Another “Door Dash” Delivery!!

by editor on Jul.03, 2025, under ACE MFG Northern Exposure

Fast door slammer cars take centre stage again at Mission Raceway’s iconic annual event…

This past weekend we were on hand at Mission Raceway Park in Mission BC for one of the most anticipated events on the schedule known as Door Wars. It is now in year 13 of the competition, and as you know, 13 can be lucky for some, or extremely unlucky for others that participate in the 3 day extravaganza.

The main feature of Door Wars 13 were the Pro Mod cars, as this year we had 8 on the property battling for the belt from Canada and the USA. None of the 8 were unknown to Door Wars, but Rian Hayward of Marysville Washington was a heavily favourite to take the class. Earlier this year at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, he competed in a 63-car Pro Mod field and finished 4th (Ken Quartuccio Jr. Took that victory).

This weekend in Mission, the Hayward team came in with some confidence as they were number 1 qualifiers with a 3.7346/212.97 run on Saturday, with Ryan Griffin in 2nd rallied for 2nd in qualifying. They moved straight to eliminations the Saturday afternoon as semi finals had local Nick Duda in his Corvette in his small block Chevy with (and one of the fastest runs ever in a small block Chevy with a cast block and cast heads), with a holeshot win over Ryan Griffin with an eye watering 3.8658/196.85mph. Rian Hayward took David Mendez’s Green Goblin Challenger who took out one of the 1/8 mile markers.

Rian Hayward’s highly potent 1969 Pro Charged Camaro (near lane) was victorious for Pro Mod class racing at “Doorwarz 13”.

As nightfall settles in, it was Rian Hayward’s 1969 Pro Charged Camaro versus Nick Duda’s turbo Corvette in the final, but now known as a giant killer Duda (196.59 mph/3.8670) could not slay “Code Blue” with Hayward (202.25mph/3.7693) taking the Door Wars 13 belt. 2024 Door Wars winner Garrett Richards struggled all weekend qualifying 7th out of the 8 car field.

Canadian Nick Duda advanced his “Code Blue” Corvette to the Pro Mod final round.

In a tense moment over the weekend — Tom Katinic while making a test run in his TK/Lordco Racing Camaro pulled off an extremely fast 233mph/6.36 run. However, the pin in the chute failed, and caused a major crash with him bouncing off both left and right walls at top end, and there was significant damage to the Camaro. Tom walked out of it, and was not injured in the unlucky accident.

Outlaw X275 continues to be the most exciting class to watch at Door Wars 13 with 15 vehicles trying to compete for 8 qualifying spots. Every year these cars get gradually faster and faster as 13/15 vehicles qualify in the 4 second range. Three drivers in particular were neck and neck in qualifying rounds with Spruce Grove Albertan Jordan Brandon being top qualifier with 4.2812/171.62mph, then Chilliwack BC’s Justin Gallant 4.2827/171.36, and third with another Spruce Grove resident Chris Gould 4.2882/171.49. This teed up some extremely thrilling elimination on Saturday, as Alberta native as Tyler Stamler’s S-10 Chevy truck beat (4.3661/171.62mph) Spokane Washington’s Erick McCarthy, in his Fox body Mustang (4.4382/165.81mph).

That same night, Stamler’s Turbo was destroyed after that race, and the Gallant family made the extra effort to travel all the way to Richmond BC to pickup a Turbo for Tylers S-10. This is a true example of how close these racers are in the X-275 class and will go out of their way to help even a rival. This setup the for the final on Sunday morning with a phenomenal race, with Justin Gallant squeaking in for win for the big belt and $5000 check (4.3233/171.10mph) over Tyler Stamler (4.3533).

Top rated Canadian X275 racer Justin Gallant and his team continue amazing winning propensity at Mission Raceway.

Saturday night was with number one qualifier Max Nielson, but during eliminations number 4 qualifier Brad Thomas was doing outstanding rounds towards the final bracket, even hitting into the 4 second zone with a stunning run of 4.9779/142.45mph over Vanessa Richards to the 1/8 mile. However, it was not meant to be, as Nielson’s Mustang grabbed the title belt with a 5.1123/137.70mph over Thomas (4.9881/142.13).

Canada West Doorslammer had the largest field of cars with 43 competing for the Door Wars belt as Rod Leclaire was top qualifier at 6.7216/202.89 at the ¼ mile. Out of the 20 car qualifying marathon, it was to be Otto Schulte’s 2005 Chevy Cavalier versus Terry L Davies 1941 Willy’s. Otto would reel in Terry with a 175.23mph/7.5973 victory over Davies’s 159.40mph/8.2110.

Defending 2024 series champ Otto Schulte won over a ferocious (43 car) “Canada West Doorslammer” field.

The Western Canadian Top Fuel Nitro Bike series commenced their 4 round series at Door Wars 13. The series was to be a 5 round series, starting at the Northwest National Open, however none of the bikes were ready for the call that weekend. Sunday’s eliminations in the 4 bike field ended with how 2024 finished with Austin Christopher (6.4686/217.08) overcoming Nate Gagnon (155.33/9.8221) in the ¼ mile final. Round 2 will be August 1st to 3rd at the Loafers Race.

Season round #1 for the Western Canadian Top Fuel Nitro Bike series – went to Austin Christopher.

Top Comp had Adam De Jonge’s White 67’ Camaro (5.2698/130.32mph) was victorious over Logan Bell’s 2018 Dragster (4.4754/155.17), as Logan ran too quick.

Top Comp winner — Adam De Jonge

Super Combo had Emily Girard’s Dragster versus Brad Vinje. Mission Raceway track director Kevin Ness coaxed Emily to do the Super Combo Class and she ended up all the way into the Finals however, she could not chase down Brad as he would take it with a 10.912/133.21 and with Emily’s 8.9428/172.08mph loss.

On Saturday night, we saw a first ever winner for a new class called “No Time Index” class had Rob Getz in the White Ford F-150 with a decisive win over Scott Kolodychuk’s white 91’ Mustang who gambled for reaction time, and lost with a red light. Rob Getz turned his $250 entrance fee into a $2500 investment.

Doorwarz 13 introduced a new “No Time” eliminator — Rob Getz was that winner.

Saturday – Kevin McNicol takes the Electronic Class (6.4144/107.22) over Lorenz Schwarz (6.3988/103.57). Lorenz Schwarz in the 83’ White Monte Carlo (106.56/6.4262) had no luck however, as he also lost in Non Electronics with Bobby Ehler’s black mustang taking that class (101.26/6.4584).

On Sunday, Electronics had Chris Stone’s 68’ Dodge (6.4303/99.89) over Jason Mercier’s Chevy Cutlass (7.3116/91.06) and in Non Electronic was Craig Johnson raising the hood, as usual, and taking that gleaming gold Door Wars belt over Mission Raceway announcer John Tabak, who’s truck did a 6.6141/96.75.