That Canadian propensity for racing the fastest injected nitro cars on earth is being wound up even further….

During the recent Mopar Canadian Nationals event held at Grand Bend Motorplex, the paying public got it’s first ever look at an all new A/FD assembled by Stoney Creek Ontario’s Jeff Veale Racing team.

Spearheading by team patriarch Gary Veale, this new dragster hit the racetrack for the very first time during that race weekend while participating in match race versus Quebec’s Daniel Mercier.   While the car’s initial performance did include some obligatory new car blues – the future potential for this new entry does speak volumes.

Gary and Jeff confirm they did acquire this new chassis, which was built for Top Fuel, from New York’s Bobby Lagana Jr.   They then took their very proven engine program and drivetrain (which saw them exceed the 280 mph mark within the frame rails of their previous car) and installed that.  

With his new race car Jeff Veale hopes to further enhance his reputation for often being — the fastest TAD car in attendance.  

“This was a roller 2009 Top Fuel car adapted now for A fuel,” Gary Veale affirmed.  “Jeff had outgrown the previous car a bit so this one has a bigger cockpit. We were also at a point with our old car that we needed to give it both a new front and back half – so it just made sense to get a whole new car – and this one was the right price.  All in all the transition was a fairly easy one but we did have to do a bit of surgery on it to fit our wing.”

The Veale’s have transplanted their already proven 280+ mph engine program into their new dragster.

Gary and Jeff are optimistic about their chances once the new race car gets completely sorted.   Technically speaking the new chassis will offer the team something they have been seeking – more earlier wheel speed – which is a key aspect for this type of race car to be successful within the NHRA’s Lucas Oil drag racing series TAD circuit.

“Overall we think we can gain some advantage,” Gary added.  “In this class things keep advancing so you do need make changes to keep pace and improve.  We think that where things are now located (i.e.: driver position and drive train angle) can translate to some earlier wheel speed – which is our primary goal.   If we can achieve that – we will have a quicker car.”

The Jeff Veale Racing team, which already has a strong reputation by setting top speed of the meet on numerous occasions within NHRA national and regional event competition, is one of four extremely fast and category leading injected nitro cars campaigned out of Canada.  They are joined by Alberta’s Don St. Arnaud, Manitoba’s Clif Bakx and Quebec’s Daniel Mercier – all of whom are top echelon (280 mph +) performance players within the class.   

The Veale’s have a major short term objective for the race car – for it to be competitive during the upcoming season granddaddy event – the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals at Indy – starting later this month.

The race team receives valued associate backing from Team Kendall Racing, Caledonia Tire & Automotive Centre and Extreme Motorsports Design.

Gary and Jeff Veale debuted their new dragster for the first time during the recent Mopar Canadian Nationals at GBM

Post by Bruce Biegler

Photos by Bruce Biegler & Brennan Shortall