Fantastic Fifteenth! « DragRaceCanada.com

Fantastic Fifteenth!

by editor on Jul.02, 2025, under ACE MFG Northern Exposure

Pretty much — picture perfect — for fabled Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park…

The 15th running of the MATCO TOOLS Canadian Nitro Nationals was the best one yet!

The weather was primo and the pits were filled with attractions including Top Fuel Dragsters, Nitro Funny Cars, Alky Funny Cars, Jet Dragsters, Jet Truck and even a wheel standing Fire Truck. A contingent of local Canadian Pro Mod cars plus a gaggle of True North Gassers – added to the equation.

Saturday Night Live! — Saturday’s main attractions included again the first family for Canadian Top Fuel — Paton Racing. Their PDS/Fast Eddie Speedwear Top Fuel dragster was matched versus the always entertaining Ant Hill Mob. In the first for two rounds of racing, it was Todd Paton wheeling the now Brantford-Ontario based digger to a close victory over AHM-driver Aidan Heatley Smith in a 1000′ mile dash.

The Paton Racing’s 60th season anniversary tour (for 2025) included another popular appearance at Cayuga Dragway – Toronto Motorsports Park.

Saturday evening also included an appearance by Kyle Satenstein in the Michigan-based Leverage Racing Family car. Kyle was continuing his licensing runs — with a half track hit that showed promise.

Next up was the ex-Pony Up Funny Car nitro burner now rebranded as a Camaro and named “American Thunder” taking on the Canada’s Noakes Family – new “Wheeler Dealer” Nova. Drver Eric Stevens laid down a nice 5.45 @ 274 to Paul Noakes’ game 6.53 @ 209.

Paul & Brian Noakes ran their recently acquired/super cool Chevy Nova Nostalgia FC!

In round one highlights for Nostalgia Funny Car – the “Iron Outlaw”, now covered by a beautiful Corvette body and paid dividends for driver Jami Russell. He put up a personal best of 6.39 @ 213 to turn back the Camaro flopper of Craig Helger. Local favorite Robin Stambaugh’s “Generation X” Vega funny car had problems allowing the Cape Codder Arrow of Jon Wall to scoot to a 6.33 @ 219 result.

Matco Tools brought in the Fogan brothers out of Caledonia ON with their Suzuki Hyabusas for some exhibition passes running mid sevens at 178+ mph.

Rick Ream and his outrageous wheelstanding Stude then entertained the overflow crowd while the Jet Truck waited in the wings. The BONESHAKER Jet Truck piloted by Hollywood Rick Kopp (Burlington ON) put on a fantastic display of smoke and fire running — 9.41 @ 198.

The True North Gassers then took over the staging lanes kicking off with their popular old style brand racing. Kim Brush took the win in his 55 Chevy and Arron and John Reid’s JAR Racing 33 Willys was the class of the AA/Gas field. In the final JAR sailed to a 4.82 @146 over Fred Missall’s wicked Hemi powered 49 Plymouth.

A wide selection of True North Gassers were once again a very popular fan attraction during the Canadian Nitro Nationals weekend.

Act II! — Saturday’s (second show) began with the small block stick cars of the Stevens bros, plus Jay Misener and Gary Quill. Three Mustangs and a T-Bird produced high revving, wheelstanding and gear jamming runs. The Mopar CJR HellCats and Track Hawks put on a smoke show for the ages.

The Nostalgia Funny Cars re-appeared, and with Matt Stambaugh at the wheel of the Gen X Vega this time. Matt took on the “Iron Outlaw” Corvette and once again it was Corvette to the front while the Vega kissed the wall at the top end. Thankfully — no injuries and little damage. The “Cape Codder” bested the “Dazed and Confused” Camaro of Craig Helger with a stellar run if 6.28 @ 222.

The Nitro Funny Car of Eric Stevens and Paul Noakes alcohol burning Nova were next. The Noakes recently acquired machine was no match for the ex-Robert Hight Camaro. Despite shaking the tires half track it was Stevens recording a winning 5.85 @ 180 to Paul’s 6.51 @ 211.

Eric Stevens’ “American Thunder” Nitro FC

Kyle Satenstein came back out for his licensing – and shook up the crowd with a very impressive full pull — resulting in a 1000 ft elapsed time of 3.93 secs!

Aidan Heatley Smith (in revenge mode) jumped back into the Ant Hill Mob car ready to battle Todd and Tony Paton and the PDS/Fast Eddie’s Speedwear Top Fuel dragster. By now the sun was going down and the header flames were headed up. In one of the most memorable races in Nitro Nationals history Paton went 4.11 with the candles lit while the determined “Mob” car kept it close by making it to 1000′ feet too — before blowing both head gaskets resulting in an awesome display of fire.

To close the evening — the Jet Dragsters of Neale Armstrong and Rob Horner ignited the crowd with heat fire and smoke. The Sonic Assassin, wheeled by Horner and the Northern Warrior with TMP Track Manager Neale Armstrong at the tiller, warmed an already hot evening with an incredible smoke and fire show . While his competition rolled the beams, Neale pulled the chute to meet his mother at the top end where she handed him a swift 5.92 @ 269 et slip.

The Ontario-based Jet Dragsters of Neale Armstrong and Rob Horner faced off.

“Hollywood” Rick Kopp lit the afterburner on the BONE SHAKER Jet Semi Truck and wowed the crowd running 10.22 @ 199 mph.

Sunday Summary

In Race Cayuga Sportsman Series bracket action, it was two talented young lady drivers Yvonne Potter & Brooklyn Noakes – who squared off for the Super Pro title. Yvonne (who is daughter to TMP track announcer and CDRHF member Rob Potter) made Papa very proud with her first ever win.

RCSS Super Pro class racing featured the first career win for Yvonne Potter (daughter to TMP track announcer Rob Potter).

In MOD Jim Tofano won and Danny Beleny scored runner up in his Mustang. Street saw veteran racer DJ Raiser beat out the neon yellow Mustang of Ian McCrory. Big Dan Earl won Bike/Sled over Kevin Curvin. A full class of Jr Dragsters produced a first time winner in Aubry Boyer – with Paton Kiss placing runner-up.

Within a new series bracket – Outlaw Fast 16 — highlights included Mike Kalin (Niagara Falls NY) snagging the number one Q spot with a 3.91 @ 186 with his pro-charger rail. But it was Shawna Woudstra (from Waterdown ON) sporting new sponsorship from FORTINOS, who took an emotional 4.27 @ 164 victory with her nitrous assisted dragster over the red-lighting 55 Chevy of Dean Charleson.

Both Mike Kalin (far lane) and Shawna Woudstra stood out in Outlaw Fast 16 racing.

Outlaw 10.5 cars were featured this weekend and that saw Mauro Caringi’s “Hugger Orange” Camaro qualify number one only to meet Tony Presto in the final. The blown Nova of Presto took the instant win when the turbo Camaro red lit. Tony’s ET slip read 4.21 @ 184 to Caringi’s 4.26 @ 182.

Oakville’s Tony Presto shined in the event’s Outlaw 10.5 class feature with a win.

Pro Mods took to centre stage too at the race with Halton Hills’s Jay Santos setting the Canadian 1/8th mile ET record standard at 3.619 secs @ 206.88 mph! Santo’s continued his dominance at his home track Cayuga Dragway by again claiming the Nitro Nationals event Pro Mod title — defeating “Big Sal” Cammisuli in a close final round.