
Canadian KB Titan driver Eric Latino of Port Perry, Ont., enters the Countdown ranked sixth in points. Latino is one of six KB Titan drivers in the top 10, with Enders sitting eighth.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera continued his dominance by winning Indy. Herrera and teammate Richard Gadson head into the Countdown ranked first and second, with veteran Matt Smith in third.
More from the Labour Day Weekend….
The Labour Day weekend of racing — this year particularly so with the celebration of life honouring my friend Bernie Federley — has been a special yearly event for me beginning in 1967. That first weekend was shared with Frank Iaconio, Bob Fry, and the late Don Ness and Jim Luikens. In 1969, I first participated as a racer, competing with Mike Hishon and Jim McCann in Super Stock.
In 1990, I had the thrill of actually owning the Pennzoil Pontiac Pro Stock Firebird that was driven to the Eliminator title over Larry Morgan by the very talented Jerry Eckman.
This year, however, I was keen to return to Toronto Motorsports Park (TMP) for Sunday’s Pro Mod eliminations, to once again race alongside Al Billes and his weekend driver Ray Commisso. Ray and Ralph Andreachi have two new Pro Mods nearly ready to compete. Mostly, I wanted to join Jay Santos, Angelo, Andrew, and Mike after their record-setting weekend at Grand Bend Motorplex.
I was genuinely not expecting to be met with a 3.58-second time slip and sub-.9-second 60-foot incremental numbers. The TMP track is no doubt one of the best in our sport. Thank you, Uli Bieri! In Sunday afternoon’s finals, Jay Santos ran a 3.60 to defeat the Billes/Commisso Camaro’s 3.69 — the best-ever Pro Mod race in my books.
The fan experience was once again outstanding. Saturday night featured fireworks, a jet car, nostalgia gassers and Funny Cars. The Can-Am Stock Series held a doubleheader, with Al Allison winning Saturday and Rob Becker driving Bill Kraft’s Camaro to victory Sunday, with almost 50 cars on the grounds. It was simply a great show.
There were also some noteworthy Canadian efforts elsewhere. Congratulations to Dan Velanosa for his class Super Stock win at Indianapolis, and to Jeff Chatterson for his Eliminator win at IHRA Columbus. It was another great weekend as well for the Les Davenport Alcohol Funny Cars. Canadian Darryl Cuttell is making a wonderful contribution to our sport, and it is much appreciated.
Charlotte NHRA
Led by Port Hope, Ontario’s Eric Latino and his fellow KB Titan team principal, drag racing champion Jim Whitley, it was an all-Charlotte-based final in NHRA Pro Stock competition. Winner Dallas Glenn defeated the sport’s winningest Pro Stock competitor and teammate / runner-up Greg Anderson with a 6.554-second pass to Anderson’s 6.562. Glenn also recorded top speed at 209.95 mph (340 km/h). Latino qualified No. 3, while Cory Reed (son of Annie and Jim Whitley) and Erica Enders rounded out the other two spots in the final four-wide battle. With four races left in the NHRA Countdown, KB Titan Pro Stocks represent seven of the category’s ten finalists. Stratford, Ontario native Kenny Lee also qualified all three of the Cuadra family Pro Stock entries.
Top Fuel was decided on a holeshot when Justin Ashley edged points leader Doug Kalitta despite both drivers recording identical 3.784-second elapsed times. Brittany Force set both top speed and low E.T. in the class with a 3.687-second, 338.85 mph (449 km/h) run. Quebec’s Dan Mercier once again proved competitive, running in the 3.7-second zone with some of the sport’s premier Top Fuel dragsters.
Austin Prock dominated the ultra-competitive Nitro Funny Car field at Charlotte with a winning 3.912-second, 332.43 mph performance over finalists Matt Hagan, Daniel Wilkerson and Chad Green. Stratford, Ontario’s Spencer Hyde solidified his position in the top 10 by winning his four-wide first round over Green, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson captured his first NHRA title, defeating Matt Smith, Angie Smith and Jianna Evaristo. Gaige Herrera set both low E.T. and top speed of the meet with a 6.757-second, 201.22 mph effort.
Special Canadian shout-outs went to McKenna Bold in her A/Fuel dragster and Gerard Milette in Top Sportsman with the family’s ’63 Corvette, both of whom represented Canada proudly in Charlotte competition.
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