Some more remarkable showings by Pacific Northwest Canadian based racers at Seattle Nationals…

Shawn Cowie emerged victorious during the NHRA Lucas Oil TAD program at Seattle. In what was a very telling moment final round – Shawn took the measure of his fiercest class rival and 2X defending NHRA World Champion Joey Severance – winning a 5.230 secs to 5.278 secs decision (photo below). For Shawn it was career NHRA national event win #13 (and counting) in the Surrey BC based Mundies Towing-sponsored dragster. And make no mistake — this win has generated whispers for a NHRA world championship yet again.

The S/ST 10.90 index class produced a deserving first time NHRA national event win for young Canadian based racer Frankie Giroux (from Slave Lake AB). The talented and versatile driving daughter of team patriarch Eddy Plaizer mowed down that eliminator racing a ’84 Camaro which the team acquired earlier this year. Francesca prevailed in a double break out final round over Steve Beggarly – 10.891 secs to 10.874 secs.

Frankie Plaizier was almost joined by her brother Casey Plaizier in victory lane at Seattle. Racing the Plaizier Racing ’63 Corvette – Casey rolled all the way to round #5 in Super Gas competition before losing out in this semi-final round to Robert Nabor.

Darrell Stobbe, driving his meticulously maintained ’64 Malibu SS/JA from Abbotsford BC was the top finishing Canadian in Super Stock racing. Stobbe went to all the way to the 4th round in competition before a break out loss.

And while on the subject of Abbotsford – kudos to Dan Provost’s excellent weekend of racing at Seattle. The man behind industry leading manufacturer RAD did some double duty driving – racing in both TD and TS classes. Dan went to the “final four” in TD after having a strong 3rd round placing in TS with his Chevy Camaro.

Calgary’s Mike Scott (far lane) came pretty close to nailing down a second career NHRA national event title when he went to the final round in Nitro Harley racing. Mike lost out to one of his racing teammates Tii Tharpe in the final. But prior to that had run extremely well over the weekend – most notably that included exciting wins over class powerhouses Doug Vancil and Jay Turner!

The event also included a great effort by Wembley Alberta’s James Rutherford. James went all the way to the championship round in TS with his super cool Ford Probe. In the final James came ever so close — but broke out barely running 7.559 secs (7.56 dial in!) versus his opponent Bryan LaFlam. Rutherford had qualified #18 of 22 cars entered.

Mike Shannon – one of Canada’s most prolific Lucas Oil Series racers did like he usually does at Seattle — drive himself deep into the program. Mike rolled his Super Comp dragster (based from Kelowna BC) to round 4 in that category – before losing out to eventual winner Greg Krause.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Gerry Frechette