National Open (For Season Business)

by editor on May.21, 2026, under Hotzone

The NHRA John Scotti Canadian National Open Series commences 2026 season aggression…

Toronto Motorsports Park’s fabled Cayuga Dragway was the site for the first two races within the scheduled 14-event NHRA National Open Series last weekend. That event card was completed within a rather busy “one day wonder” on Sunday format after some major storms KO’d the elimination rounds scheduled for Saturday at the event.

The star player within all that was Ontario-based Super Stock class racer Brian Clayton who remarkably went undefeated all weekend racing his SS/JA ’90 Camaro from Port Perry ON.

Clayton knocked off two fields consectively of 40+ other class competitors within the event’s marquee attraction Stock/Super Stock class attraction which ran two complete eliminators (both Sunday). The already prolific local racer strung together no less than twelve consecutive win lights (!) in his lane.

Saturday’s race saw him single for that event win when scheduled opponent Chuck Nagy broke. Then later in the day he concluded his streak when he topped Anthony Delplavignano ’68 Camaro SS/HA (from King ON) which broke out. Clayton ran a 10.014 (10.01 dial in) to seal that deal.

Clayton had entered both races (presented by Select Print & Signs) from strong positions – having qualifying deep sub index at 1.024 (3rd) and then 1.004 (2nd) – for each race.

Ontario-based class “hitter” Brian Clayton was highly impressive again — notching an undefeated weekend at TMP/Cayuga!

“Sunday was non-stop,” Brian said post race. “After I won the first race and got back to pit only — I was told immediately that my next race competition was already waiting in the lane for me! But to collect 2 NHRA Wallys in one day felt awesome. But when it was all over I admit that both myself and my Crew Chief Gary Heavysege– were wore out.”

Tony Valerio’s ’68 Camaro qualified #1 for both days of Stock/SS Combo racing.

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series did open its season at Toronto Motorsports Park over the Victoria Day Weekend event too, as part of the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series double-header.

In the first completed event, Steve Ferstl won the Top Dragster division, then advanced to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final and defeated Top Sportsman division winner Matt Costabile.

Ferstl (Burlington, ON), ran the eighth-mile at 4.858 seconds at 141.38 mph in his 2008 S&W Dragster, using a 4.84 dial-in. Ferstl earned a guaranteed $2,000 cash payout from Fletch Racing, in addition to the posted purse. Matt Costabile of Fort Erie, ON, finished as runner-up, running 5.414 seconds at 122.50 mph in a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro, and received a $1,000 bonus for his finish.

Quick 32 series T/D winner – Steve Ferstl

Quick 32 series Top Sportsman class winner – Matt Costabile.

Shawna Woudstra (Waterdown, ON), was Top Dragster runner-up; Brooklyn Noakes of Ilderton, ON, was a semi-finalist. In Top Sportsman, Paul Coull of Princeton, ON, was runner-up; Cody Cook from Bourget, ON, was the semi-finalist.

In the second completed event, Matt Costabile won the Quick 32 Sportsman Series by defeating Paul Coull in the Top Sportsman final. Costabile ran 5.547 seconds at 114.80 mph and triggered a red light. Coull ran 4.471 seconds at 129.40 mph.

Costabile was set to run against Top Dragster winner Shawna Woudstra in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue with her Fortinos-sponsored dragster prevented her from showing. Woudstra won the Engineered Racing Services Bounty Hunter Award for defeating first event winner Steve Ferstl in the Top Dragster final.

Ferstl was Top Dragster runner-up; Brooklyn Noakes, semi-finalist. Rob Grey, driving the Wilson & Gray Jerry Bickel Race Cars Cavalier, was a Top Sportsman semi-finalist.

Costabile earned a guaranteed $2,000 cash payout from Fletch Racing, while Woudstra received a $1,000 bonus for her finish.

(The Quick 32 Sportsman Series will run again within the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series during the NHRA National Open double-headers back at Toronto Motorsports Park over the Labour Day Weekend, September 4–6).

Yep – things did get rather ominous indeed for Saturday afternoon!

NHRA’s John Scotti Canadian National Open Series did include competition for its Epic Raceway-presented index classes: Super Comp (8.90) – Super Gas (9.90) and Super Street (10.90)

Mike Reynolds, from Ottawa Ontario, who had an impressive win at NHRA’s national event level (at Reading PA) last season, did dominate the Super Street field winning both days of racing within those 8-car fields. Reynolds is the defending 2025 NHRA Canadian National Open series point champion.

Ottawa’s Mike Reynolds – the defending Eastern Canadian JSCNOS Champion – won 2X at the 2026 season opener in his Chevy Vega.

But then to be blunt – the total entry list for both S/C and S/G categories was much less than impressive with only two cars each.

It was however Jory Elliott (from London) who with along his father Bob did show support and have a nice competitive debut with their new 8.90 dragster — taking final round win lights each day over Brian White. For Super Gas, Joe Ferrari and Jay Williams exchanged final round win lights.

Bob & Jory Elliott entered their new S/C dragster for the first time in JSCNOS competition.

NHRA Canadian National Open titles went to Junior Dragster drivers Mason Burley and Lindsay Caldwell, who are both from Cayuga and in NHRA Bike/Sled wins went to Trevor Rock (for Saturday) and to Mike Konopacki (Hampton ON) on Sunday.

Trevor Rock took home a Bike/Sled eliminator (for Saturday).

TMP’s always highly competitive ET program — the Race Cayuga Sportsman Series (RCSS) — included wins for Drew Buchner (Super Pro), Bill Thompson (Pro) and DJ Raiser (Street) on Saturday and for Sunday it was Harry Olsen (Super Pro), Jason Hutchison (Pro) and Sam Snapp (Street) prevailing.

Standout racer Drew Buchner collected another score for RCSS Super Pro class action.

Weekend competition also included Nostalgia Super Stockers as well as a series introduction/tester for 5.50 index class race racing. Eliminator wins went to USA-based driver Chris Scarlata (NSS – below photo) and to Tamara Gray and Phillip Scarlet (5.50 index) over the Sat and Sun races.

An added bonus for Cayuga Dragway’s fans was another appearance from the True North Gassers – an Ontario-formed nostalgia racing group who did put on a great display of “blast from the past” 1/4 mile competition – with 12 cars featured.

That title ultimately went to New York-state based Brian Kressman’s show-stopping ’55 Chevy, winning a four round competition, besting Bill Samon in the championship round.