Top Tier Qualifiers — Two Canadian Pro drivers placed very high after qualifying was completed for the NHRA Virginia Nationals last weekend.
In Pro Mod – Rutland BC native Jordan Lazic continued his impressive strides within the fierce NHRA category – running his Bahrain 1 Racing/JBS Equipment Camaro to a 5.754 secs which was second only to Jason Scruggs (5.734 secs) on the final qualifying ledger. Jordan then won his first round over Dimitry Samoukov but lost a round #2 encounter to Kevin Rivenbark.
In Pro Stock – Whitby Ontario’s Eric Latino also impressed again — hitting a career best (so far) #2 qualified position for Pro Stock. Eric’s 6.590 secs was bested only by Erica Enders’ 6.586 secs. On Sunday, during extremely hot track and atmospheric conditions, Latino wheeled his GESi Camaro to a round one win-light but then lost in round two to Bo Butner (6.710 secs to 6.716 secs).

Wicke A Winner! — A very solid victory for a second generation driver and the Stratford ON-based K&K Racing team!  During the Quick 32 Sportsman Series event hosted during Leicester, New York Empire Dragway’s (NEOPM Pro Mod Challenge VI event) — it was Kayden Wicke.   After winning the TS class driving the team’s highly reliable 2006 Dodge Stratus – presented by Bears Performance – he went on to take out Craig Chadderdon’s “Big Blue” TD in the Top Dragster vs. Top Sportsman Quick 32 Sportsman Series final. Wicke ran 4.386 seconds on a 4.38 dial-in at 158.90 mph, to Chadderdon’s 4.36-second run on a 4.36 dial-in at 164.41 mph. The next event for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series will be the weekend of August 16 – 17, when they will again join the NEOPMA / PMRA Pro Modifieds for the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII back at the western New York State facility.

Solid Seconds — Two Eastern Canadian drag racers had strong event outings during the NHRA’s New England Nationals at Epping NH early in June. Quebec’s Daniel Mercier did earn some additional respect and recognition for a R/UP placing within the event’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge race which was held during the Saturday schedule. Daniel, after beating Shawn Langdon in round one (3.857 secs to 3.896 secs) did give Steve Torrence a great race in the final but came up just short (3.866 secs to 3.897 secs). It was Daniel’s first career experience within that specialty race event.  Ontario-native Jason Kenny (below) was the top finishing Canadian racer within the New England Nationals Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series program. Jason won five rounds and went to the final for S/G (9.90) class racing with his uber reliable 2003 Corvette. But Kenny, who now bases his racing operation out of Pennsylvania lost the trophy dash to a quicker leaving opponent — Hank Smith – by a 9.926 set to 9.914 secs count.

Scott “Wild-Ride!” — Canadian Pro Mod driver Scott Wildgust did have what was arguably his most challenging run of his career during last weekend’s Pro Mod class portion for the NHRA Virginia Nationals. During the first class qualifier along side eventual winner Rickie Smith, Scott experienced some serious tire shake which knocked the car out of the groove. The Smokies Garage Camaro then crossed perilously close to Smith hitting the right hand wall before bouncing off the wall and coming to a stop. Thankfully a collision with Smith was avoided and most importantly Scott emerged from the hard hit AOK with all safety aspects of his machine doing what was required. Damage to the car was limited according to Scott who reported, “Actually if we would have had a spare front end we would have raced Saturday — the car faired very well.” Despite the mishap the team remains focused on its next event which will be with their 1/8th mile configuration late model Camaro during the NMCA event at Michigan’s US 131 Motorsports Park – mid July. Their 1/4 mile NHRA Camaro will be repaired easily in time for it’s next race – the 70th Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indy.