Eastern Canada’s marquee “Fast Street Car” circuit season is unleashed……

Season race #1 for Canada Heads Up – Shootout Series (presented by Speedwire Systems, Nash Competition Engines, Head Rush Tattoo and Apparel & Miska Trailers), and presented at fabled Toronto Motorsports Park, was met with some amazing racer and spectator excitement!

144 race cars pulled through the gate to race at the recent Saturday/ Sunday event (a 10 car increase over 2024!). Over those two days for the scheduled sportsman double event weekend — 202 tech cards were sold for class entry. With the pits full, the smell of burning fuel and loud exhaust fans couldn’t wait until the burn-outs started!

Within Pro class category racing, unfortunately Sunday’s eliminations were cut short — curtailed after the first round due to rain.

Emilio Catalano lead the Super Street qualifying chart with 4.32 et at 167 mph followed by Paul Bahwan and 2024 series champion Ralph Aulicino.

Defending 2024 CHU S/S series champion – Ralph Aulicino

EZ Street qualifying sheet was lead by SB turbo racer Jeff Misra as he nailed the top position with his first run in the 4.4 zone with a stout 4.47! Misra was followed on the qualifying sheet by Anthony Daversa (Nitrous BB) in the number 2 spot and Nick Kokkas (Pro Charged SB).

Driving his Menscer Motorsports built Camaro – Ian Hill — laid down some EZ Street class history making math at the CHU season opening event!

Round one of EZ Street had everyone standing on their tip toes to watch as Daversa dropped his best weekend effort down to 4.46 secs while in the right lane on the same pass Ian Hill overcame his spin-fest efforts in qualifying to grab the track and lay down the quickest and fastest pass in the class history with — 4.31 @ 170 mph!

Pro Bike qualifying was lead by Jesse Vanbetlehem’s 7.17 et and followed by Regan Pallet and Landon Swain.

SWB Bike Mikey Dinoo’s 8.25 took top honors, followed by Shannon Poulter and John Poretti. Street 275 saw a huge increase in car count with 21 cars entered in Saturdays qualifying sessions. Within that, Jay White nailed some great passes with his nitrous powered Nova with a best effort of 5.503 to nail the top spot. He was followed by Steph Mallais and Gord Hartleb.

Other Pro Category number 1 qualifiers were Dave Bogusat (4.50), Mike Gentile (5.0 Warriors) and Saverio Caruso (5.50).

Mike Gentile qualified his “Split Tail” Corvette #1 for (5.0 Warriors) racing.

Saturday’s Sportsman winners included Ryan Fogan (7.77 Bikes), Mike Dawe (High8s Bikes), Jim Mangov (6.0), Chris Scarlata (6.50), Tony Sloot (7.0), Jason Jean (7.50) and Jack Snell (Jr Dragster).

The CHU racing series will be right back at it – with race #2 — at TMP (July 19-20).

“We look forward to seeing everyone back out for that — the points chases will start to heat up,” said series director Ian Hill.

Photos by Steve Lowry