NHRA’s Arizona Nationals includes a wide range of Western Canadian participants…..

By our count close to 20 racers from within Western Canada were on the entry list from last weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series level racing at the 2nd NHRA national event of the season.   Here is a photo highlight package — just some of that….

The Alberta-based Pontiac Super Stockers of Tom Nolan and Don Thomas both finished high during eliminations at Phoenix – with both veteran racers having 4th round finishes. Nolan (from Lacombe AB – top photo) was the top Canadian qualifier for Super Stock (11th) – running -.896 with his GT/EA 2008 model G5.

Will Yakimetz (from Vegreville AB) showed at the Arizona Nationals with a new supercharged engine program in his ’69 Camaro. Will made his quickest career runs yet (6.860 secs) to qualify 4th in the T/S class but lost out in a round one double break out affair when the car went 6.77 secs (6.85 dial in).

There were two “topless” Canadian machines entered in Super Gas at the Arizona Nationals. Ed Hutchison’s show stopping Corvette from Victoria BC and Dave Archambault’s evil looking ’57 (from Calgary) were entered – but neither advanced past the early rounds this time out.

Super popular and influential T/D class racers Trevor and Kelly Ritchie raced for their first time in 2022.   Their slick painted and TNT Supercars built dragster – which features a new Acceleration Motorsports tune up (with the help of Sean Brown) program for this season — ran well during time trails but lost in round one — a foul start.

An interesting story within Canadian T/D racing at the event had Arizona native Kevin Kleineweber in the cockpit of Spider Electric founder Mark Simmons’ Medicine Hat-based dragster — for a one race stint. Kevin drove very well while Mark concentrated on the tuning.  In fact the car qualified #1 in the class (6.101 secs)! — and then won two rounds.

Regina’s Grant Singer once again thrilled the Sportsman racing fans attending with his very high-flying 1990 Camaro SS/BS. Grant qualified with a best of 9.055 secs and went to round #2 for Super Stock.

Calgary’s Ken Mostowich – as per normal – entered both his Chevy cars for NHRA’s Lucas Oil Series competition. While his S/C Camaro (top) did lose out in round #1 – he more then made up for that with a “final four” placing with his 2015 Corvette in Super Gas!

The very popular husband and wife Stock/Super Stock team of Bob & Charlene Gullett (from Calgary) were also on hand. Bob lost out in round two with his classic G/S ’68 Nova and Charlene had a 3rd round finish with her GT/MA ’95 Cutlass.

Posted by Bruce Biegler

All photos by Dave Ostaszewski

To view additional Canadian racer photos from this race – link to the LMLCMedia event photo gallery:  HERE