Canada’s premier “left coast” drag racing facility checks out for 2021 with a speedy attraction….

Major event level drag racing came to a conclusion last weekend for Mission Raceway with an entertaining and condensed 24-hour period of drag racing including the concluding rounds for Pro Mod and X275 circuit racing.

The WCPM series was back for their final season stint with an 8-car qualified field which saw racers take full advantage of some great atmospheric and track conditions to produce some impressive numbers.

JR (Jordan) Lazic, who pilots the fan favourite “Bunker’s Junker” supercharged ’57 Chevy collected a WCPM win when he defeated Dean Bettenson’s Pro-charged 2017 Camaro in the final round clash. Lazic, who is from Kelowna BC, moved first (.036 RT) and took an exciting 3.902 secs 197.67 mph to 3.938 secs 192.38 mph decision.

Jordan’s final round times proved to be both low ET and top speed of the event.

Lazic, who was also the #1 qualifier (3.922 secs) driving the “Gen-3 Speed” team car was credited with win lights over Rick Barnhart and Ken Sihota in earlier rounds of competition.

Bettenson, the circuit car to beat all season, had clinched his 3rd straight WCPM season title by just attending the Mission event. Dean (from Red Deer AB), who is also a series co-sponsor (Belair Power & Production Equipment) had qualified 3rd entering eliminations.

“We do want to thank all of our WCPM major and associate sponsors,” Dean emphasized post race. “Including 24/7 Compression, Artex Racing Supported by Total Dairy Solutions, Dakow Ventures, DY Concrete Pumps & Chopmyrate.ca.”

WCPM action did include some other impressive efforts — particularly including Ken Sihota’s Pro Street-styled nitrous-injected Firebird — which ran a career quick 3.926 secs and advanced to the semi final round.

But the biggest sidelight to the event was a special guest re-appearance by Surrey’s Dal Sangha at Mission Raceway. As fans will recall Dal did endure some injuries during a wicked spill with his Ford Mustang during the “Doorwarz” event held at Mission last July — so everyone was thrilled and relieved to see him back at the track in recovery mode.

The “West Coast Outlaw Shootout” event did include the final round for Mission Raceway’s ever popular X275 class category. That was to feature an all Chilliwack showdown with Justin Gallant facing Daniel Rodrigue. However that promising conclusion was cut short when Gallant’s Mustang – which had set low ET and top speed (@ 4.599 secs 158.61 mph) — experienced a rear end failure at the hit which allowed Rodrique to cruise to a winning 4.646 secs at 154.93 mph in his ultra cool Chevy Malibu.

Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Les Puchala