Noisey @ Boise! — A remarkable weekend out at Idaho’s Firebird Raceway for the Alberta-based Hodgson Racing/Pacemaker team who fired off some serious “shots across the bow” for NHRA’s nitro Nostalgia Funny Car class contingent.  With driver Nathan Sitko now at the controls — the team dominated with a record setting victory during that track’s tradition rich annual Napa Auto Parts Ignitor Nitro Open event.  Link to details posted to our co-production all nitro FC site :  HERE

Top Fuel Bar Risen — Quebec’s Daniel Mercier enjoyed his finest NHRA Top Fuel outing so far in his career with a very impressive “final four” finish during NHRA’s recent Route 66 Nationals in Chicago.  Daniel qualified a career high #9 (3.779 secs) for the highly competitive event (22 TF cars entered!)  and then outran both Tony Schumacher and Tony Zizzo to advance to the semi finals on Sunday.   But Daniel’s first ever Chicagoland event (TF appearance) ended in that round when he was defeated by Shawn Langdon.

Swift Stuff! — Racing at NHRA Chicago also included a career quick and fast run by rising Canadian Pro Mod class talent Jordan Lazic (from Rutland BC). Driving the supercharged Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro – Jordan clocked a 5.687 secs at 253.04 mph while winning in round #1 – which was low ET and top speed for the class.  Unfortunately his event bid did end in the next frame of racing versus Kris Throne when tire shake set in.

Stoking the Future! — Burford Ontario’s KHR race team were very noteworthy during the PDRA’s Smokies Garage presented American Doorslammer Challenge  event held at Ohio’s Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.  Team founder Kyle Harris roared to a R/UP placing within the event’s Elite Top Dragster class.  Kyle, after qualifying 5th (3.757 secs)  earned three event win lights before being edged out in the final by Missouri’s KC Ingram, who won with a superior RT.  Kyle’s son Ryan Harris (above photos) was also very active at Norwalk — not only racing his 7.90 index Pro Junior dragster but also making some test/licensing runs in the teams’s primary Horton-chassied dragster — providing a snap shot of some things to come for the team.

Bikes Breakout! — Canada had no less then two motorcycle racers entered within the PDRA’s event at Norwalk with both Gerry Hunt (Amherstburg ON) and Jean Gosselin (St. Angclet PQ) entered for the first time for the PDRA Pro Extreme Motorcycle class.   Hunt and Gosselin both qualified — 4.927 secs and 4.252 secs respecitvely – but neither was able to advance past round one during their first circuit attempt.

Serious Smokies Support! — A tip of the hat from all concerned for Canadian drag racing proponent Mike Clark whose Smokies Garage (home Mono Ontario) was the primary presenting sponsor for the PDRA’s American Doorslammer Challenge event. Mr. Mike’s event involvement was multi dimensional — both on and off the racing surface — including a highly impressive pit area apparel display as well as three of his pride and joy custom motorcycle creations (sample above).

Mike Clark

New Pro Street Player! — the PDRA’s Smokies Garage American Doorslammer Challenge event also included a circuit debut for this new Canadian Pro Street ’68 Camaro driven by Mauro Caringi — from Grimsby Ontario.  Mario raced the car (brand new for 2024) to a quick 4.312 secs to qualify 10th — but lost out on a red-light to Dan Norris in round one of class competition.