IHRA’s Mopar Canadian Nationals touchdown at Grand Bend Motorplex produced a dominating event effort from the Terry McMillen-owned Hoosier Thunder Motorsports Team. That Can-Am effort, which includes the Amalie Oil sponsored Top Fuel dragster (driven by McMillen) and the “Instigator” Alcohol Funny Car (driven by Paul Noakes), overwhelmed victory lane on Sunday night by winning two Professional event titles.

Terry McMillen’s victory in Top Fuel, the 3rd of his career (all on Canadian soil) was highlighted by career fast times for the popular racer on the IHRA tour. After qualifying 2nd behind Bruce Litton with a 4.764 secs effort, McMillen unloaded a superb 4.665 secs at 322.42 mph in round one while defeating recent IHRA Edmonton winner Kevin Jones. McMillen’s speed was a new track record at Grand Bend Motorplex, eclipsing the mark set by Clay Millican a couple of years ago.

McMillen then defeated Utah’s Michael Strasburg in the semi final round before handling points leader Spencer Massey in the final round. Spencer moved first but then his Mitch King-owned dragster had tire spin issues which allowed McMillen to take a come-from-behind 4.867 secs 278.52 mph win light.

Terry McMillen’s racing teammate, Paul Noakes scored in Alcohol Funny Car which was the first win for he and crew chief Les Mellows since the cross over to the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports this season. Noakes (who is from London, ON) won a super exciting final round over fellow Canadian Larry Dobbs, driver of the Sportz Tent Chevy Corvette. Noakes edged Dobbs at the stripe winning a 5.869 secs 238.55 mph to 5.934 secs 237.75 mph decision.

Paul’s trek to victory included a round one win over Dr. Tom Carter, and then a titanic match over Robbie Atchison’s Erickson-sponsored Chevy in the semi final round. Noakes prevailed, 5.900 secs 238.22 mph to 5.903 secs 241.50 mph in that truly great match up.

Low ET in AFC was set by Tom Carter who ran 5.842 secs while taking the pole and Rob Atchison was credited with top speed at 245.09 mph.

AFC class racing included the first ever IHRA qualifying effort from Canadian Dylan Hache, who drove his London-based Pontiac Firebird into the program with a career best 5.978 secs.

Nitro Funny Car class racing produced a 2nd career win for Terry Haddock, driver of the popular RaceGirl-sponsored Dodge Stratus. Haddock, who is from Washington state, and who’s only other career IHRA win came at Edmonton last season, ran a final round 5.183 secs at 254.38 mph to defeat Steve Macklyn. Macklyn who entered the final round after a major between round overhaul, had his car fail at about half-track.

With the win, Haddock, who had beaten Matt Hagan and Paul Lee in earlier rounds, moved to the top of the IHRA points podium overtaking Dale Creasy Jr., who is now sidelined for the remainder of the 2008 season after his incident at Edmonton.

FC racers did have difficulty with the racing surface at Grand Bend. Of the 10 cars entered nobody ran in the four seconds zone or over 300 mph. Low ET/Top speed in fact came during qualifying by Andy Kelly at 5.013 secs and 298.27 mph.

Pro Modified racing produced the 14th career IHRA Ironman for South Carolina’s Ed Hoover. Driving for car owner Paul Trussell, Hoover used his Al Billes engine program to perfection while ambushing the very competitive field.

Ed’s supercharged ’68 Camaro ended a gallant event effort from Tommy D’Aprile’s ultra-cool ’62 Bel Air in the final round running a winning 6.062 secs at 234.53 mph, while D’Aprile was forced to peddle his car due to tire shake.

Pro Mod racing was paced by NHRA Jegs Challenge circuit regular Raymond Commisso who qualified #1 at 6.039 secs driving his Al Billes tuned ProCareRX Firebird. But in round one, Ray was distracted and he lost out in a huge upset to #9 qualifier Jason Hamstra. Raymond in fact recorded low ET of the event at 6.010 secs during that loss. Hamstra, one of the young lions in Pro Mod racing, combined a .017 RT with a run of 6.129 secs at 228.65 mph to take the win.

After boycotting the event at Edmonton, IHRA’s Pro Stock class did return to action at Grand Bend to a somewhat cool fan reception. 20 cars were entered.

Frank Gugliotta wheeled his PiranaZ sponsored Ford Mustang to a big victory winning a very close final round over Pete Berner’s Pontiac GXP. In that match, “The Flyin’ Meatball” sped to a 6.389 secs at 217.14 mph compared to Berner’s 6.398 secs at 217.00 mph.

Gugliotta had outran Dean Goforth, John Montecalvo and Rob Mansfield in earlier competition. His 6.368 secs run in the semi-final round was low ET of the meet in Pro Stock.

Pro Stock round one did include a huge upset when the only Mopar in the field, driven by Canada’s Larry O’Brien, upset defending IHRA World Champion Robert Patrick. O’Brien (who is from Windsor) combined a .031 RT with a run of 6.502 secs to eliminate the World Champion before he subsequently lost out in round two to Cary Goforth.

Canada’s John Konigshofer was the quickest of four Canadian cars entered at the event in PS, running a 6.425 secs to qualify 9th, and then recording an even quicker 6.413 secs during a round one loss to Jeff Dobbins.

Mark Martino, from Stoney Creek ON, made his IHRA national event debut at Grand Bend driving the ex Chuck Demory Ford Escort. Martino missed the field, however he did record a very decent 6.512 secs best.

Rain did play havoc with the event on Sunday delaying the start of eliminations by about 4 hours. It, combined with a curfew also unfortunately forced the completion of Sportsman eliminations to Monday.

GBM track regular Steve Doornbosch (from Forest ON) was the only Canadian sportsman winner, taking the event’s added attraction ET Tournament title driving his ultra-reliable ’68 Firebird.