Cape Breton Dragway enters prep mode for 4th NHRA John Scotti Canadian National Open…

As the 2026 racing season gets underway, the crew from Cape Breton Dragway are excited to play host to their fourth NHRA John Scotti National Open. That big race is scheduled to unfold on August 13-16th.

Race director, Gary Pozzebon said, “I’m optimistic that this race will continue to be a well received event on the Cape Breton schedule. Since the first NHRA event in 2023, the excitement for this event continues to grow. And as the NHRA celebrates its 75th Anniversary there is heightened interest in earning one of those coveted 75th Diamond Anniversary Wallys. We are grateful to Glenn Grow of the NHRA and his great efforts with this NHRA John Scotti Series.”

The story of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Dragway goes back many years however the current facility is already entering its tenth season of drag racing. With some unique circumstances around this track, it was conceived, built, maintained, and is currently run by a tight knit group of drag racing enthusiasts. This group has been pushing this project forward for forty plus years now and for many years they operated from a temporary track, on a rented runway at the J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport.

After the purchase of current CAPE BRETON DRAGWAY location, this group has cobbled together a premier racing facility, and things continue to improve everyday with all volunteer input. However, the road to success has not always been easy because just as the new track finished its third season, our world was subjected to the COVID-19 crisis. Not to be stopped, this track again was able to overcome the adversity and although severely restricted by rules, they managed to stay open, and host drag races through three long Covid years.

Pozzebon added, “It was tough not having spectators for those three seasons but we’re so pleased to have that all behind us now. We missed having them on site.”

As with each of the John Scotti races, the track will be open on Wednesday (August 13th) to let travelling racers set up and get prepared for two complete NHRA events in one weekend. The Atlantic Pro Tree Series will also be in town, as will the Atlantic Canadian Stock Super-Stock Series, and they both will be scoring two events as well.

For Sunday (August 16th) there will also be five classes of the Cape Breton Dragway points championship racing featured.  That will mark mid-season point for that series’ five-race schedule for the 2026: (June 19-2 – July 10-12 – August 13-16 – September 4-6 – September 18-20).

Posted by Gerard Bryden

Photos by Gerard Bryden & Stephen McLeod