Offer Hard to Refuse!

Versatile Canadian drag racer Todd Paton recently received an opportunity that he could hardly refuse…..

During last weekend’s Canadian Nitro Nationals held at Cayuga Dragway – Toronto Motorsports Park, the now California-based driver was behind the wheel of what is arguably the coolest nitro Funny Car ever out of Canada – the replica “Chi-Town Hustler” Dodge Charger owned by Ontario’s Doug Cadman.

Todd drove that machine as part of the event’s multi-car nitro exhibtion feature – and paired off a couple times against the equally impressive “Pony Up” Ford Mustang owned by Western New York’s Gary Kraus.

Todd’s opportunity to drive this very unique machine came as a result of both circumstance and his racing experience.

“About a month before I was at Cayuga – testing our Top Fuel car with my Dad,” Todd revealed. “That weekend Doug was also running his hot rod – and he asked me (because of my experience) if I could drive it once to help him confirm some feelings he had inside his car. I made a half track squirt and relayed some information back to him. He then mentioned he really liked being on the outside and to actually see his own car run.”

“He then called me a while later and asked if I would consider driving his car again – at this event. Needless to say to have an opportunity to drive a car with such a famous name as that — I jumped at the chance! Doug’s car and crew are top notch and I was really glad to be part of it.”

Doug Cadman & Todd Paton

The Chi-Town car is in fact Todd’s third different race car he has driven this season. In addition to a couple of outings driving the Paton Racing TF dragster, he also drove Bob & Steve McIntire’s “Crusher” Camaro nostalgia Funny Car at Bakersfield last March – where he qualified #13.

Depending on scheduling – the possibility does exist that Todd will make additional appearances racing Cadman’s car at some point in the future.

Photos and Post by: Bruce Biegler