A very famous family within Canadian drag racing adds another chapter….
Ontario’s Fletcher family has been “joined at the hip” with the sport of drag racing for a very long time.
That deep involvement, which has spanned decades, has included a number of race car efforts as well as highly reputed track ownership stints within the history for both Cayuga Dragway and London Motorsports Park.
Well in 2021 – they have added something new to the “stable” with the family once again entertaining a race car effort – a 2014 Ford Cobra Jet.
This Mustang was formally raced under the Mike Skinner drag racing operation in the USA but was acquired by Bill Fletcher Jr., son to John Fletcher and will be driven by Danny Fletcher, John’s brother.
“This is a 2.9 litre Coyote motor Mustang – #17 of 50 made for that year,” Danny revealed. “It’s NHRA legal to run either in FSS/D or FS/A classes.”
“Our plans are to race it rather casually at first — and it’s a real family affair involving all of us – including our kids and even grand kids. We are going to stick within Canada – but when the border does open we’d like to target some NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events – likely now in 2022.”
For Danny Fletcher, this chance to pilot this 9.0 secs potential race car, does mark his return to the driver’s cockpit for the first time in over 30 years.
But that “back in the saddle” notion is actually more applicable than you think – as there is some cool irony within the much grander scheme for the Fletcher family team.
To say that the Fletchers are deep into horses would be a grand understatement. They have throughout their history had a parallel involvement with raising and competing within the worldwide horse industry. In fact the family currently owns 50+ horses (Wimps Enterprises) and Danny is a 2X World Champion for the NRHA (National Reining Horse Association).
“We’ve always had horses and our involvement in the the NRHA is now 20+ years,” Danny continued. “We train horses for pattern work, Western discipline, sport slides and stops, spinning and circles. This competition is for all over the world – including North America, South America and Europe.”
“Back to drag racing, we’ve also always been a Ford family, so our new Mustang is a rather nice and natural fit,” he laughed.
Danny, John and the Fletcher family base their world class horse stable operation (Fletcher’s Horseworld) and race car garage, from Waterford Ontario.
Race fans can look for the Mustang to be entered for competition at some Can Am Stock/SS events this summer season.
Post by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bruce Biegler & Rob Potter
