A Canadian Left Coast fast street car racing proponent delivers big time/late season victory…..
It was a dramatic comeback statement of rather major proportions for Chilliwack’s Justin Gallant recently when he emerged victorious during one of drag racing’s most sought after annual independent event titles.
Racing his 1985 Ford Mustang (appropriately dubbed “lil Bruiser”) Gallant notched some career defining moments when he won the gruelling X275 class eliminator title during Mel Roth’s Street Car Super Nationals held at Las Vegas (Nov 20th).
To say this event win would be gratifying would be an understatement — as it was preceded by much circumstance overcome.
“SCSN V18.0 was in fact the 4th time we had entered that event,” Justin revealed. “But we did have to work past some very dark times to get there – including a major crash here last year which required another rebuild. We were the #1 qualified car, had our best ever run (@ 4.31 sec 164 mph) — and came out victorious. Winning at Las Vegas was always a dream — and even now it still feels like it – truly humbling.”
Justin has been racing his Mustang since first acquiring it back in 2008.
“It was daily driven for a bit but as long as I have owned the car it’s been mainly on the drag strip. It started off as a mid 12-secs capable car but got more and more serious and focused over time for drag racing. It followed the stick shift thing deep into the 8-second zone while naturally aspirated.”
After a ton of success racing with the BC super shifters at his home track Mission Raceway, Justin and Nick Duda (his tuner and best friend) decided to get their feet wet in the heads up/small tire radial world. The Mustang was switched over to a EFI Turbo combination and its first rendition produced runs in the 4.8 secs zone @ 147 mph (1/8th mile racing).
Justin Gallant
Following an up close and personal encounter with the wall at Mission Raceway, repairs were made under the guidance of Rob Guazzaroni (Diversified Metal Works) and the following season the car went a personal best of 4.61 secs @ 155 mph) — leading up to the 2nd unfortunate event at Las Vegas 2021.”
“There just isn’t any quit in any corner of our team,” Justin gleamed. “Again with huge help from Rob at Diversified, Nick Duda, Bob Love of BDL Automotive, tons of other company support and from my amazing wife Tiva — we got the car back out and had this big success. I’m proud to say too — we now have the fastest turbo x275 car in the Pacific NW!”
In its present day X275 class legal form, “Lil Bruiser”, which scales at 2600 lbs, and has a Powerglide transmission, features a Gord Merkley Race Engines built 363 CID 8.2 deck SBF motor which incorporates a Precision Turbo (single 80 mm), Holley EFI and tuning by Nick Duda (#tunedByDuda).
Justin also cites support for his career development from Pete Nichols (Circle D Specialties), Steve Nicholson (Super Steve’s Tires), Jamie Roth, UPR Products, Wes Born (Precision Turbo), Edelbrock Performance, and Mom and Dad as well as his two sons (Hunter & Nash).
Justin Gallant has honed his drag racing career skill set as a familiar participant racing within Mission Raceway’s fast street car parameters.
But when asked who have been his primary influences for fast street car drag racing – Justin replied.
“Hands down my Dad Cyrus,” he emphasised. “I was by his side racing in the 90’s with his Chevelle and the strong bond we had continues to this day. I then grew up watching guys like Dal Sangha and any car he had and I will always remember how John Heida and Rick Johnston (both RIP) who would always make time for a young kid like me to explain how something worked. All of that was pretty special.”
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Les Puchala & Louren Sansregret
