Another snapshot of some more recent Canadian drag racing newsmakers – presented by KHR…..

Popular Placing! — Easily one of the highlight winners from Mission Raceway’s late season “Race of Champions” event (Sep 26th) was a victory by Randall Hermsen’s unique and lumbering 1958 Oldsmobile 88 ET car! For Randall, a long time Mission Raceway runner (who lives only 5 minutes away from the track) – the Hot Rod class ROC title was his first in the car. The Olds which (despite a number of weight saving steps including a fibreglass front bumper) still does tip the scales at almost two tons (3890 lbs). It has gone as quick as 13.20 secs @ 104 mph – since it first hit the track some 25 years ago! While the Hot Rod win was Randall’s first ROC title — his car’s trophy collection is actually pretty massive — including a points championship back in 2014 at Mission with the timeless machine.
Another racer from Mission BC (but at a slightly faster pace – LOL) made news during the NHRA’s recent Texas Fall Nationals at Dallas (Oct 8-10th). Justin Bond advanced to the final round in that event’s E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series portion driving the Bahrain 1 Racing 2021 Chevy Camaro. Justin after qualifying 7th (5.812 secs) beat Doug Winters, Jose Gonzalez and Chad Green to make the championship round versus Lyle Barrett. But Bond’s final round RT proved to be costly this time because despite a much quicker 5.829 secs ET he could not run down Barrett’s title winning 5.894 secs at 251.20 mph.
Aced ACSSA Title! — Atlantic Canada’s 10-race season chase for Stock/Super Stock class glory ended with a championship for Jeremy Keans (from Bridgewater NS). Jeremy was assured the title after last weekend’s scheduled series finale — racing at Greenfield Dragway– was rained out. Jeremy won the title (his third) mathematically rather handily over 2X and defending circuit champion Mike Ingram’s Chevelle stocker. Jeremy races a 305 CID 1983 Camaro in H/SA trim which qualified #1 at pretty much every event he entered in 2021. He had previously claimed the ACSSA points title in both 2017 and 2018.
Warding off CompetitionAustin Ward come out on top for 2021 season points for Ontario’s Can-Am Stock/SS Series. For Austin, who was racing a truly historic Oldsmobile Cutlass GT/JA, the title was his first in the series — his 27 points total edged out 3X circuit champ Chris Lozon (22 points) and third place finisher Al Allison (21 points). Ward who is based from St. Thomas, was driving a former FJ Smith built and owned car — this 1987 model was in fact the very first front wheel converted car built for and accepted by NHRA for legal Super Stock class racing. The Can-Am Stock/SS Series planned 10 events in 2021 – completing 6 and losing 4 to the elements.
New to Family Fold — The very popular husband and wife team of Larry & Tamara Kerrigan (Oshawa ON) have a new addition to their multi-car drag racing operation. During the tale end of season racing for Cayuga Dragway they did make some initial runs with their very pretty and newly finished (year 2000) model Corvette. This Corvette — acquired from Frank Van De Peer (London) and then finished by Dave Stevenson (Port Perry) — made it’s first runs ever just around Labour Day. Powered by a 565 CID BB Merlin (naturally aspired) rated at just over 900 HP and with Larry at the wheel, the car did go 8.5 secs at 160 mph. Future plans are for Tamara to drive it and targeted for mostly Heads Up class racing competition. (*DragRaceCanada will feature something more in-depth about this multi-faceted and dedicated race team – coming later this off season).

Posted by Bruce Biegler

Photos by Bruce Biegler – Gerard Bryden – Courtesy of NHRA