After placing runner-up at the 2024 edition US Nationals – Victoria BC’s Stan Sipos came very close again this year in TAFC class racing.  With the tuning expertise of Les Davenport in his racing camp, Stan qualified #3 (5.451 secs) and went to the semi finals where he was edged out by Annie Whitely by a 5.422 secs 5.480 secs count.  Les Davenport (below photo) was also tuning for Ohio’s Phil Esz in that category — Esz was the #1 qualifier in TAFC at 5.442 secs.

Canadian FC season story Spencer Hyde raced at Indy for the first time in his career.  Spencer qualified the Jim Head Racing Mustang #14 at 3.967 secs but lost out in a close match to Ron Capps in round one (3.876 secs to a quicker 3.866 secs).  With the Indy race effort however Spencer has earned a qualifying slot (#9) for the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship chase – which begins next.

McKenna Bold also raced at the prestigious US Nationals event for the first time in her career.  The Alberta-based driver clocked a 5.299 secs in the Diezel  Excavation-presented Randy Meyer Racing injected nitro car to qualify 11th,  B ut in the first round she was eliminated by fellow young lady racer Melanie Johnson – after severe tire shake set in.

For sure one of the biggest surprises from the US Nationals came in Pro Mod racing when both of Canada’s two top rated drivers were — DNQ!  JR Lazic – the defending NHRA World Champ (from Rutland BC above) had his best run of  5.759 secs fall just short of the swift bump (5.756 secs).  Justin Bond (Mission BC) had a rough weekend – after flipping his primary Pro-Charger car on the top end (due to front wheel breakage) during the first qualifier.  Justin’s team rebounded with their backup Camaro (bottom photo below) but missed the cut with a best of 5.791 secs in that supercharged configuration car.

Super (Index) racing at Indy did include Canadian Sportsman best placings for Ontario natives Jason Kenny (above) and Charlie Kenopic (below). Kenny, who won at the recent Lucas Oil Nationals in Minnesota, went to round #4 for Super Comp, and Charlie placed very late (Round #5) for the Super Gas title — his best finish ever for “The Big Go”.

Eric Latino was in the mix for the demanding and super expensive Pro Stock class at the US Nationals.  Latino (from Whitby ON) qualified in the middle of class pack (#9) at 6.537 secs — with his GESi Camaro but lost a first round decision to Mexico’s Fernando Cuadra by a 6.538 secs 207.87 to 6.544 secs 209.95 mph margin.