Editor's Extra

Kenny Lang capped of his remarkable 2009 IHRA Championship winning season with a cool $10,000 payday yesterday during the IHRA's problem plagued World Finals in NC.  Although Kenny did not win the event PM eliminator (finished in semi-finals) he did stop fellow Canadian Tony Pontieri in a winners take all Mickey Thompson Ten Grand Slam Shootout.   Due to a timing malfunction (?) neither Lang or Pontieri got a ET slip -- however we can tell you that Lang won it handily.

Racing during the PMRA season finale last weekend at Cayuga Dragway included a first public sighting for a new Canadian Pro Mod Plymouth Superbird owned by Ontario's Jason Greenland.  Driven by Caledonia's Terry Brown, the steath looking machine made a couple of short squirts while testing.

There will be more news on this new car and team coming to DragRaceCanada's Northern Exposure subsection in the not too distant future. 

Bruce Biegler Photo

Edmonton's Tim Boychuck, winner of two DragRaceCanada Canadian Drag Racer of the Year awards last season, put another notch in his belt recently during the IHRA North American Nationals held at New England Dragway.

During the semi-final round of that event, Tim sped to a career best 4.689 secs at 322.34 mph driving the Paton Racing Top Fuel dragster.  With that ET, Tim became Canada's all time quickest driver eclipsing the 4.712 secs recorded by Jeff Arend in the C.S.K. Funny Car at Atlanta in 2007.  Jeff remains Canada's fastest racer having recorded a 327.66 mph at that same event.

Congrats to Tim and everyone else on the Paton Racing TF team.

(Bruce Biegler photo)

Edmonton's Gary Racich and Brian Krishka appear to be making some headway with their much-anticipated new '70 Barracuda Top Sportsman car.   Here is a sneak preview of the recently painted machine.

If plans go accordingly -- the car may very well

New Mad Max Cuda

 hit the track surface later this season for some testing.

Photo courtesy of: Mad Max Racing

Ike Maier (Tottenham ON) and his tuner/engine builder Kirk Silbermann really raised some eyebrows during last weekends IHRA Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Western Michigan.

Ike Maier & Kirk Silbermann

Maier, who had only one previous career experience racing a Pro Mod in IHRA national event competition (at Grand Bend - 2 weeks earlier) was easily the most pleasant suprise of that entire event.

Maier ran a career quick 6.092 secs to qualify #6 with his supercharged '63 Corvette and then on Sunday went all the way to the PM final round, defeating Burton Auxier, Ed Hoover and fellow Canadian Tony Pontieri.

In the event Championship final he gave Manitoba's Kenny Lang a good battle but ultimately lost a 6.012 secs 238.54 mph to 6.108 secs 231.71 mph decision.

It was a truly great showing from the up-and-coming independent team who are PMRA circuit regulars.

(Bruce Biegler Photo)

The recent IHRA Mopar Canadian Nationals included a return to competition for Barrie Ontario's Tim Martin.

Tim Martin's New Corvette

Martin who's racing career included some 12 years in Top Dragster with dragsters and altereds was entered in the event's PMRA supplemental 1/8th mile Pro Mod program.  Martin was driving the ex-Ed Hoover supercharged Corvette -- his first ever door car.  That machine features an Al Billes engine program.

Martin will finish off the '09 season on the PMRA circuit to allow his team to gain some experience before exploring further Pro Mod class options beginning in 2010.

(Bruce Biegler Photo) 

Al Hinds & Gary Irving

Waterloo's Al Hinds and his reputed driver Gary Irving ran very impressive numbers during last weekend's Mopar Canadian Nationals -- recording career best elapsed times.

Driving's the team's potent late model supercharged Corvette -- they hit back-to-back runs of 6.093 secs and 6.071 secs during Pro Mod time trial action - eventually landing the #4 qualified position.

They also did win their round one match-up on a single after scheduled opponent Ray Commisso could not return after his spectacular crash on Friday night.

(Bruce Biegler Photo) 

Webb takes flight...

Popular Edmonton-based Pro Nostalgia Funny Car racer Darrell Webb sent us this image of his recent high-flying antics at Castrol Raceway.  While testing his car during that track's All Bike Drags event, Darrell rode out this big wheelstand and expertly brought the car back to a safe landing.

Thanks to photographer Brad Parker for the cool image.

Shawn Cowie

Western Canadian drivers Shawn Cowie and Ken Webster starred during the first ever NHRA LODRS event held at Spokane Washington (June 12-14).

Both drivers prevailed in very similar fashions while taking the event's marquee Top Alcohol titles.

Cowie, who is from Vancouver, scored his 4th win of the year at the NHRA Divisional level.  He took TAD winning over Joey Severance with a final round 5.495 secs at 249.29 mph.  Cowie also had low ET and top speed of the event at 5.448 secs  266.42 mph.

Ken Webster - Team Synoil

Ken Webster, from Red Deer, won his first ever NHRA divisional event taking Geoff Goodwin's Synoil-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo to the TAFC title.  Webster beat Ron August in the final round after also recording both low ET and top speed 5.728 secs and 252.90 mph in earlier competition.

Photos Courtesy of Rich Carlson

Canada's Quickest TAFC - Again!

The very formidable Western Canadian TAFC team of Roger Bateman, Brian Friesen, and Ken Murray clocked their quickest run ever during last weekend's NHRA Route 66 Nationals near Chicago.   Driver Roger Bateman ripped a sensational 5.566 secs to qualify 4th within the super stout program.  That is (once again) an all time quick mark for a Canadian TAFC.

The team also had a superb placing in the 25th Annual Jegs AllStars competition on Saturday -- going to the final round only to lose out to Frank Manzo -- 5.556 secs to 5.636 secs.

(Bruce Biegler Photo)

Edmonton's Tim Boychuck qualified #1 and set low ET of the event during last weekend's inaugural IHRA race held at the all new Dallas Raceway (Candall Texas).   Tim's run of 4.811 secs,

Tim Boychuck is quickest!

 which came on Friday night, stood up as the quickest of the event.  

On Sunday, Boychuck won his first round over Mitch King before losing out to Terry McMillen in the TF semi-final round.

Cowie dips into "twenties"

Canadian TAD class terror Shawn Cowie and his talented group were rewarded with their quickest run yet during last weekend's NHRA LODRS event at Mission Raceway -- which they won.  They clocked low ET of the meet at 5.290 secs, their first sub 5.3 secs run. 

Congrats to the great Western Canadian team...

Gerry Frechette Photo