Some next chapter script for a tradition deep Canadian drag racing operation has begun….

In 2021 — Canada’s iconic Paton Racing — founded by Barry Paton — marked it’s 55th year (!) for drag racing history.   And while the continuing consequences of the worldwide pandemic limited both celebration of that fact as well as event participation — it is thankfully now also including a late season very positive horizon.

Just prior to NHRA’s Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol TN) – a new formation came to fruition – including the Paton Racing team and budding young gun driver Cameron Ferre.   That was coupled with help from a list of new sponsorship partners (from both within Canada and the USA) — and Paton Racing’s primary Top Fuel dragster was able to schedule a return to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series — for the remaining three events this season.

Cameron Ferre – Todd Paton

The team’s second of those three races was at the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas last weekend,  and it’s safe to say an impressive progression was made.  At that event driver Cameron Ferre was rewarded with his career best math since acquiring his Top Fuel licence — hitting three solid 3.8’s secs times during qualifying — the best being 3.814 secs to qualify 14th.  His best speed was just short of 320 mph — at 319.82 mph.

At Las Vegas the EMPI/Paton Racing Top Fuel team qualified with a rewarding 3.814 secs.

“We were pretty pleased with the way the car ran and the way it consistently improved throughout qualifying,” said Todd Paton. “And It came back clean and dry each time, with very little engine damage, if any.”

“It was so great we got to finally come out.  Cameron and I had started talking about things late last year and we had originally planned to debut (the sponsorship) in the spring — but with the COVID protocols between Canada and the U.S., we pushed that back to where we could be sure we could bring the operation into the U.S. safely.”

The teams emergence was buoyed by a list of sponsors – including new primary EMPI Inc. (Anaheim CA) and associates JBS Equipment (Mission BC), Performance Data Systems (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Fast Eddie Racewear (Uxbridge ON) and Ted Wiens Auto Service (Las Vegas NV).

Driver Cameron Ferre is married to Angie Boychuk, the daughter to Canadian legendary Funny Car driver Tim Boychuk. Cameron and Angie reside in Huntington Beach CA and they have two young sons  — Jett (3 yrs.) and Blair (9 mos.)

“Even though we got beat in round one last Sunday (tire smoke) — we’re all very optimistic about the upcoming NHRA Auto Club Finals.  Our Racepak Data logger shows that we’re right on the cusp for a 3.7 secs ET and our whole team can taste it,”  Todd winked. 

While team patriarch Barry Paton was not able to travel to either Bristol or Las Vegas – with the USA/Canada boundary now becoming more open and accessible to cross (beginning next week) – he is planning on coming to Pomona.

Visit EMPI Home/Official: HERE

Posted by Bruce Biegler

Photos by Bob Johnson