Canada Prominence — Canada’s KHR team made their presence felt at a couple of races within the USA – recently. The team’s PDRA Elite Top Dragster car was driven to an impressive victory by defending 2024 series champion Kyle Harris during the PDRA’s North/South Shootout event held at Maryland International Raceway (June 14th). After qualifying #4 – Kyle crafted some great consistency around a low 3.8 secs dial in to defeat that 16-car field. In the final he outran opponent Jody Stroud to take the event title and also assume the Elite Top Dragster class overall season points lead.
One week later, KHR put their young gun driver Ryan Harris in the car for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series race held at Empire Dragway in Western NY. (below photo) Although Ryan did not win that event — (his first ever race in T/D competition) the rising talent from Junior Dragster ranks raised eyebrows and gained more experience by qualifying #1 for that race at 3.771 secs – 191.16 mph.

Fuel Tech Napierville — Napierville Dragway’s Fuel Tech Pro Mod Series opened for season business (June 21-22) when that track hosted it’s first of four scheduled races for 2025. That event did produce a win for Cedric Beaulieu, racing his ever advancing twin turbocharged Camaro based from Lac Etchemin PQ – which he first acquired in 2022. Cedric wheeled the car to #1 in qualifying 3.81 secs 203.64 mph and was also the fastest car on race day — winning the final over defending series champion Claude St. Maurice with a low ET/Top speed shot of 3.79 secs 208.50 mph.   St. Maurice shut off on the starting line. The victory was Beaulieu’s 5th career win for the series.  The competitor list for the PM program at Napierville this time was rather short – with only 5 cars entered.

First In Class! — Quebec’s Daniel Mercier did enter last weekend’s NHRA Virginia Nationals where he did deliver his first career “holeshot” win light within NHRA Top Fuel competition. After qualifying for the field 11th, he faced off against Shawn Reed in round one on Sunday where he combined a quicker RT (.064) with his best run of the event at 3.951 secs 304.12 mph — to hold back Reed’s quicker and faster 3.934 secs 319.52 mph. Mercier did however fall in round #2 when the tricky and very hot track conditions resulted in a tire smoke/shut off versus Shawn Langdon.
Daniel’s next Top Fuel event will be this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Ohio – before he then takes a period of time off as Daniel is set to become a married man soon. He will exchange vows with his long time girlfriend (and mother of his 5-year old daughter Mia) — Andree-Anne Picard — in Montreal and on July 12th. (Congrats to all from DragRaceCanada!)

Pronounced Popularity  – Top Fuel racing at NHRA’s Virginia Nationals did include the most recent venture into the NHRA national event fray by Canada’s always colourful driver Smax Smith. The Ayr Ontario-based driver was behind the wheel of the Leverich Racing TF dragster from Michigan. Smax qualified the car in the #13 slot before having a foul start versus Clay Millican in round one.
Smax’s next race date is imminent however – and much more closer to home — as he is scheduled to match race his own “Ant Hill Mob” Top Fuel Dragster versus Paton Racing – this weekend at Toronto Motorsports Park’s fabled annual “Canadian Nitro Nationals”!