Alberta’s Aaron Steinkey continues his “fast track” rise within NHRA “Top” class racing categories.  Aaron took home his 4th career NHRA national event title – winning the Winternationals (Right Trailers-presented) Top Sportsman division.  Steinkey (from Dunmore AB) was most certainly on his game both driving and tuning his new machine for 2025 – which features a 959 CID Pat Musi engine program – and was formally a PDRA Pro Mod class car.  Steinkey qualified #2 (6.335) and followed that up with wicked consistency throughout eliminations to make this score.  He defeated opponent Chris Newman in the final round with a rather brilliant .005 RT and 6.315 sec (6.31 dial in)!

In what truly was a very historical pairing for Canadian drag racing annals — the first round of Pro Stock class eliminations at Pomona featured non-other then a head to head match up between Canada’s father and son – Eric & Matt Latino. That duel which came after Eric qualified 6th (6.517 secs) and Matt 11th (6.537 secs) — did see Matt take out his Dad via an impressive hole shot (.018 RT) route — winning by a 6.535 secs to 6.508 secs margin.  Matt (photo below) who’s qualifying effort for Pro Stock racing came in only his second start in NHRA — did however lose out to Deric Kramer on a red-light in round two.   Needless to say for Canadian drag racing fans the event-to-event antics of the Latino family within NHRA Pro Stock will be fun to watch the rest of 2025.

A lot of eyes again on Canada’s Spencer Hyde who did have a very remarkable effort in fuel Funny Car at Pomona!  Driving for Jim Head Racing the resident of Stratford Ontario went deep into Sunday with a superb semi-final round finish – in only his 3rd career start in the class.  After qualifying 14th (3.971 secs) Spencer dropped a lot of jaws with a first round decision over non-other then Ron Capps — by hitting a career quick and fast 3.886 secs @ 322.19 mph.  He then topped Cruz Pedregon in round two before losing out to Daniel Wilkerson when he was forced to lift due to tire spin.  (For more detail/thoughts on Spencer’s effort at Pomona – link to LMLC Media – NitroFCCanada.com post: HERE)

Some excellent news within the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Winternationals entry list for TAD class racing did include the debut of young lady driver McKenna Bold (from Red Deer AB).   McKenna, who is a graduate of drag racing at Edmonton’s RAD Torque Raceway facility made her nationals debut as driver for one of Randy Meyer’s highly formidable 2-car injected nitro car operation. She  promptly qualified the car #10 at 5.248 secs — and then unloaded a superb 5.189 secs at 274.05 mph to earn a first round win over Casey Grisel.  McKenna could not however outrun opponent James Noonan in the second frame.  (DragRaceCanada will post a feature on the Bold Racing season plans – coming in the not too distant!)

Once again Shawn Cowie was a “tower of power” at Pomona.  The beyond talented and now defending NHRA Lucas Oil World Champion driver qualified his Mundies Towing & Recovery dragster on the pole with 5.164 secs.   Shawn took out class newcomers Taylor Januik and Shauda Blinzler in rounds one and two but did fall in the semi finals to his ferocious Pacific NW opponent Joey Severence.  Joey beat him on a big hole shot — a  5.220 secs 273.61 mph to Shawn’s quicker and faster 5.178 secs 278.40 mph.

Right Trailers Top Sportsman class racing at Pomona did include a strong Canadian presence. In addition to event winner Aaron Steinkey — three other Canadian drivers were in the mix including Tom Patterson’s patriotic machine (above) from Manitoba.  Will Yakimetz (Vegreville AB) and Joe Mellof (Maple Ridge BC) also qualified well.  Mellof (bottom photo) – who had won here last November (NHRA Finals event) lost out in round two.

NHRA’s Super Stock category did include yet another appearance for Darrell Stobbe’s immaculate ’64 Malibu from Abbotsford BC.  Darrell qualified this “bowtie fan” favourite machine #17 with a 10.16 secs ET which is .839 under his SS/JA class national index.