Two for Two Top Titles! « DragRaceCanada.com

Two for Two Top Titles!

by editor on Nov.16, 2025, under Hotzone

Canadian drag racing history made after frenzied edition NHRA World Finals event…

For the first time in NHRA history — Canada has won TWO NHRA World Championships — in the same season.

That remarkable occurrence came true this past weekend with both Shawn Cowie (the defending 2024 NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion) and 2nd generation racer Casey Plaizier (for Top Dragster) charted right at the top for final season points standings.

Both titles came within rather unorthodox fashion as NHRA officials battled extremely unpleasant weather at Pomona’s (In-N-Out Burger Finals) — rain storms which untimely forced a zero conclusion status for it’s Professional racing classes — none of which made any runs down track the entire weekend.

Shawn Cowie’s run to the 2025 title was a highlight filled season affair which did include winning the NHRA Western Regional Championship title too. He was also credited with the quickest run in NHRA class history for supercharged TAD configuration cars — a surreal 5.115 secs which he recorded at his home track Mission Raceway last June.

Shawn Cowie won both the NHRA’s Western Regional and also NHRA’s Lucas Oil World Championship chases for TAD — again — in 2025.

“Obviously the weather this weekend was stressful for everyone,” said Shawn – who actually did lose out in round one at the Pomona race during Thursday’s Sportsman only racing schedule. “It (the season) ended differently than we pictured – but we will take it!”

Taylor & Shawn Cowie

“We fought a few gremlins the last couple races — but my Mundies Towing & Recovery team worked their butts off to overcome that and all this year and they deserve this!”

“We did have great year overall.” he added. “Some very gratifying moments for sure — our run in Mission, the Indy win and now both a NHRA regional and national championship. I think we’re going to kick back a bit now and enjoy the off season!”

For Spruce Grove Alberta-based Casey Plaizier – the abbreviated racing schedule (for Sportsman) at Pomona unfolded and paid more dividends than he could ever imagine.

It was late on Thursday night – before the rain storms really hit the area — that he locked up the NHRA Top Dragster class season title with a huge event win (his third career NHRA national event title).

Eddy & Casey Plaizier

Casey started the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals T/D race after qualifying #19. Using dial ins in the low 7.3 secs zone, he proceeded to win five rounds within the pressure packed “hurry up and race” implemented schedule — due to the looming forecast.

In what was then a quite remarkable development for the final round – Casey was scheduled to race against fellow Albertan Aaron Steinkey. Casey, who had actually strategised closely with Aaron this season, was facing a must win — to take the world title.

Aaron, who is a multi-time NHRA nationals event winner himself, realising the magnitude of what was on the line for Casey, elected not run in the final in an amazing display of Sportsmanship. Casey then took the tree and the event win and the world title was now in his possession.

“We came into Pomona with a shot to win the world, and that’s really all we could have asked for,” Casey reflected.

“At the start we were 4 rounds back of 1st but when Jessica Eastburn lost out (in round #2) we knew we had to win the event. I was driving really well and we were making smart dialling decisions. Cooper Chun has played a huge role in dialling my car this year, and I couldn’t have done it without him and my dad (Eddy).”

“Aaron Steinkey also put his spare car together for me, hauled it to the races at Dallas, Las Vegas, and Pomona. I wouldn’t have been able to win this Championship without his support.”

“Winning this — simply amazing for us. Thanks to my wife Celeste and our little guy Kees — who were with us all along to support us.”