Western Canadian drag racers rally again for NHRA Division Six Spider Electric Championship Series…..

The second phase for the newly created (COVID consequence) Spider Electric NHRA Drag Racing Series in Western Canada was featured at Castrol Raceway last weekend. 

The event concept — which was formulated after cooperation between Medicine Hat-based businessman Mark Simmons (owner of Spider Electric) and NHRA’s Division 6 — was designed to help Canadian racers isolated by the COVID pandemic to have some championship glory to chase this season.

The two-day “double header” points affair highlighted some NHRA class car racing, all levels of ET bracket classes, and also included the very popular West Coast Pro Modifieds – who presented a 1/8th mile eliminator.

Two racers most certainly stood above all the rest at the event’s conclusion — going undefeated over the weekend.

Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle, racing his truly reliable GT-classed Oldsmobile Achieva, continued his amazing season winning propensity at Edmonton.

Already heavily regarded as one of Western Canada’s top rated Super Stock drivers,  Sheldon prevailed within the well attended competition both days – winning over Norm Lapointe’s Chevy on Saturday and then over Darcy Clarke’s Mopar in Sunday’s final.  

Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle remained undefeated (!) within the NHRA Spider Electric Stock/SS series season chase.

In fact following that final round Sunday win light, Erfle remains undefeated for the season for the circuit — he is now four-for-four in event wins.

Calgary’s Dwaine Ringguth was also very impressive as he notched 12 straight win lights driving his dragster in the Top Sportsman/Top Dragster 1/8th mile shootout competition.  Dwaine won Saturday’s event over Will Yakimetz’s T/S Camaro and then Sunday’s final over Eddie Radjo’s dragster.

Racing this great looking TD – Calgary’s Dwaine Ringguth – went undefeated at Castrol Raceway last weekend!

The NHRA index class car winners list for Saturday’s race included Ken Mostowich (Super Comp 9.10), Dave Archambeault (Super Gas 10.10) and James Pahl (Super Street 11.10).  Hard fought ET Bracket titles that evening went to Shawn Loblick (Super Pro), Bill Shade (Pro) and the Junior Dragster winners were Faith Loblick (Jr Thunder) and Kaelie Morton (Jr. Lightning).  Kyle Robb (from Edmonton) won in the young racer development Street Sportsman class.

James Pahl (near lane) and Steve Lowe both won S/ST 11.10 eliminator titles at Edmonton.

On Sunday, the NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman class titles were claimed by Rick Wagenaar (Super Comp 9.10), Casey Plaizier (Super Gas 9.10) and Steve Lowe (Super Street 11.10).  A Top Sportsman eliminator held that day boiled down to two Sherwood Park-based drivers meeting in the final with Shawn Tracy besting Gary Miserva.

Casey Plaizier defeated Rory Moser in Sunday’s Super Gas final round trophy dash.

The Pro ET final (Sunday) paired Nick Offerman versus Roger Bouw

ET Bracket class wins went to Gerard Wagenaar (Super Pro), Nick Offermann (Pro) and Lance Cherchuk (Street Sportsman).  Brother and sister Cole and Morgan Caron dominated in the Junior ranks with wins in Jr Thunder and Jr Lightning respectively. 

The Belair Power-presented WCPM was in attendance for Saturday’s event portion.  First they completed a makeup from a July rain out date and that pinnacle saw Spruce Grove’s Gary Urlacher, driving his nitrous assisted ’63 Corvette, defeat Red Deer’s Dean Bettenson in the final round by a 4.123 secs 180.80 mph to 4.726 111.36 mph count.

Gary Urlacher collected a rain deferred but deserving Pro Mod class win for the Belair Power WCPM circuit.

But later that evening, Bettenson did manage some vengeance racing his Pro-Line powered Chevy Camaro when he beat Mike Gonziola’s nitrous injected C7 in the final round.  Bettenson’s winning time was a 3.959 secs at 188.76 mph while Gondziola (from Saskatoon) – who had both low ET and top speed to his credit during qualifying (3.887 secs 194.89 mph) — had a foul start.

Racing his immaculate C7 — Mike Gondizola set both low ET and top speed in the WCPM event feature.

With that win, Bettenson did clinch the WCPM “Alberta mini-series” championship by reaching the finals in all 3 races (including at Medicine Hat) and winning two of them. 

Dean Bettenson’s Pro-Line powered Camaro was a winner for the second time this season.

The Belair Power WCPM circuit has two more events remaining on it’s season calendar in 2020 – both scheduled for at Mission Raceway — Aug. 28-30 and Sep. 17-20.

Posted with files by Bruce Biegler — Don Meleshko – Matt Levonas

All photos by Don Meleshko