Napierville’s Doppelgänger Event!

by editor on Aug.21, 2025, under Hotzone

More coveted NHRA “Wallys” distributed from within Eastern Canada….

The 2025 NHRA John Scotti Canadian Championship Series makes a second visit of the season at Napierville Dragway last weekend. Two days of racing mark event numbers 9 & 10 for the 14-race 2025 season calendar.

Duplicating the previous race dates just last July, the racer turnout was significant including 40 cars passing tech for Stock/SS and 18 machines entered within the TD/TS Combo.

Stock/Super Stock Combo racing produced a couple of notable winners — for veteran Ontario drivers with Gianni Cantusci (Stittsville) and Dean Moggach (from Dundas).

Cantusci, who is no stranger to victory lane visits within his career, guided his familiar 2000 model Pontiac Firebird to a win, defeating Allison Doll (another 2000 Pontiac Firebird) in the final. Gianni clocked a winning 10.41 secs (10.40) 127.33 mph while Allison, who had S/SS Combo win at the July race here, broke out.

Veteran Gianni Cantusi notched a win in Stock/SS Combo racing.

The next day did belong however to dedicated regional competitor Moggach, who sealed his first ever NHRA Wally racing his 2002 GT/GA-classed Camaro – over a 37-car field. Dean, who has a lengthly team car racing partnership with CDRHF member Bob Park, ran a final round 9.832 secs (9.81 dial) 137.68 mph to top Rene Gosselin’s Quebec-based ’68 Chevelle Stocker in the final round.

“To win at Napierville was totally unexpected — because previously I’ve not had a lot of good luck there,” stated Dean. “I raced a lot of excellent opponents including Tim Stickles and Allison Doll. Winning my first Wally was amazing — when I stopped at the end of the track I called my wife and Bob Park (who had called me after every round). The outpouring of congratulations I received from my fellow races was crazy and driving down the return road I got a standing ovation from a lot of people I don’t know!”

Dean Moggach (from Dundas ON) earned a most deserving first career big score at Napierville Dragway.

“But I don’t think it really sunk in until I got that “Wally” – right when Glenn Grow handed it to me,” he added. “Most definitely the highlight of a long racing career.”

TD/TS Combo featured big wins for regional-based drivers – both Super Tour circuit regulars. Race #1 went to area repute Jerome Beaulieu – who raced his Napa-presented dragster to victory. Jerome, who is Super Tour Series founder & director, ran a 4.447 secs at 144.36 mph to defeat Rob Hyatt in the final round.

Jerome Beaulieu (above) collected a convincing TD/TS Combo victory as did Pam Rennie (below).

On Sunday it was Pam Rennie, from Kanata ON., scoring her first JSCCS series victory — when she raced her M&M chassis T/D to victory. She clocked a 4.788 (4.78 dial) in the final to (also) defeat Rob Hyatt in the championship final.

NHRA index class racing included event wins for Eric Stroud (Super Gas) and Mike Reynolds (Super Street) on Friday and for Danny Danjou (Super Gas) and Bob Lohnes (Super Street) on Saturday. For Lohnes of Abington MA, it was his first Wally win. (Bob is father to Brian Lohnes NHRA announcer).

Super Gas went to this great looking Corvette – Danny Danjou

S/ST points leader Mike Reynolds took another event victory.

Despite losing both final rounds for the TD/TS Combo – Rob Hyatt (from New Hampshire state) made up for any disappointment by winning 2X for NHRA Super Comp racing! Hyatt stopped Fred Angers in both of the 8.90 event finals contested.

Rob Hyatt won both days in Super Comp 8.90 class racing.

Bike/Sled class racing saw two racers — Glenn Frizzell (photo below) and Mike Arsenault – exchange wins, each winning final round title match ups.

Junior Dragster class racing saw wins go to Mavrick Angers (of Angers Family fame) and to Carter Maclean. For Carter (Hunter River PEI), who was last year’s overall points champion, the win put him back to the top in points again for this season.

With only four races now left in the John Scotti-presented Eastern series for 2025 — drama is building as championship titles are still well up for grabs.

“None of the points are by any means sealed up,” said NHRA’s Canadian series manager Glenn Grow. “There is still great opportunities for many racers to move up in all categories.”

The series shifts next to Cape Breton Nova Scotia and then rolls back to Cayuga Dragway (Toronto Motorsports Park) for the grand finale (Sept 25-27th).

“With continued strong support from Atlantic Canadian racers — Cape Breton promises to be a great race too,” Glenn added. “And looking to our final race at TMP — we are making some adjustments for that. I can confirm that we will be running our TD/TS Combo and Motorcycle class programs in conjunction with Bruce Melenbacher’s Quick 32 and PBSS Bike program – there. That should bring even more new racers to our series for those categories. In addition we are going to experiment too — trying out a 5.50 index class in Toronto.”

Tim Stickles – one of many USA-based guest racers — was deserving of the event’s “Best Appearing Award” (Presented by Performance Cellar) for his meticulous SS/KA 1980 Oldsmobile.

Posted by Bruce Biegler
DragRaceCanada file photos courtesy of Stacee Richards – Glenn Grow – Greg Grant – Mercier Racing