A enlightening and recent Canadian Sportsman drag racing inclusion….
It was when opportunity knocks for an another young gun Canadian driver who was absorbed into the fold of a very formidable Canadian Super Stock racing team during last week’s NHRA New England Nationals event.
That occurrence came for Ottawa’s Mike Reynolds, who earned his first driving stint ever for Super Stock eliminator, behind the wheel of one of the Ottawa-area based Gaffney Motorsports team cars, their SS/GA ’67 model Camaro.
“My opportunity to race for the Gaffney’s actually came as a surprise,” said Mike Reynolds who had come off a sensational 2025 drag racing season, driving his own Chevy Vega. “Kevin and Sean (Gaffney) have supported my racing since my junior dragster days, so I’ve known them for years. Back in February, Kevin asked me to go for dinner and we got talking about racing. Then out of nowhere, he asked if I’d be interested in driving their red Camaro in Super Stock this year. With Marty Rinehart taking a position with IHRA, that seat opened up and they offered me the opportunity.”
Mike Reynolds made his competition debut racing in the Super Stock class category at NHRA’s recent New England Nationals.
“It’s honestly a dream come true, and I couldn’t be more grateful or excited,” Mike continued. “I’ve been a die-hard NHRA class racing fan since I was a kid, so getting the chance to race Super Stock, especially in a car of this caliber, is beyond anything I imagined. I’m also a bottom bulb racer at heart — so as a driver that makes this change even more exciting.”
At his New England Nationals class competition debut, Mike capably qualified the Camaro #9 within the 36-car field running a 9.735 secs which is .815 under his SS/GA national index. He won his first round ever for Super Stock competition (defeating Christian Fillipone) but could not run down Joe Lisa’s GT/IA Camaro in round two. Lisa went on an event R/UP finish for Super Stock.
As to the future, Mike revealed.
“We’re planning to run a few nationals this year along with both the National Opens at Napierville. Indy (US Nationals) is definitely the one race — I’m most excited about! To get to race in class eliminations and be a part of the “Big Go” is going to be incredible. I really can’t thank Kevin and Sean enough — there’s no way I’d be able to compete at this level without them.”
Up to this point Mike Reynolds has most certainly done his part to earn his stripes in drag racing.
Last season his accomplishments were pretty darn impressive while racing his Chevy Vega. That included his first ever NHRA National event win – taking top honours at Maple Grove last September in Super Gas. The past season also included a first place points finish for the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series for Eastern Canada (for Super Street). Earlier career accomplishments (following extensive Junior Dragster racing) includes winning Canadian Bracket “Super Tour” Footbrake championships in both 2020 and 2023.
Mike’s biggest day in drag racing did come late last season when he collected his first NHRA National level win – in Super Gas at Maple Grove Raceway.
“My dad (Kevin) and I always dreamed of racing NHRA, and that’s been our focus over the past few years,” he added. “None of this would be possible without my parents — they’ve worked incredibly hard to give me these opportunities, and I’m just grateful to be living out my dream.”
Mike also affirmed that he will continue to campaign his meticulous little Vega this season too, with a focus again being within the JSCCS for Super Street. And we would be remiss if we did not include the fact that Mike did already win the first 2 races for that circuit (at Cayuga Dragway) just a couple weeks back.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave DeAngelis
