Positive momentum and memorable moments highlight 2025 Canada Heads Up racing campaign…
In what could arguably be called the toughest season to date, the 2026 Canada Heads Up – Shootout Series (presented by Speedwire Systems, Nash Competition Engines, Headrush Tattoo and Apparel & Miska Trailers) and hosted exclusively at Toronto Motorsport Park, saw for the most part, the most exciting finishes in the points chase for many classes.
That included but was not limited too personal best performance numbers which were posted up on the score boards time and time again!
2026 featured numerous new race winners, repeat race winners and the Year End Champions – all in dramatic and exciting fashion.
Ralph Aulicino repeated his championship efforts from 2024 and became the 2x (in a row) Super Street champion for 2025 after an extremely close season battling eventual Championship runner up/ young gun Dylan Stevens! Once the points were tallied, Aulicino sat on a 3 round lead over Stevens for the win!
For the 2nd year in a row it was Ralph Aulicino (from Toronto) prevailing to win the coveted Canada Heads Up Super Street season championship.
EZ Street champion was, for the first time, won by a Centrifugal Super Changer combination. Nick Kokkas took his Fox body mustang to the top spot, leading Anthony Daversa by one round!
Nick Kokkas took this Fox body Mustang to the EZ Street class season championship.
Street275 had 3 different race winners in 2025 and Class Champion Joe Muro made it to the top spot without taking home a big cheque all season! By less than one round over Steph Mallais — Joe lead the field to the end, making him a 2x class champion in the CHU series!
Dave Bogusat kept the ball rolling through out the season to end up a round and half ahead of Joe Helps in the series’ quickest index class 4.50 Index! 5.0 Warriors was won by Kevin McGrath who stayed just less than a round ahead of Mike Gentile. Tamara Gray lead the pack at the end of the season by almost 3 rounds over Savero Caruso in the 5.50 Index class.
Canada’s quickest and fastest Pro Bike hitter Jesse Vanbetlehem did wavier only slightly mid season, however by the end of the series he was back on top, leading Regan Pallet for the championship!
Jesse Vanbetlehem (VanPal Racing – Oakville ON) was all business again in the CHU Pro Bike class — winning the season title and running the quickest ET in Canadian history at @ 6.718 secs!
Stock Wheel Base Bikes rounded out the pro categories and Mickey Dinoo once again dominated the class by ET! Todd Sills had an amazing season, but came up just less than 2 rounds short, following Dinnoo to the podium!
Sportsman class champions include: 7.77 Bikes – Vasylyy Lukivskyy, High8s Bikes – Mike Dawe (2x in a row), 6.0 Index – Shawn Woodland; 6.50 – Chris Scarlatta; 7.0 – Tony Sloot; 7.50 – Jason Jean — Jr Dragsters – Jack Snell!
Tony Sloot collected in the 7.50 class with this vintage Ford pickup.
The CHU season champion for Junior Dragster racing was Jack Snell – from nearby Caledonia ON.
Racers ran roughshod in the records department all year — which dropped in almost all classes in 2025.
At the end of the season the new class record holders leading into the 2026 season include: EZ Street MPH – Ian Hill @ 168.72, Street275 – Phil Scarlatta @ 5.002 secs, 4.50 Index – Dave Bogusat @ 4.508 et, Pro Bike – Jesse Vanbetlehem @ 6.718 et and Brant Rossi @ 217.06mph, SWB – Mickey Dinnoo @ 8.069 et, High 8s – Darrin Johnston 8.901 and Cameron McKinnon @ 162.89; 7.0 Index – Alex Cournoyea @ 105.50; 7.50 – Michael De Marco @ 98.10 mph
CHU Founder/Racer Ian Hill ran a phenomenal fast 168.72 mph with his EZ Street Camaro – just one of numerous season performance highlights in 2025.
The season ending banquet is slated for January 24, 2026 where the top 3 in all categories will be celebrated as well as there being some specialty awards handed out on top of many door prizes!
Posted by Ian Hill and Blake Farnam
