Ben Lypka
Abbotsford News
It was a case of a little home field advantage for Shawn Cowie at the National Hot Rod Association’s northwest division drag race series event in Mission last weekend.
The Surrey native took home the win in the top alcohol dragster, beating out Oregon’s Joey Severance.
Cowie worked his way down the lane, running 5.437 seconds at 268.17 mph in his final round victory over Joey Severance. Severance had the starting-line advantage against Cowie, but then slowed early and Cowie was able to drive around him to finish out in front. This is Cowie’s first win this year.
Oregon’s Clint Thompson earned top spot in the Top Alcohol Funny Car, beating California’s Mike Doushgounian.
Thompson posted a winning run of 5.775 seconds, 253.37 mph in his 2016 Chevrolet. Doushgounian drove to a 9.179 second, 91.13 mph lap for his runner-up finish. Thompson struggled in round one of qualifying but had a big advantage off the line and pulled away steadily for the easy win over Doushgounian, who was late at the light.
The Comp Eliminator class saw Oregon’s Bryan Hyerstay race his 2009 dragster down the track to take the win over Maple Ridge’s Bruce Perkin.
Hyerstay was runner-up at this event in 2015; he dominated the qualifying rounds and took the win easily this year.
Washington racers dominated in Stock and Super Comp, as Brad Burton battled against Ryan Warter in the Stock final. In a double breakout, Burton posted a winning run of 10.783 seconds, 118.51 mph.
In Super Comp, Marc Heritage faced off with Yeshua Wilcox, and had a winning run of 8.901 seconds, 171.88 mph.
In Super Stock, Oregon’s Joe Sorensen defeated Washington’s Troy Olsonawski to take home the Wally. Sorensen posted a winning run of 10.442 seconds, 127.87 mph in his ’69 Camaro.
In Super Gas, Washington’s Rob Willis took the win in his ’92 Firebird over Oregon’s Steve Laskowske. Willis had a great light and scored the Wally with a 9.923 second, 166.54 mph pass over Laskowske and his ’63 Corvette who broke out.
Other racers visiting the winner’s circle this weekend were Mission’s Martin Jackman in Super Street, Washington’s Mike Federer in the division’s RH Racecars Top Sportsman class and Alberta’s Francesca Giroux in the Rig Rentals Top Dragster.
Visiting the winner’s circle this weekend in Sportsman Motorcycle were Seattle’s Jake Havens (Super Pro), Abbotsford’s Dan Provost (Pro E.T., Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Shootout), Mission’s Jim Behnke, Tom Clark in the Super Comp Shootout, Mike Shannon in the Super Gas Shootout, and Josh Dalrymple in the Super Street Shootout.
Northwest Division racers head to Woodburn, Oregon for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event from July 14 to 17.
