Western Canada’s 2020 COVID alternative drag racing series concludes in Southern Alberta…
Last weekend, the NHRA’s Pacific Northwest division’s Spider Electric Canadian Championship Series played out its final chapter at the MHDRA’s Medicine Hat Drag Strip.
Due to consequences of the worldwide pandemic, this creative series was implemented on an emergency basis this summer by NHRA’s Pacific Northwest division director (Matt Levonas) and primary backer and accomplished TD racer (Mark Simmons), the owner of Medicine Hat based Spider Electric. The series was by design a place to give Canadian racers, who would normally participate within the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Divisional chase each season (but were restricted due to the USA/Canada border closure) an opportunity to run for a NHRA championship honour after all.
Medicine Hat’s last event (the 4th weekend of season racing) originally scheduled to be a two-day double header affair — was in fact Saturday only — racing on Sunday was cancelled due to inclement weather.
The event highlighted 4 categories for NHRA Lucas Oil class racing – as well as a 1/8th mile Top Dragster/Top Sportsman Shootout event.
The Stock/Super Stock Combo race featured a win by Norm Lapointe driving his meticulously clean ’67 Camaro G/SA from Sherwood Park AB. Norm earned his first win of the season within the series when he held off the ’96 Camaro Super Stock raced by Joe Graves in the final – who broke out. Norm’s winning time was 11.28 secs at 113.30 mph.
Norm Lapointe was the winner in the Stock/SS Combo event in his Chevy Camaro.
The altitude adjusted NHRA index classes featured three different provincial winners.
Ken Mostowich (from Calgary) won in the Super Comp 9.10 class in his Camaro – defeating Robbie White’s dragster (also from Calgary) in the championship round. Bill Cawsey (from Saskatchewan), who had won Super Gas during the previous Spider Electric race in Edmonton, duplicated that when he drove is Ford Mustang past Andrew Sargent’s Daytona in the final. Bill ran a winning 10.10 secs at 163.54 mph. From Manitoba, it was Gareth Senkow, who came away the winner in Super Street (11.10) index class racing when he beat Jason Kendel in a double break out final round.
Gareth Senkow (from Manitoba) prevailed in the S/ST class in his Ford Pinto.
Bill Cawsey (near lane) defeated Andrew Sargent in the S/G championship round.
Ken Mostowich scored the Super Comp title in his Camaro.
The Top Dragster/Top Sportsman field was covered by Dwaine Ringguth in his Calgary based car. Dwaine beat Reid Senio who had a red-light in a final round match that featured two TNT Super Car built dragsters — by a 4.644 secs to 4.634 secs count.
The TD/TS final featured Dwaine Ringguth versus Reid Senio.
The race featured the MHDRA’s very strong presence with ET Bracket racing too. Robbie White (who was r/up in Super Comp) did take home the Super Pro class title – beating Rick Wagnaar in the final round. Medicine Hat-based drivers cleaned up within three other ET eliminators on Saturday. Colin Grimm drove his super clean ’71 Chevelle to the Pro title and Rory Vanderberg won in Sportsman class racing. For Motorcycle/Sled drag racing it was this area’s “hitter” Dave Toth who prevailed riding his Kawasaki ZX10.
Robbie White (from Calgary) had a strong event appearance — winning in Super Pro and going to the final in Super Comp.
Colin Grimm won in Pro ET with his great looking Chevelle.
Dave Toth dominated Bike/Sled racing once again at Medicine Hat.
DragRaceCanada will post a summary that highlights the overall NHRA Pacific Northwest Spider Electric Canadian Championship Series points champs – that post is coming in the near future.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bernie Frey 
