A Winner at the Winters — a AA/FA on the jig — Arend to the Rescue — and more….

Dragsters “Dig In Deep” — @Pomona’s NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals Canadian dragster racers produced a series of strong finishes.

That listing was topped by Alberta’s Grant Durie, who collected his 3rd career NHRA national event level win – scoring in the Right Trailers-presented Top Dragster category.

For Durie, who had collected a big win earlier this season during a NHRA Lucas Oil Regional event held at Phoenix, he gathered up a second prestigious 75th Anniversary Diamond “Wally” – this time a full size edition.

At Pomona after qualifying 12th (6.327 secs) Grant proceeded to earn five win lights during eliminations, ultimately beating opponent Steve Hamilton in the final when Hamilton had a red light.

Grant’s two previously NHRA national event level tallies had come at Phoenix (2017) and at the NHRA Finals at Pomona in 2023.

Canadian Grant Durie won in Top Dragster – it was his 3rd career NHRA national event level score.

“Feels totally amazing feeling to win a “National Event” Diamond Wally,” Grant relayed. “Thanks again to my Wife Deb and all our family that chip in to do my job when I’m out racing. Thanks to Andy Spiegel of Spiegel Racing Engines, and Lloyd Coker of TNT Supercars who built the car and tunes it. Mark Stormes (who races Super Street) stepped up and helped me this weekend too. Kevin and Hughes transmission and converters, Robert, Marty, and the guys at Hoosier Tires, Todd with Performance Data Systems — and everyone else that I’m missing that is a part of this success.”

Top Dragster class racing at Pomona did include another superb finish for fellow Alberta driver Stan Essery (photo below), who once again flirted with a big nationals win! Essery, driver for the AFD-sponsored T/D, owned by Bob Ebertz, was the quickest Canadian qualifier in the class at a 6.254 secs, and went to the final four on Sunday, before a red-light start ended his bid.

Over in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, defending 2X NHRA Lucas Oil World Champion Shawn Cowie also had a semi-final round placing on Sunday, driving the fearsome Mundies Towing-presented car from Langley BC. Shawn was sharp early, qualifying #1 at 5.223 secs and then recording low ET of the race at 5.192 secs in round two, before being upset on a quick delivery hole shot by event winner Jon Bradford – 5.269 secs to Cowie’s much quicker 5.202 secs.

World Champion Shawn Cowie was the quickest class car in TAD at Pomona.

Saturday’s Scramble! — One of the bigger oddities for Fuel FC racing at NHRA Pomona was a forced driver “switch-o-roo” for the Jim Dunn Racing camp. The team’s 2026 scheduled season driver Todd Lesenko (from Alberta) made two runs in the car on Friday but was then forced to withdraw from competition, due to an injury.

That necessitated an early morning phone call from Jon Dunn to Canadian native Jeff Arend (who lives nearby Pomona) who was called to duty as driver – under very very short circumstances.

“Jon called at 9:45 that morning and asked if I wanted to drive,” Jeff revealed. “I said I would but all my driving stuff was up in Northern California — so we had to borrow stuff from everybody. The fact that in just 2 hours we were able to borrow a complete set of driving gear, get fitted for the car and warm it up is all kinda unbelievable! I did go (.067- .077) on my 2 runs — so that was rather gratifying.”

Regrettably that strong and determined team effort did not pay final dividends however as Jeff’s best run of 4.160 secs just missed the 16-car bump of 4.147 secs.

Toronto-native Jeff Arend will replace Alberta’s Todd Lesenko in the cockpit of the Jim Dunn Racing FC for a period.

We made contact with Todd Lesenko too, who relayed unfortunately, “In the two passes I made on Friday — I tore my bicep of my right arm,” he said. ” Right now I am getting MRIs on my shoulder and arm (in Phoenix) and then will be seeing a surgeon.”

We can now thus report that Jeff Arend will officially drive the Jim Dunn Racing car at the next NHRA race in Charlotte NC (4-Wide Nationals) April 24-26th as well as a likelihood for additional race appearances in the car beyond — during Todd’s expected (hopefully short) recovery period.

Back to His Roots — British Columbia’s Daniel Rodrique, a very accomplished X275 class car racer, will jump “back” into the confines of a Funny Car this season.

In recent times he has acquired a 1978 Corvette-bodied machine that was formally owned and raced by Tyson Wells (Rosedale BC).

“We purchased it from the widow of Tyson Wells,” Daniel explained. “The car hasn’t run in 7 years so currently it’s undergoing a complete chassis restoration as well as well as a complete new colour and paint scheme change.”

Using a blown alcohol, 540 CID Hemi with a 1471 blower, Daniel plans to have the car out for testing by late June or early July and then debut it at the Langley Loafers race (July 31st weekend) at Mission Raceway Park.

Beyond that future plans could involve the NHRA’s Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield California and possibly running with the Northwest BB/FC guys.

“30 years ago at 16 I actually got my start in a blown alcohol funny car,” he added. “So for my 30th anniversary as a driver I decided to get back in one.”

During the interim years Daniel’s claim and fame came mostly within X275 class car racing where he won 2 championships and many event wins. He will however park that awesome X275 Malibu for a bit and will instead (mostly locally at Mission) also drive a Super Pro dragster which is owned by James Kennedy, from Langley BC (JNK Racing).

Daniel Rodrique’s X275 Chevy Malibu.

(AA) Altering the Future — Some pretty significant news from the very popular Northern Alberta nitro car race team owned by David Brant.

A conversion is underway from that traditional Nostalgia Funny Car racing operation which will see the team run for the first time: a AA/FA car.

That “Brant Nitro Shop” machine is scheduled for completion for this summer’s racing season — thanks to dedication from a lot of people for the project.

“First of all I couldn’t and wouldn’t do this without the support of my wonderful wife Edna,” David emphasised. “Edna has been by my side since we started this obsession back in 2010 — with first “The Reaper” alcohol funny cars and then the “Warchief” Nitro cars. Add to that we have a long withstanding crew as well as others that help out when they can — I could mention so many names from 15 years of doing this!”

Edna Brant

Current concept under construction in Alberta!

For this build it was all hands on deck from the Edmonton area, with Ed Shapka doing all the fibreglass modifications and Serge Dion doing the mounting and tin work for the body.  Mike Hiel designed and did the rear wing fabrication.

Behind the AA/FA project are some long time team sponsors, including Heavy Metals Equipment, Sipp Vodka, Piston Broke Mechanical and Metal Headz (Steve and Cindy). Joining the team this year will be Brian’s Custom Pipes (from Ontario).

“We think that a switch to an altered body (’48 Fiat configuration) may offer more options for us, especially with their new IHRA Fuel Altered class,” David added. “We are also looking forward to introducing a new old style school logo — Brants Nitro Shop – and will have some cool merchandise to go with that.”

While the exact future is still “who knows” — racing fans can most certainly expect another creative/ambitious effort to watch out for.

GESi Deal Extended — NHRA officials announced that Canadian-born company GESi will extend its sponsorship of the No. 1 qualifier award in Pro Stock as part of a multi-year partnership.

After a successful first year in 2025, the GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award will be handed out at each Pro Stock event during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, beginning at last week’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals (won by Greg Anderson @ 6.516 secs).

The top qualifier in the stacked Pro Stock field will earn $2,000 at each event, adding a special bonus, along with extra intensity, to the two days of qualifying.

“I love being part of this class and seeing the impact we were able to make last season,” GESi CEO Eric Latino (from Whitby ON) said. “The level of competition is incredible and recognising the No. 1 qualifier is something we believe in. Building on what we started last year, it was an easy decision to come back and continue that momentum. We’re excited to be involved again and see how it all unfolds this season.”

The GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award is another way the company continues to strengthen its relationship with NHRA drag racing. Latino is the CEO of GESi, which specialises in the design, engineering and manufacturing of world-leading global emission systems.

Posted by Bruce Biegler

Photos by: Bob Johnson, Dave DeAngelis, Les Puchala, DRI Racing, Warchief Racing, Durlowe Farms Racing