Joe Graves prevails to win one of the toughest season titles anywhere within Canadian Drag racing!…..

The 2022 season for the Top Eliminator program at Edmonton’s Rad Torque Raceway was sadly marred by the passing of series co-founder Gord Ebertz. The Ebertz brothers, Gord and Bob have worked tirelessly for over a decade to build a strong big buck race series for the local Top Dragster and Top Sportsman racers in Western Canada.

Over $200,000 was given away in purse money and other awards on the season. A huge success in anyone’s eyes. The series will continue on under Bob Ebertz for years to come. 2022 was the return season from the pandemic that hampered 2020 and 2021 seasons. 2019 defending Champ Jason Padd, (Chestermere Alberta), was a contender all season to take the championship again, but 2016 Champ Ashley Huffman, (Dewinton Alberta), and hard charging Joe Graves,(Edmonton Alberta), had other plans for the early points leaders.

Joe Graves raced his very consistent 2005 Pontiac Grand Am to the Top Eliminator season points title at Edmonton’s RAD Torque Raceway

As is with previous years, the final race determined the 2022 champion. Graves, wheeling his 2005 Pontiac Grand Am Top Sportsman ride with 582 cubic inch of Sunset power that he has campaigned since 2012 won two races on the season, and went to the semi final at another of the 10 race series. Being the only driver to take two wins on the season, he had an advantage coming into the final weekend. Making a run for the championship in 2017, coming in third, Graves has been fighting for the top spot since 2009.

Moving through the rounds with very consistent 8.08 to 8.09 ET’s rolling through a tough series of competitors. Say’s Graves “We got it done on the final race, on Sunday, taking out Ashley (Huffman) in the quarter final.” Huffman put down a .005 light to Graves .031. Graves was dead on the dial with a nine and went on to the Semi finals against eventual winner and 2017 Champion James Bast.

The Semi final appearance was all it took though to crown Graves as the 2022 champion after eleven years of trying. A 26 point lead was how it ended up over Huffman and Padd which ended up tied, with Padd getting second on round wins. 2022 was a fantastic return to normal with car counts in the high forties to fifties each weekend.

Door cars always seem to be a disadvantage to the dragsters, but now with two door car champions in the last four seasons, James Bast, 1968 Camaro in 2017, and now Graves in 2022, the door car racers are reinspired. 2023 looks to be a very promising season for Top Eliminator.

Posted by Rome Awde

Photos Courtesy of Becky Powell (Fuelled Up Photography)