Nitro Nostalgia Firsts! — A very nice win for Tim! During what was reported to be a near farewell appearance for this particular Funny Car – Edmonton’s Tim Boychuk prevailed to win the Legends Nitro Funny Car (Presented by Modern Warriors) 8-car feature held during NHRA’ s recent Ford Performance Nationals at Las Vegas.  Tim qualified his “Happy Hour” Camaro #7 and defeated Mike Peck, Derrick Moreira and then Shane Westerfield in the final round – to take his first event prize in that series circuit.  Tim Boychuk’s LV win was preceded the week before by another Canadian native talent – Jeff Arend.  Arend (originally from Toronto) and who now lives in La Verne CA., was behind the wheel of Matt Bynum’s cool Pontiac Firebird for the 2024 edition California Hot Rod Reunion event at Bakersfield.  Jeff qualified this rather unique “pedal clutch/old school” machine #5 with it’s best ever run at 5.58 secs 262 mph and then won four rounds including the final over series overall Champion – Bobby Cottrell.  With that placing Jeff finished 3rd in the final Hot Rod Heritage Series points chase.

Solid Season One! — Alberta’s Nathan Sitko has wrapped up his first full season as driver for the famous Hodgson Racing team and their spectacular Gordie Bonin-tribute Bubble Up Funny Car.  Nathan and the team went to two final rounds within the Hot Rod Heritage Series events this season (winning once) and remained in championship contention right up to the end.  But unfortunately an untimely 1st round loss at the final event of the year at Bakersfield (Oct 28th) was costly and when Bobby Cottrell advanced to the final round at that race – Nathan’s points total of 353 fell just short of Cottrell’s 361.

Well Poised! — Canada’s Shawn Cowie – who has had more “bridesmaid” World Championship finishes then we would like to count within NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series – sits on the verge of that – ending.  Cowie’s Mundies Towing & Recovery dragster from Surrey BC has had some wicked strong performances these recent weeks – including winning both a NHRA Pacific Division (Firebird Fall Shootout) and also the Ford Performace Nationals – both concluded at Las Vegas.  Those were Shawn’s career 42nd divisional win and his 25th national event level wins — but most importantly gives him the overall points lead in NHRA – very very late in the season.   And depending on how fate, math and rival performance treat him this weekend (back at Las Vegas divisional & then NHRA Finals Pomona) his long seeked coveted first career NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship could be at hand!

High Contention Deja Vue! — While most of the post-race event attention was deservingly on his championship racing teammate Jordan Lazic after NHRA Las Vegas — another tip of the hat is in order for fellow Canadian Justin Bond.  After finishing a close 2nd in final points for the Pro Mod class in 2023, Bond was in the mix again all season for the title with his supercharged JBS Motorsports/Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro.  But when Lazic took him out head-to head in round #2 (5.793 secs to a quicker 5.778 secs) at the final season race – his ultimate goal came up short and Justin Bond has finished 3rd in final season NHRA Congruity points.  At the Las Vegas series final Bond was again a top notch performance car — being 3rd quickest in qualifying @ 5.739 secs.