KHR presents more noteworthy Canadian drag racing preview news and notes….
Season Campaign Plans Unfolded! — Saskatchewan’s determined Reid Holland Motorsports team camp will be full on again this racing season.
With help from an impressive series of backers, the father and son team (Ray and Reid) plan to be highly visible both on and off the race track as spring and summer breaks.
To kick off 2026, they will be attending the 64th annual Draggins Car Show in Saskatoon (April 3rd – 4th) followed by the 58th annual Majestics Car Show in Regina (April 25th – 26th).
Their busy racing season is planned to begin in Mission BC for the highly anticipated NHRA Division 6 & RAD Canadian Sports Nationals “double header” weekend (June 11th – 14th), followed closely after by another double header divisional in Billings Montana (June 25th – 28th). July will be busy with a trip to the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton Alberta (July 10th – 11th) and then the NHRA Divisional in Woodburn Oregon (another double header) July 30th – August 2nd. Reid Holland Motorsports will cap of their season with a tow out of division to — NHRA Division 5 — for racing at Brainerd Minnesota (August 13th – 16th).
For mid summer — the team has confirmed planned attendance for the Watrous Saskatchewan FunRun (July 25th) and the Bruno Car Show (July 26th).
“Our goals for this year are to continue our pursuit of the Division 6 Super Comp Championship,” stated Ray Holland. “We also have a very strong motivation to land our race car in the winner circle a few times this year. We have learned a lot in the last couple of years and are eager to apply that gained knowledge and skills to this racing season.”
Reid Holland Motorsports (based from Warman SK) will showcase their valued sponsors all season inlcuding: Title sponsor Executive Protection Services (Regina), Houston Pizza, Gulf Race Fuels, Small Motor Services, Don Wehage and Sons Trucking and Excavating (Saskatoon), DJ Window Services (Saskatoon), All-Rite Mechanical Ltd (Regina), Starosta Trucking (Saskatoon), Fairway Lawncare (Saskatoon), Budget Porta-Store (Saskatoon), Firebird Business Consultant (Saskatoon) 24 Hour Signs (Saskatoon) and Hardcore Performance Specialties (Saskatoon).
10-Years After — Cayuga Dragway’s relatively new but very thriving Fast 16 Outlaw Shootout eliminator will continue to include a popular dragster team this season.
Based from Woodbridge & Bradford Ontario, the Angione Brothers, Al and Joe, plan to continue to be players within that fast 1/4 mile bracket with their dragster, a 235-inch Spitzer-built Top Dragster which features a 565 CID BBC engine with nitrous assist. Together the brothers have continued to massage that car over the past 10 years into what is now a consistent 7.1 secs 190+ mph performer.
For Al, who is a self-employed roofer and Joe who is a granite fabricator — when they’re not working their hard trades, they’re focused on pushing their racing program even further down the track.
“We’ve set a goal for the 2026 season to run in the 6-secs zone and over the 200 mph mark,” stated Al Angione. “Our ultimate season goal is to stay in the mix in points and try to win the Fast 16 Outlaw Shootout season championship.”
The self-funded Angione Brothers racing campaign is supported by family, friends and associates including Angione Bros Roofing, Spar Marathon Roofing Supplies, Marble and Marble, GGM General Contracting and Gino’s Meats.
Say YES to Canada! — On May 15th, Toronto Motorsports Park will be the site of a very special NHRA program during that weekend’s NHRA John Scotti Canadian National Open series weekend.
Expectations are that over 500 high school students will attend the NHRA Youth Education Services (YES) Day which returns to Toronto Motorsports Park, on that date.
YES will give high school students from multiple school boards a hands‑on look at skilled trades through interactive displays from local companies and racing professionals.
Led by TMP’s Uli Bieri, Jessica Slikker, Mike Vanni, and supported by racers Frank Federico and Jason and Sandi Hardie, the event continues to grow each year. Frank Federico and Jason Hardie are both educators and drag racers themselves.
NHRA’s YES Program, which is featured at various other tracks (across the USA), does aim to use the excitement of drag racing to inspire the next generation of technicians and tradespeople. The Toronto Motorsports Park team and all the volunteers, and including NHRA’s Eastern Canadian Manager Glenn Crow, are helping to spread awareness and opportunity — the target being young people within Canada.
A Baby Gators Follow-up — After being ousted in the first round during the recent NHRA Gatornatonals — Manitoba’s Tom Patterson had very nice rebound just a few days after during Gainesville Raceway’s subsequent “Baby Gators” event.
Competing again within the Top Sportsman category with his fast advancing Pro-charger ’94 Camaro, Patterson advanced all the way to the championship final for what was classified as a NHRA Southeast Division 2 Regional race.
Patterson, the only Canadian car entered within that 30-car field, qualified #6 (6.497 secs) and proceeded to gather four round win lights after that. But in the final a slightly too quick -.004 red-light ended his strong bid — losing out to Carl Freeman.
Patterson’s wife Donna was also entered in the event’s T/D program and her “Baby Gators” experience result was identical to her Gatornationals event finish the week before – both 2nd round placings. Donna had beaten fellow Canadian Todd Chase (from New Brunswick) in round #1 for the NHRA regional event.
Both Tom and Donna (based from Lorette West MB) continue to make masterful strides within NHRA’s “Top” class categories after both graduated up from Super “Index” racing just a couple years ago.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of Reid Holland Motorsports, Tony Hayes, Blake Farnan, Jason Hardie & Dave DeAngelis
