The eyes of Canada will be on two major title possibilities beginning this weekend….
As the NHRA 2026 schedule winds down to its conclusion — Canada has two prominent players poised for possible very big things – just over the horizon.
Following a super impressive victory at the recent NHRA Texas Fall Nationals (Oct 18th) — Canada’s all time most winning drag racer (and defending 2X NHRA World Champion) Shawn Cowie has positioned himself well for a 3rd straight (!) Championship – for the NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster division.
Shawn’s Mundies Towing was convincing (as hell!) at the Texas race – while he parlayed his 29th career NHRA nationals level victory – with a string of 5.15 secs ETs — that included qualifying #1 – setting low ET of the race (@ 5.154 secs) – and unloading the fastest terminal speed in drag racing history (for a supercharged configuration TAD class car) at 282.54 mph!
The victory has moved Shawn up to 2nd in national points (817) behind Jamie Noonan (from Australia) at 940 points. Importantly, Cowie Racing can potentially claim points at three more races this season — all within a frenzied time period beginning at the Las Vegas Mopar Nationals this weekend and then followed by NHRA’s Las Vegas Regional Finals (Nov 6-7) and then NHRA’s In-N-Out Burger Finals (Nov 12-15th).
(For NHRA’s Lucas Oil National Championship: each driver is eligible to earn points through claiming best finishes from three regionals and best seven national finishes. That formula is what constitutes their national championship points total.)
Shawn and Taylor Cowie
“This win was a little sweeter for two reasons,” said Shawn Cowie (from Langley BC) after his Dallas area win.. “We had never won at the Texas Motorplex nationals event before – plus we have had some struggles with the car the last few races. After Dallas we are pretty confident we have figured out that issue. We ran 5.15 three times and setting a new record for fastest speed in a blown alcohol car was exciting for all of us.”
“I think we are heading into Vegas and Pomona in a very good place – where we can hopefully finish the year strong.”
The upcoming Mopar Las Vegas Nationals race weekend will also include the final season round for the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series — and another BC-based driver is sitting pretty for that.
Justin Bond (from Mission), founder and owner of JBS Equipment, sits at the top of the leader board entering that circuit conclusion race with his supercharged Chevy Camaro.
It’s close at the top with the top four in points – Justin Bond, Mike Stavrinos, Derek Menholt and reigning world champ J.R. Gray – all separated by just 67 points.
With 30 points on the line during each round during eliminations, this could be a finale for the ages. Within that grouping, Gray is the only name to have won an NHRA Pro Mod world championship, which only adds to the magnitude of the moment and what’s on the line in Vegas.
Justin Bond
Justin Bond however has come conspicuously close to winning this prestige title before – placing 2nd in final points for 2023 and 3rd 2024. Justin’s former racing teammate Jordan Lazic (from Rutland BC) was in fact the NHRA’s Pro Mod World Champion in 2024 — with all of that adding much fuel to his ultimate personal racing goal.
Bond heads enters the Las Vegas race as points leader (1079) thanks to four appearances in final rounds this year. He won in Phoenix and has been solid in the postseason thanks to finals appearances in Indy and Rockingham.
“We’ve fought hard all season to put ourselves in this position,” Bond said. “Seventeen points isn’t much in Pro Mod, so nothing is guaranteed. We’re heading to Vegas with one goal — win the race and bring home the championship.”
Posted with files by Bruce Biegler & NHRA Communications
DragRaceCanada file photos by Dave DeAngelis & Courtesy of Cowie Racing
