A very fast and dominating performance caps off the Pro Mod class racing season at Napierville Dragway…..
It didn’t take long for Napierville Dragway’s FuelTech Pro Modified Series (presented by RM Racing Lubricants) to take hold this season. The new circuit which came to fruition in a relatively short period of time last spring from what was formally the UDRA – featured four events in 2021 all at Napierville Dragway and it’s reputation built steadily after each and every race.
Season #1 will however be most remembered for a pretty darn impressive finale — which saw the quickest and fastest 1/8th mile Pro Mod runs in Canadian history as well as the affirmation of an impressive new Canadian class talent – Spencer Hyde.
Racing his team’s Stratford Ontario-based “Ideal Supply” Camaro – Spencer managed his second event win at Napierville this year – but did it with a rather bone-crushing fashion. In total the team made seven runs this weekend: three in the low 3.7 secs and four in the 3.6 secs zone – in what was their most impressive group outing yet.
Hyde Racing was credited with a Canadian all time quick 3.676 secs while taking the measure of a very gutsy 8-car field which overflowed with career best times for entries on the premium prepared Napierville track surface.
In the championship final round on Sunday afternoon — Spencer Hyde was able to defeat Winnipeg’s Kenny Lang in a great pairing – 3.688 secs 203.62 mph to 3.724 secs 202.90 mph.
Hyde, who had qualified #1 (3.676 secs) had in the semi final round been involved in the quickest side-by-side 1/8th mile race in Canadian class history when he beat Toronto’s Raymond Commisso to the stripe by a 3.695 secs to 3.716 secs count.
“First of all, Napierville Dragway staff and all the Brunet family deserve a ton of credit,” Spencer emphasized post race. “It’s so refreshing to see a facility that takes pride in what they have, and puts the effort in to run a race like it should be. Every round is on time and the track is consistently well prepped. That’s the type of things that go a long way with us racers!”
“The level of competition this weekend was awesome,” he continued. “For us to be right in the mix with Pro Mod legends like Raymond Commisso and 2X IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang is quite the feeling — to turn on win lights against them was just a bonus.”
“But I really owe it all to my team — they are like a well-oiled machine. This deal is a whole lot easier when you have good help, and I’m lucky enough to have the best. Having Mark Savage helping me with the tune up is a big confidence builder as well, makes driving the car a lot less stressful.”
“We were the first car in Canada to run in the (3) “sixties” and to reset the Canadian Pro Mod record, win the event and clinch the first ever FuelTech Pro Modified Series Championship (presented by RM Racing Lubricants) —it’s a weekend I will never forget. Again, thanks to my sponsors, crew, family and friends — they are what makes this all happen.”
Another measurement of the series quality and competitiveness directly points to numerous other racers that posted career best math during the season finale event. That included Quebec’s own Luc Trepanier (a 3.856 secs) in the “Undertaker” Firebird (co-owned with Andrea Ballabey) and Cedric Beaulieu who flew his fan favourite turbocharged Chrysler LeBaron to a phenomenal 3.857 secs and 212.26 mph (top speed of the meet).
While the weekend’s racing did run off pretty much without a hitch — there was one rather serious incident – which occurred during Saturday’s 3rd qualifying session. Montreal’s Claude St-Maurice, who had qualified #8, made hard top end contact with the barrier resulting in major damage to his supercharged Firebird – forcing a withdrawal. Thankfully Claude did not suffer any serious injuries.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Brennan Shortall and Mike Lacelle
To view more images from this race weekend visit the LMLCMedia event gallery: HERE
