A consolation season surge adds more momentum for a rising Canadian Lucas Oil TAD class team…

The 2021 racing season has for many teams become somewhat of a “wash” given the continued and frustrating boundary restrictions between the USA and Canada.  The harsh reality remains — making a successful border crossing bid for Canadian teams being deemed “essential” – is an iffy prospect at best.

Originally — and in more normal times — Brantford Ontario’s Chatterson Racing would have had been likely on the entry lists for a number of NHRA Lucas Oil regional and national events this past season.   But with the extra logistics involved –  just like a number of other Canadian teams in a similar position — that was not the case — and a season “plan B” had to be crafted.

Driver Jeff Chatterson (owner of Chatterson Tool & Machine and Chatterson Fabrication) while admitting there was some frustration, did choose to make the best of the situation and stay close to home and hone their racing product.   That end result proved to be both performance progressive and positive.

Canada’s Chatterson Racing were forced to “bide their time” for 2021 – but were also rewarded with some swift progress.

This now 100% Canadian independent team instead focused on the local availability of the premium track surface at Grand Bend Motorplex — to test and run their injected nitro dragster — and further educate themselves.

“2021 wasn’t what we originally planned – but we made the best of the circumstance,” Jeff stated.  ‘We had the opportunity to come to Grand Bend Motorplex and make multiple runs — a couple of times — and we did really well.”

Fans will recall that during the IHRA Canadian Nationals event at GBM in early August – Chatterson Racing first became the latest member of the very speedy 280 mph club for the category (a 280.37 mph lap) – not an easy feat by any measure.   More recently (during the Labour Day weekend) Jeff went even faster — hitting a quick 5.276 secs at an even higher MPH 280.89.

“When we went our first 280 – it was WOW,” Jeff continued.  “But to then repeat it again and prove to ourselves it was no fluke was rewarding.  We are now running this car completely on our own.  There has been a lot of changes to the team since we first started out doing this (into A/FD racing) and that did take some time.  The reality is we’re really pretty new to this.”

Jeff and his team are however now much better poised and will thus enter the upcoming off-season with a lot of confidence.

“We can’t wait for when the border opens up and we can get down to the USA and mix it up.,” he winked.  “We had to look at the bright side given the situation — and in retrospect now – that wasn’t a bad thing for us.  We feel very confident that we now have the car where we want and need it to be.  March 2022 cannot come fast enough!” 

Chatterson Racing did cite the valued new product assistance they did receive from industry leader NGK Spark Plugs this season – which proved to be a crucial factor within their team’s performance advancement.

Post and photos by Bruce Biegler