Nova Scotia hosts penultimate season race weekend for Eastern Canada’s NHRA National Open Series…..
Super scenic Cape Breton Dragway played host to rounds #11 & 12 for what has proven to be a very dynamic season for NHRA’s expanded John Scotti Canadian Championship Series this summer.
The 1/8 mile facility drew in some of the area’s best (Aug 29-30) and when the smoke had cleared — it was Maritimes-based talents that stood tall.
The series’ overall Stock/Super Stock Combo championship chase now features a stranglehold for Maritimes-area racer Mike Ingram (from Middle Sackville NS). Mike had a clean sweep weekend and with that moved into what is pretty much an unsurmountable points lead — with only two races left.
Driving his F/SA ’68 Chevelle, and facing off within the 20-car program, Mike won Friday’s event when he defeated Ryan Thibeault’s H/SA Camaro in what was the closest race of the weekend. Ingram hit a winning 7.001 secs (7.00 dial in) to just edge Thibeault’s 6.941 secs (6.94 dial in) in the championship round – making the true win margin a scant .0097! 
With back to back wins at his home track – Mike Ingram has moved to the cusp for the NHRA John Scotti Canadian National Open series championship.
Then in Saturday, Ingram would not be denied again as he visited victory lane for the series for the 4th time this season, running a final round 7.26 secs when his opponent Dave Garland had a red-light start in his SS/HA Camaro. Ingram, had defeated Alan Harper, John Armstrong and Kale Johnson in earlier competition.
Ingram was not the only racer to go undefeated at Cape Breton. Kevin MacNeil (from Sydney NS), driving his ’69 Camaro, won both days action for the NHRA Super Street category.
Kevin MacNeal won 2X for the NHRA Super Street eliminator.
MacNeil beat Wyatt Rankin in Saturday’s final round after topping Richard Boyd’s Mopar in the trophy dash the day before. For Kevin, who is also a hard working track volunteer at CBD, the wins were the first of his racing career.
Friday’s other eliminator winners included Rylie Green (Super Comp), Dawson Toombs (Super Gas), Gordon Ferguson (Bike/Sled) and Bryson MacNeil (Junior Dragster). Saturday’s event “Wallys’” went to Justin Cummings (Super Comp), Jim Morrison (Super Gas), Wayne Morris (Bike/Sled) and Logan Roach (Junior Dragster)
Super Comp winners – Rylie Green (top) and Justin Cummings.
A highly competitive mix for area Top Dragster and Top Sportsman racers chased down each other too on both days. Those wins went to Chris Pozzebon who held off Jason MacNeil in Friday’s final round pairings of dragsters. Pozzebon, who is son to CBD track operator Gary Pozzebon, clocked a winning 4.987 secs (4.95 dial) to MacNeil’s 4.831 secs (4.81 secs).
On Saturday it was the cool ’84 Mustang TS car of Wyatt Rankin that prevailed. Rankin clocked a winning 4.901 secs (4.88 dial) while opponent Doug Wrathall had a foul start with his Dan Page-chassis T/D.
The event’s special awards did go to a couple of local “Bowtie Brand” racers with John Maclean’s C/SA ’94 Camaro garnishing the Engineered Racing Services “Best Engineered” and Peter Hobart’s spectacular Chevy II (photo below) selected for Performance Cellar’s “Best Appearing” award.
Peter Hobart’s high flying “Best Appearing” Chevy II
The event was judged a big success by all who attended, including NHRA Canadian area Manager Glenn Grow.
“This is our 3rd year coming to CB and racer attendance has gone up 10% each year,” Glenn stated. “It such a nice facility with a great volunteer staff. Cape Breton Dragway president Gary Pozzebon works very hard to make it a very nice place to race — with constant improvements. Needless to say this area is a great destination for a holiday too as well as racing. Simply a beautiful part of our country with terrific friendly people.”
Dawson Toombs won in S/G on Friday with his Corvette.
The Bike/Sled winner on Friday was Gordon Ferguson
The John Scotti Canadian Championship Series season comes to a close with another NHRA National Open double-header — at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 25 – 27, 2025.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of Gerard Bryden 
