Track Record Tumble — New Canadian Pro Mod class marks were reset during drag racing action this month with the ET standards at both Grand Bend Motorplex and Saskatchewan International Raceway taking hits.
At Grand Bend during the WDRA Canadian Nationals, Halton Hill Ontario’s Jay Santos (above) continued with his propensity for scorching Canadian race tracks by  knocking the Grand Bend Motorplex track record to 3.622 @ 209.80 MPH. Santos, who did appear primed to win again there — did have his event winning objective end in round one when he took out the 1/8th mile cone = DQ.   Santos currently holds the all time quickest 1/8th Pro Mod run in Canada – set at 5.619 secs early this summer @ rival Toronto Motorsports Park.
At Saskatoon’s marvellous “Southwinds Showdown” event edition it was hometown driver Mike Gondziola (photo below), coming back on the scene after a bit of time off, in a big way. Mike took full advantage of that track’s premier new surface prep with his awesome nitrous-injected C7. During exhibition runs, Mike managed to steal the show’s headlines by resetting the SIR 1/8th mile mark to a 3.84 secs and also the 1/4 mile record to 5.87 secs 233.00 mph.

Series Apex — The menu for the upcoming Labour Day Weekend racing feature held at Cayuga Dragway @ Toronto Motorsports will include the final season round for the popular Can-Am Stock/Super Stock series – races #12 & 13. This local staple circuit has enjoyed a very successful and highly competitive season and will enter the final weekend still with a number of potential championship candidates. Currently the overall leader by a single point is the Mississauga-based race team of Peter McRitchie and Bryan Gilmore and their consistent Chevy Malibu Stocker (above). That team will try to hold off close points competitors, Willie Box, Chuck Nagy and Glenn Baker who are just a half steps behind. Most certainly this dramatic championship chase is one to watch for fans attending!

A Formidable Four — Canada’s entry list at last weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd MN., did include another very strong presence within the TAD class category – with four cars – all from Western Canada on the qualifying list. Greg Hunter, who was originally from Medicine Hat AB., drove Doug Doucette’s Winnipeg-based injected nitro car to the quickest time (for Canada cars) while qualifying #6 at 5.226 secs and 270.50 mph. Defending NHRA Lucas Oil world champ Shawn Cowie (Langley BC) was #8 at 5.255 secs followed by Mike Quayle (Red Deer AB) 5.267 secs and Todd Bruce (in Clif Bakx’s The Bull – from Manitoba) at 5.349 secs = #14 (below photos).  At this particular event out however – it was only Cowie and Hunter that advanced past round one.

Hall of Fame Addition! — Another big name has been added to the already formidable RWR (Rick Ward Racing) motorsports drag racing team venture – based from North Carolina. Just earlier this summer, highly respected and amazing tuner Rob Flynn (from Edmonton AB) was appointed that team’s new crew chief for their Top Fuel Dragster — driven by Tony Schumacher. After a bit of time off, Schumacher will return to the NHRA class conflict during this weekend’s marquee Cornwall U.S. Nationals at Indy, where Rob will now oversee that high profile operation. Rob Flynn’s deep rooted race team resume needs no re-introduction — he is a member of both the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame and also the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Off to The Big Go! — Just one of many cool stories about to unfold this coming weekend for NHRA Indy will be a first ever driving presence for Alberta’s Nathan Sitko — at the world’s biggest drag racing event! Nathan will be part of the weekend’s Legends Nitro Series points race/exhibition – for Nitro Nostalgia Funny Cars – within the event’s jam-packed schedule. Nathan, who is currently sitting #2 in points (for the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series chase), driving the highly formidable Hodgson Racing/Pacemaker/Bubble Up Funny Car — is coming into his Indy experience with good momentum. Although he did not win at last weekend’s event held in Woodburn OR., he did make the semi final round at that race after qualifying #1 at 5.659 secs – over 11 other competitors.