IHRA Inspired! — Brantford Ontario’s Chatterson Racing got a deserving bounce back during the IHRA’s Outlaw Nitro Series event held in Ohio (Sep 6-7). Driver Jeff Chatterson collected his first “new era Ironman” by winning the Top Alcohol class with his potent injected nitro car.   After qualifying #4 (5.542 secs 255.39 mph) – Jeff disposed of opponents Eric Hinderberger and Jared Dreher to secure the title.  Jeff’s best ET and MPH at the race was 5.416 secs at 263.00 mph – which flashed on the scoreboard in round one.  Jeff Chatterson did have one previous IHRA national event win to his credit — in 1996 at the Empire Nationals in Modified eliminator.

Top Of Charts! — NHRA’s Reading Nationals – at Maple Grove PA last weekend — did produce a couple of monumental first time Canadian winners within NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.  Ottawa Ontario’s Mike Reynolds (above) raced his little Chevy Vega to a hard found win in S/G (9.90) defeating fellow Canadian Charlie Kenopic in the (all Canada) final round!  Reynolds who has become a very formidable runner within Eastern Canada’s Super Tour and the John Scotti Canadian National Open Series, edged Kenopic by a super close 9.931 secs to 9.936 secs margin.   Super Stock eliminator racing produced a most deserving first for Louis Gill (photos below) – talented driver for the Quebec City-based LaFontaine-Gill-Perigny Chevy Cavalier GT/FA classed car.  Gill who had come close many times before at this level of racing, ran a 9.536 secs 135.73 mph to hold off Anthony Bongiovanni’s FSS/C Mustang in the final round.  Gill’s 6-round Super Stock tournament win came after qualifying #16 at .855 under.

Another Peg in the Process — Canada’s Spencer Hyde added another impressive notch to his hyper-speed developing Fuel Funny Car racing career at NHRA Reading.  Spencer achieved his first #1 qualifying effort after running a 3.868 secs – to pace the impressive field.  Spencer won his first round at the event but was then forced to lift when the powerful Jim Head Racing Mustang began tire spin versus (their former team driver) Blake Alexander in round #2.  Spencer did top the 330 mph mark again during the event — running 330.07 mph.  For Spencer’s thoughts on the Maple Grove race – click: HERE

Todd On Tap! — The IHRA Outlaw Nitro Nationals event at Darana Raceway in Ohio did include the return of one of it’s star power Canadian driver names — with Todd Paton on the TF entry list.   Paton, who had won IHRA World Championship titles X2 in the past (1993 & 1995 – Alcohol Funny Cars) – ran the Paton Racing/PDS dragster to a  3.917 secs to qualify #6 (13 cars entered).  He followed that up with a very rewarding career quick time of 3.840 secs at 322.81 mph in round one – but that great effort fell just short of Shawn Reed’s 3.832 secs 334.91 mph in the other lane.  Shawn Reed then went on to win this IHRA race.  Todd’s previous career quick time had been 3.871 secs – set earlier in 2025.

Can-Am Concluder — Eastern Canada’s very popular Can-Am Stock/Super Stock series has now ended it’s 2025 season campaign.  For that very close season points race, the top of the final points chart went to veteran Chuck Nagy who mathematically claimed his second career series title during the Labour Day Weekend features held @ Toronto Motorsports.  Nagy’s GT/GA Chevy Cavalier (from Niagara Falls) accumulated a season points total of 28 to just edge out a number of close competitors, including Peter MacRitchie/Bryan Gilmore (27), Willie Box (26) and Rob Becker (25).  The 2025 season was the 30th anniversary season for the long-running Canadian drag racing collaboration.

Clark Family Fun-ster! — Icon Aus/Can drag racer Wally Clark did forward us this image of his 18 month old grandson – Liam — attending his first US Nationals event last Labour Day weekend.  Of special note and rather remarkably. — according to “WC” : “He is the only person in the world that can say he wore same t shirt at Indy this year that his Mom (Jessica) wore at the  same age. — Indy 1983!  He is already a car nut.”