There was a reaffirmation of “not in my back yard” by Canada’s Cowie Racing Team last weekend…
You couldn’t ask for a better weekend for drag racing. No crashes, no real track mishaps such as oil spills, and special guest announcer Alan Reinhart all weekend.
Mission Raceway in Mission British Columbia hosted the a NHRA Northwest National Open this past weekend with outstanding cool weather (18-21c at the highest) for fast times. It’s a “double Wally” weekend — 2 races in one — giving the best in the Northwest to try to win 2 Wally’s for the trophy mantle.
With the headliner being Top Alcohol classes, this edition featured (7) Top Alcohol Dragsters and (1) Funny Car. Unfortunately only one Funny Car out of Oregon, supported — as Brian Hough, made the event despite there are an abundance of TAFC cars that compete in the Pacific Northwest area.
However, the bigger story here is 2024 NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion Shawn Cowie from Langley BC. He was on hand to again defend his home track, and if conditions were right, possibly take a track record. Shawn has had home field advantage, as we saw a couple weeks ago he was taking practice during the JBS ET Series with ETs logged in the 5.14 to 5.20 secs zone. Thereafter, there was little doubt who was heavily favoured to win the Top Alcohol Dragster final this weekend.
Shawn Cowie during the Friday Test & Tune pulled off a 5.13 so there was the hope that he could pull off the track record on a cool Saturday. And that he did exactly that in qualifying on Saturday, with an astounding 5.115 secs at 281.25 MPH — which was also the quickest elapsed time EVER for a screw compressor alcohol dragster – within NHRA history or more simply put — on our particular planet!
Shawn Cowie was dominating the say the least while prevailing at Mission Raceway’s NHRA National Open event.
One might think Shawn would be going for another record on the Sunday but “No the job is to win the race now, not record focused,” he stated in advance.
Eliminations were on Sunday with the semi finals consisting of USA-racers Chris Demke vs Kim Parker and on the other side of the bracket being all Canadian with Shawn Cowie and Red Deer Alberta native Mike Quayle.
Mike Quayle had been impressive this weekend within his own right, getting a personal best during qualifying with a 5.254 secs — in his ever improving injected-nitro entry. However even that wasn’t enough for the hard charging Shawn Cowie who made the final.
Alberta’s Mike Quayle had a nice weekend racing at Mission – going to the semi final round and setting a new PB elapsed time.
Kim Parker was struggling during qualifying but managed to take down Chris Demke to challenge Cowie in the final. It was not to be for Kim Parker however, with her 5.510 secs was dwarfed by Shawn’s 5.193 secs and Cowie claiming the coveted Wally for Top Alcohol Dragster at the Northwest National Open. The victory also reaffirmed his talented team’s long running dominating reputation at their home track.
“It was an outstanding weekend that would be hard to top,” he stated post race. “There was a lot of hard work and prep that goes into our program and it’s nice to see these results. Where else would you rather do it than at home in front of your friends and family? Doesn’t get much better than this — my only wish would been if my parents could be here to see it.”
It was a solo win also for Brian Hough, who was the only Top Alcohol Funny car team on the premises this weekend. He ran a few in the 5.46 range and actually still holds the track record at Mission Raceway Park with a 5.43, which has been for close to 6 years.
Mission Raceway Park track record hold Brian Hough won the TAFC title.
The racing weekend at Mission Raceway also included a new era for Sportsman class car racing in the area as the inaugural events for the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series — the first of two (of a six race series) in Western Canada this season. That program helped to compliment Mission Raceway’s very own JBS Equipment ET Series.
For those 13 other categories competing — here is a rundown of the final rounds:
Top Comp Class — On Saturday James Rutherford of Grand Praire Alberta with his T/S Ford Probe took the win (4.83/134.5mph) over Mike Kenworthy (5.22/132.51). On the Sunday fans witnessed an all Mission final with Greg Doughty (4.9476/137.36) in his RAD Torque red dragster over Adam DeJonge (5.3064/128.42) in the white Camaro.
The Top Comp class winners included James Rutherford (Saturday) and Greg Doughty’s dragster (Sunday).
Sportsman ET – Saturday saw Brendan Piskacek’s Mustang with a 13.1813/99.36 over Jason Mercier. On Sunday Veronica Hodgson’s Dodge Dart (11.9277/109.01) takes the Wally over Brendan Piskacek.
Pro ET — On Saturday Mission’s track announcer John Tabak did double duty on the track as he won a Wally in his truck with a 10.35/121.62 over Jeff Lefebvre 11.2755/119.14. On the Sunday edition, the winner was Rob Munro in his blue Chevy Nova (10.4291/126.23) over red light of Mal Paterson’s Nova (10.0867/131.27)
Super Pro ET – With a field of 40 vehicles on Saturday, Martin Rachel (10.1163/128.02) won over Jeremy Soares’s dragster (7.37/178.93). On Sunday, Craig Johnson in his nose-up black station wagon (10.5353/119.65) over took Emmett Mckillop’s dragster (8.9186/167.60)
Sunday’s Super Pro winner Craig Johnson
Hot Rod – Saturday Jamie Roth (9.9640/134.97) got the Wally over Rob Hodgson (10.6320/122.65). Sunday had Silvia Hoogstins blue mustang (12.1362/110.13) beating Larry Rhodenizer who red lighted (11.3943/81.61).
Silvia Hoogstins neat Ford Mustang was a Hot Rod class winner.
Jr Street – Saturday Josephine Smith in a Chevy SS (9.7330/74.16) won over Jack Johnston (11.0464/60.84)
Sunday we saw 15-year old James McNeill winning in his white Mustang GT (9.5407/73.67),as Jenna Munro lit the red light (11.0922/61.37).
Jr Lightning — Saturday we saw Bentley Johnson (8.0241/81.60) winning over Izzy Marshall (7.99/77.81). Sunday Adam Katinic with the victory (7.8480/71.90) over Adalyn Duda’s red light with a (8.0141/79.11)
Jr Thunder – Saturday we had Ashton Katinic (9.0648/70.87) over Pierson Maas (12,2095/51.18) with the red light. On the Sunday’s it was an all female final with Cadence Rodrigue (8.9557/72.82) besting Keira Harder (14.1380/43.25).
Cadence Rodrigue’s team was a Junior Thunder class winner.
Motorcycle – On Saturday, Suzuki rider Tom Tourand beat out Stephen Campbell. (8.6362/142.18). However, on Sunday Steve Campbell seeked revenge (8.4886/140.80) and captured the Wally over Cory Craig (7.9257/166.24).
Suzuki rider Tom Tourand won in Bike ET racing.
NHRA Super Street (10.90) — Jess Dale’s Dodge Demon – from Washington state — (10.90/144.93) beat David Wakefield on Saturday then Sunday out raced Dan Parson’s Dodge (10.874/130.78). Jess was the only event winner to grab 2 Wally’s!
S/ST racing was dominated by Jess Dale who won X2 in the category over the weekend.
Super Gas (9.90) — Saturday – Rory Moser in his burgundy roadster (9.9541/145.30) over Steve Lowe (10.01/150.05), who red lighted in defeat. Sunday we saw Kirk Lanz in the blue Camaro over Steve Lowe for a crushing defeat.
NHRA Super Comp (8.90) – On Saturday with an 8-car field, Mark Gillespie’s dragster (8.8747/179.35) winning over Dale Green who red lighted (8.9157/182.11). Sunday featured Tony Arthur with the win in his dragster.
Mark Gillespie (from Port Orchard, WA) supported the event and came away a winner in Super Comp racing.
NHRA Stock/Super Stock (Combo) — Dave Jung’s SS/KA Camaro defeated John Buczynski on Saturday for the Wally, whilst Sunday it was Alberta’s Clarence Bidniak, driving his vintage B/SA Plymouth who took the title.
Clarence Bidniak was a popular winner with his classic Mopar within the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series presented eliminators – winning a Stock/SS Combo – over 12 other entries.
Posted by Les Puchala
Photos by Les Puchala
