Victoria BC’s Stan Sipos came heartbreakingly close to winning drag racing’s ultimate prize!  Stan qualified the Sipos/Davenport Camaro #1 for the TAFC program (5.493 secs) and won three rounds of competition to go to the championship round.  But unfortunately the car rolled the beams while staging in the final versus Sean Bellemeur – and that ended his bid.

Standout Canadian Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series driver Jason Kenny advanced to the final round at Indy — for the 3rd year in a row! The Kingston Ontario-native (who now resides in PA) won 6 rounds in Super Comp with his Dan Page dragster but also suffered some continued final round heartbreak — losing a very narrow 8.907 to 8.908 decision to event champion Trene Cressonie.

Justin Bond

The opening round of Pro Mod at Indy featured non other then an all Canadian pairing when Justin Bond (Mission BC) raced Scott Wildgust (Sebringville ON) head-to-head.  It was then that Justin, who qualified #1 (5.756 secs) unloaded low ET of the event (5.710 secs) to defeat Scott’s event (and career best) 5.790 secs effort.  JB then lost out to Billy Banaka in round #2.

Scott Wildgust

As he always does – BC’s Shawn Cowie put on another strong event effort at Indy for TAD.  Shawn qualified his Mundie’s Towing & Recovery dragster 3rd (5.295 secs) and beat Jackie Fricke and then Defending NHRA Lucas Oil World Champ Julie Nataas in rounds one and two.  Cowie fell just short in the semi final round however losing to Angelle Sampey despite running both a quicker and faster time.

Canadian Ambassador to NHRA drag racing, Daniel Mercier, ran well once again in Top Fuel.  Daniel qualified #10 for the very demanding program (@ 3.763 secs) but lost out in round #1 to Justin Ashley by a narrow 3.735 secs to 3.759 secs margin.  Daniel’s best terminal speed at Indy was 321.98 mph.

Eric Latino

A rather remarkable and rare sight indeed occurred at Indy in the Pro Stock class qualifying — with a pairing featuring two Canadian drivers – Eric Latino and Sienna Wildgust.  Both Ontario-based drivers made it into the very tough Pro Stock eliminator (14th and 15th respectively).  Eric lost to Jeg Coughlin Jr and Sienna to Erica Enders in round one on Monday.

Sienna Wildgust

New Brunswick’s Wendall Howes was the only Canadian entry within the Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge event which was featured on Friday at Indy.  Wendall drove his son Mark’s ’68 Dart in that popular competition – qualifying 12th of 23 car entered at 8.712 secs.  Wendall won his first round but lost out in the second frame to Jim Pancake.

Jordan Lazic (from Rutland BC) had another strong effort in Pro Mod racing the JBS Motorsports late model Camaro. Jordan qualified superbly #4 at 5.808 secs and won round one over Stan Shelton.  In the quarter-finals he lost by a narrow margin on a hole shot to Mike Stavrinos — 5.809 secs to Jordan’s 5.792 secs.

Looking Good Terry! One of the many honoured special guests in attendance for the 70th anniversary Toyota US Nationals event celebration was Canadian drag racing icon Terry Capp.  Capp who is a member of both the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame – won Top Fuel at Indy back in 1980 – arguabley his single most famous career victory/moment.