When COVID curtailed original event plans for Mission Raceway – Castrol Raceway steps to the plate…..
The third of four NHRA Northwest Division Spider Electric Canadian Championship Series race dates was completed at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway over the recent Labour Day weekend.
The date/location for this event had been relocated to Alberta when BC’s strict provincial health limitations prevented original scheduling — and it was the second race held at the Edmonton facilty for the series within a month.
The weekend’s “double header” highlighted a solid field of Canadian-based Lucas Oil level NHRA Sportsman class car racing — the results from which produced a couple of undefeated racers.
Jason Padd (from Chestermere AB) might have been the biggest story of the race as the defending 2019 points champion from within Castrol Raceway’s very own and dynamic “Top Eliminator Club” — continued his track mastery.
Racing his AutoMaxx-sponsored Top Dragster — Padd prevailed during both Saturday’s and Sunday’s TS/TD Combo — 1/8th mile eliminators – both of which featured 30+ entries.
Jason Padd retained his very high reputation for winning — going undefeated during Edmonton’s recent NHRA Spider Electric Championship Series event weekend.
On Saturday he topped opponent Brody Allison in the final and then on Sunday he beat Daylen Miller in the event’s last dash to the finish line stripe.
Yes — we’ve had a great year so far,” said Jason, who also collected some big $$$ winning at Medicine Hat earlier this summer. “When considering the on going situation this year — I originally didn’t even think racing was a possibility! I did win my first NHRA Wally at the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals back in 2018 – so it was great to add to that collection — but to end up with 2 in a weekend was even better!”
“This category is so tough to race in — never to be taken lightly. The Top Dragster/Top Sportsman class in this area always brings out the best racers from around!” he affirmed. “A huge thanks goes to Mark Simmons (Spider Electric) for stepping up and working with our NHRA division to make this series for us Canadians!”
Racing their Saskatchewan-based “family Fords” Sandy Cawsey (top) and her husband Bill took home 3 NHRA Wallys within Lucas Oil Series index class racing.
Also visiting victory lane X2 this weekend was Sandy Cawsey from Regina Saskatchewan. Racing her very well prepped and very unique ’66 Ford Fairlane — Sandy dominated in the S/ST (11.10 secs) index class. Cawsey, who was the NHRA Lucas Oil Division Five points champion back in 2016, defeated Jason Kendel on Saturday and then James Pahl on Sunday for that class’s top honours.
Sandy wasn’t however the only Cawsey family member to score this weekend — her husband Bill Cawsey (racing his Ford Mustang) was also a winner. Bill won in Super Gas (10.10 index) on Sunday when he beat Dale Dryden in the final round. Saturday’s S/G eliminator champion was Al Phee in his Chevy Camaro.
Alberta’s Al Phee won in S/G during the Saturday schedule.
NHRA’s remaining Lucas Oil level index class (Super Comp 9.10) featured wins from two Calgary-based drivers. Ken Mostowich topped Reid Holland in Sunday’s run off and it was Rob White defeating Andy Scheu the day before.
A strong field of Stock/Super Stock Combo racers supported the event — and that featured wins by two very popular provincial Mopar brand drivers.
Edmonton’s Clarence Bidniak drove his classic ’70 Plymouth Roadrunner B/SA past Joe Graves to win over Saturday’s field and then it was Spruce Grove’s Darcy Clarke scoring a win on Sunday with his high flying immculate ’64 Savoy SS/EA, beating British Columbia-based Chevy racer Darren Stobbe in the final round.
Mopar brand proponents Darcy Clarke (top) and Clarence Bidnick both took home Stock/SS Combo titles.
The NHRA Spider Electric Championship Series weekend race also included highly competitive action within Castrol Raceway’s always aggressive Junior Dragster class program with wins by MacKenna Ochitwa (Junior Lightning) and Tristan Duchene (Junior Thunder) on Sunday which were preceded by on Saturday by titles to Lincoln Rutherford (Junior Lighting) and (Daniel O’Connor (Junior Thunder).
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Don Meleshko/Bruce Biegler
