The Canadian drag racing scene debuted a new NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol class player last season…..

That Canadian propensity for fielding hard-running injected nitro cars within NHRA added yet another cog during the just past season when Red Deer Alberta’s Mike Quayle joined that class fold.

Quayle, who is a very successful businessman (owner of Oilfield Consulting Services) and who had been a regular runner and a fixture within Western Canadian Top Dragster racing circles, combined his dream with some circumstance to elevate his drag racing aspirations.   Now for going forward, Quayle’s focus is to a machine that was formally driven by (now Top Fuel class racer) Bill Litton. 

Former TD class racer Mike Quayle transitioned to NHRA’s Lucas Oil TAD category during 2018

“This car is a 300” Swindell Top Fuel chassis that was originally one of the Snap On cars driven by Doug Herbert,” Mike revealed.  “Bill Litton had leased and drove the car in A/F— before I bought it from Brooks Brown — my current crew chief. The motor set up currently is a 451 CID TFX block with BAE 6 A/fuel heads – but we are now planning to upgrade to BAE series 8 heads during the off season.”

Mike first upgraded his licence for A/F at Las Vegas, during April of 2018.  He then made his competition debut in the class during the NHRA Lucas Oil Regional race held a Mission Raceway last June – where he both qualified and then won his first round ever in competition.  Following that Mike entered and competed at both the Seattle and fall Las Vegas NHRA national event races.

Quayle’s first ever TAD event competition came at Mission Raceway last June.

This move to the higher echelon dragster class has been a rewarding experience for this goal seeking racer.

“I’ve always loved watching these injected nitro cars run and since before I can remember have had my sights set on racing one,” he admitted.  “So when I saw this car was for sale and the timing was right — it just all kind of happened.  Now achieving my goal of running an A Fuel car within NHRA’s Lucas Oil class is kind of unbelievable to me.”

Mike’s experience in drag racing has been a pretty vast journey.  He began carving out his career beginning back in 2007 while competing within Edmonton’s enormously successful Top Eliminator Club.  After a couple years there he evolved into racing Top Dragster within NHRA’s Pacific Northwest Div 6.

“Top Dragster was an awesome and exciting class to run,” he added.  “Racing that taught me a lot — and from 2009 to 2017 it’s all I ran.”

Mike first jumped into drag racing with this dragster within Edmonton’s great Top Eliminator Club

Mike did have some nice scores too while racing in TD.  His most proud moment probably came in 2016 when he won his first NHRA “Wally” after prevailing to win during a Lucas Oil Division 7 race held at Salt Lake City.  He also had multiple “top 10” points finishes to his credit within NHRA Division Six TD.

In 2016 – Mike Quayle earned his first NHRA “Wally” when he won in Top Dragster at a LODRS event in Utah.

“I’d like to thank my Crew Chief Brooks Brown and my crew members Jon Wurtz and Jared Dannis for making it easy for me to transition into the class,” Mike emphasized.  “I’m also very thankful for the support from my wife Kristy and two sons Ben and Brandon.  Also a shout out to “the BUG” Kelly Ritchie, of Ritchie Racing.”

Mike is now developing and finalizing 2019 season plans for his currently self-funded team that will include 7-8 select NHRA regional and national event races.

Posted by Bruce Biegler

Photos by Phil Hutchison, Bob Johnson, Gerry Frechette & Bruce Biegler