Shawn Cowie, who is always in the mix racing at NHRA Seattle – came very close to yet another big score – placing R/UP this year.  Shawn, who is the defending NHRA Lucas Oil World Champ, qualified on the pole (5.162 secs) and then advanced to his 40th career NHRA nationals final round appearance. But versus his top Pacific NW rival Joey Severence in the final — it was Joey’s turn to claim event glory — when he hit a brilliant 5.159 secs at 278.35 mph to turn on the win light.

Maple Ridge BC based racer Joe Mellof, who won in Top Sportsman at the NHRA Winternationals back in March at Pomona – came ever so close to winning again at Seattle. Racing his ’08 GXP Joe also placed R/UP in what was his 3rd career NHRA final round appearance. Joe won 4 rounds of class racing but was edged out in the final by David Cook who managed to just run him down at the finish line. Joe’s run during eliminations did include a perfect 6.920 secs ET (6.92 dial in) in round #1.

NHRA’s Super Street (10.90) class index included a very strong effort from the Slave Lake Alberta., 2-car team of Dustin & Frankie Ward. Dustin, who is the defending 2024 NHRA Northwest Division points champ for S/ST raced his RAD-presented Dodge Dart to the final round only to lose a “double breakout” decision to Jason Biscay. Frankie (who is daughter to Eddy Plaizier) – took her ’85 Camaro (below) to the semi final round. Frankie finished #2 in NHRA Northwest Divisional points last season.

Stratford Ontario’s Spencer Hyde continued to prove he is the “real deal” within NHRA fuel FC racing at the Seattle race — advancing to his 3rd career “final four” appearance behind the wheel of the Head Racing Mustang. After qualifying #8 (3.958 secs) Spencer beat Paul Lee in round one before scoring a eye-popping win light over non other than defending NHRA World Austin Prock in round #2! Spencer’s winning time was a 3.910 ses at 329.02 mph. That was followed by a simply terrific semi final pairing versus icon Ron Capps, but Spencer fell just short by a minuscule margin >> 3.915 secs to 3.918 secs! The semi final placing assures Spencer a spot in next weekend’s #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at Sonoma.

Very cool to see Manitoba’s Clif Bakx and his talented driver Todd Bruce entered for TAD at the Pacific Raceways event. The always very creative “The Bull” team qualified mid pack for that eliminator with a solid 5.283 secs at 276.97 mph.   But they were not able to repeat in round one versus opponent Taylor Janiuk. In that race, Todd left first but Janiuk ran him down by at 5.344 to 5.422 secs margin.

The always steady Rick McKinney (from Richmond BC) was the top finishing Canadian driver within the Super Stock category. Racing his GT/NA Chevy Camaro (formally owned by Byron Setters) McKinney qualified 4th and then accumulated four round win lights during eliminations. His trail ended in the semi final round on a red-light start.

The racing program at Seattle did include a very prestigious Summit-presented 8-car shootout for Junior Dragster racers. That invite only event included a Canadian driver where Gray Schaan and his family from Dunmore Alberta qualified . Racing on his biggest stage ever — Gray won his first round over Kinzler Severence before falling to eventual event winner Camryn Stocker in round #2.

Matt Latino (from Port Perry ON) ran impressively again in Pro Stock. Driving his new look Camaro now sponsored by GESI/PowerEdge – Matt qualified 8th with a pass of 6.508 secs. He then advanced to a second round finish. After topping Derik Kramer, he faced off against hometown racer Dallas Glenn in the quarter finals. In that match Matt recorded a 6.495 secs (we believe to be his career best?) but even that could not hold off Dallas’ 6.454 secs. Glenn, who had a track record smashing weekend, went on to win the event in the RAD Torque Systems Camaro.