A Positive Prelude! « DragRaceCanada.com

A Positive Prelude!

by editor on Jun.03, 2026, under ACE MFG Northern Exposure

Mission Raceway’s first feature drag race card of the season launches Western Canadian scene….

Canada’s “far left” tradition-rich Fraser Valley facility hosted the first phase of the Western Edition for the 2026 John Scotti Canadian Championship Series last weekend. The first two of that 6-race season series was part of Mission Raceway Park’s NHRA Northwest National Open. Despite some weather issues experienced during day #1 – race officials and teams completed the event program after a rather frenzied compaction on Sunday.

For the JSCCS portion of the event – NHRA class car competition was featured within 5 eliminator categories – Top Comp, Super Stock/Stock and all three national index classes (Super Comp – Super Gas – Super Street).

The Saturday portion for that event (completed on morning Sunday) featured wins by John Buczynski’s Alberta-based Mopar (S/SS) and home track hitter Jeremy Soares T/D (Top Comp) who is from Terrace BC. “Super” wins were notched by Dale Green (S/C), Dan Davis (S/G) and Rick Hilburn (S/ST) – all visiting USA based drivers.

Jeremy Soares roared to a Top Comp title at the opening race for the JSCCS (above) while John Buczynski’s E/SA Barracuda (below) took a Stock/SS Combo win.

Sunday’s racing concluded with Ed Hauter (from Lynwood WA) prevailing with his Camaro for S/SS, and Adam deJonge collecting the “Wally” for Top Comp in his Abbotsford BC-based Camaro.

Brandon Hutchison (from Shawingan Lake BC – photos below) had a very impressive undefeated day while winning both the Super Gas and Super Comp titles with his very well-prepped race team cars. For Super Street (10.90) Todd Sims — from Puyallup WA —prevailed.

Medicine Hat Alberta’s Riley Toth – a Western Canadian 2-wheeled drag racing class powerhouse name — was the Sportsman Motorcycle champion for JSCCS racing also on Sunday.

Western Canada’s John Scotti Canadian National Open Series will continue with mid summer dates at MHDRA Medicine Hat (July 4-5) and at RAD Torque Raceway Edmonton (July 11-12).

Mission Raceway’s season events backbone JBS Equipment ET Series also played its intricate part within the schedule. On Saturday winners collecting coveted “Silver Anniversary” Wallys included Jason Gibson (Super Pro), Jenna Pobson (Pro) and Shawn Langley (Sportsman). Sunday’s champs were Gerry Brown (Super Pro), Craig Johnson (Pro) and Josh Closkey (Sportsman).

April Bond collected a Junior Dragster eliminator victory.

Craig Johnson was a winner in JBS Pro ET with his high flying Malibu Wagon.

Junior level (Dragster and Street) racing produced all Canadian-based event winners with James McNeil, Nate Green and April Bond taking Saturday’s titles and then Nick Bond, Cadence Rodrique and Gray Schann for Sunday.

The event did include some more ferocious action within Mission Raceway’s homegrown eliminator productions, and including the first appearance for the Western Canadian Nitro Bike Series.

Feature winners included Kenny Young (from Pt. Alberni BC) for Door Slammers and also Outlaw 275 class stalwart Justin Gallant from Chilliwback BC. Vanessa Richards (from Kelowna BC) ran some personal best times while winning Limited Street with her Mustang while Ryan Ladret (Maple Grove BC) took the Triple Index title.

Mission Raceway’s home grown “Door Slammers” eliminator title went to this Chevy S-10 raced by Kenny Young.

BC-based Mustang drivers Justin Gallant and Vanessa Richards were both victorious at Mission Raceway last weekend.

Defending Series Champion Austin Christopher took a win in season round #1 for Western Canada Nitro Bike circuit racing.

All and all the weekend event activities did help to set both a tone and momentum for Mission Raceway’s most anticipated event of 2026 – the Inaugural NHRA RAD Canadian Sports Nationals — coming imminently to the River Valley Ford-presented facility.

That massive (& first ever for Canada!) race — June 11-14th –will feature NHRA class stars and cars from all over Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest and is rated pretty much as essential season viewing for any and all drag racing fans for the region!