The JSCCS “Eastern Train” makes another visit to Toronto Motorsports Park….
Canada’s fabled Cayuga Dragway surface played out to another crucial round for the 2026 chase for John Scotti Canadian Championship Series glory over last Labour Day weekend.
The “double header” affair was the latest rounds within the 14-race series which now moves on to Napierville Dragway (next weekend) and then Luskville Dragway (Sep 19-20) for it’s conclusion.
NHRA class car racing for Stock/Super Stock combo (sponsored by Select Print & Signs) was another torrid affair with strong participation and which produced two first time circuit winners.
On Saturday, it was Sam Capizzi (from Rochester NY) taming the field with his ’93 Dodge Daytona GT car running down points leader Brian Clayton (Port Perry) in what was a pretty big final round upset. On Sunday the Stock/SS combo final was all Canada as Tony Valerio (Welland ON) racing a ’79 Malibu Wagon, held off London’s Doug Box and his high-flying A/SA ’69 Camaro.
Western NY-racer Sam Capizzi was a Stock/SS Combo winner on Saturday — and Canadian Tony Valerio (below) was victorious on Sunday at TMP’s JSCCS Labour Day weekend race.
NHRA Super category “target shoot” racing was a full quarter-mile index affair – with those categories presented by Epic Racewear. Saturday’s titles went to Brian White (Bourger ON) for Super Comp 8.90, Joe Ferrari (Uxbridge ON) for Super Gas 9.90, and Jamie Champ (Georgetown ON) took home the Super Street 10.90 title.
Canadian racers Brian White (above) dominated for Super Comp 8.90 class racing as did Joe Ferrari for Super Gas 9.90 (photo below) – both were had undefeated weekends.
On Sunday Brian White and Joe Ferrari both remained undefeated for the weekend — winning Super Comp and Super Gas again. Kirk Parry (Niagara Falls ON) collected in Super Street with his Ford Pinto.
NHRA and TMP also brought in Nostalgia Super Stock class racing for the weekend and those wins went to Cayuga-hometown racer Jay Hutchinson for Saturday and to Scott Spencer (Simcoe ON) on Sunday.
Racing this vintage Mopar – Scott Spencer – took home a Nostalgia Super Stock class win.
The JSCCS Bike/Sled title went to current “hot topic” racer Trevor Rock on his Suzuki GSXR. Rock, from St. Thomas ON., had just the weekend before qualified to represent the Eastern Canadian division for NHRA’s Summit Racing ET Finals – out at Las Vegas next October.
JSCCS Bike winner — Trevor Rock
This weekend’s NHRA class racing program for TD and TS cars was included within the Quick 32 Sportsman Series event – a 1/8th mile affair.
For that it was Brooklyn Noakes and Jory Elliott who claimed victories racing their dragsters.
Noakes, (who is daughter Paul Noakes) and from Ilderton, Ontario, driving the Noakes Racing 2001 Undercover Dragster, ran 4.814 seconds on a 4.81 dial-in with a 0.030 reaction time at 144.32 mph to win her final over Rob Gray, Gray, driving the Wilson and Gray Racing 2003 Jerry Bickel Chevrolet Cavalier, ran 4.439 seconds on a 4.43 dial-in with a 0.047 reaction time at 159.91 mph.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series (TD/TS Combo) winners were 2nd generation Canadian drag race drivers Brooklyn Noakes (above) and Jory Elliott.
The next day Elliott, (who is son to Bob Elliott), driving a 2005 Undercover Top Dragster, ran 5.050 seconds on a 5.03 dial-in at 136.75 mph to secure the victory beating Luke Dejonge’s 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt (Puslinch ON), which recorded a 0.030 reaction time and ran 4.554 seconds on a 4.25 dial-in at 130.39 mph to earn the runner-up finish.
Adding to the significance of the weekend, both winners earned a commemorative NHRA 75th Anniversary Diamond Wally, a special edition of drag racing’s most recognizable trophy created as part of NHRA’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2026.
Noakes and Elliott also celebrated their victories in the Toronto Motorsports Park Winner’s Circle with Victory Mist, the Official Celebration Cuvée of the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series Labour Day Weekend.
“The weekend was another great job by Uli Bieri and his staff — the on track portion of racing went very well,” commented Glenn Grow NHRA’s Canadian representative.
“This race was very well attended with more than 25 “new to the series” racers across the various categories. We observed local racers really stepping up and taking care of the necessary paperwork Lic, chassis, safety gear…etc.”
“We also experimented a bit — and are excited about working with some more local race groups for next year — with some new categories and some different stuff,” Glenn added.
Posted with files by Bruce Biegler and Bruce Mehlenbacher
Photos by Steve Lowry – Blake Farnan – Stacee Richards
(Editors Note: DragRaceCanada will post a feature car photo extra also from the TMP Labour Day race as well as separate “Pro Mod Portal” update – both coming soon!)
