The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) returns to Toronto Motorsports Park’s Dragway (TMP) in Cayuga, Ontario, as part of the NHRA Northeast Division PCRichard.com National Open Series, June 17-19, 2016.
TMP’s Divisional Points Meet is the second of five events in the 2016 series, sponsored by electronic retailer P.C. Richard & Son and will include Stock, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street, as well as Race Cayuga Sportsman Series action.
“During a track visit in December, we discovered that Toronto Motorsports Park is very well equipped to host our event”, noted NHRA Northeast Division Director Dave Mohn. “TMP is one of the nicer facilities in the Division, and they have the resources to make this event extremely successful. We look forward to growing this event for many years.”
Headlining the event will be a Stock/Super Stock Shootout, with two separate races and a $20,000(US) total purse for the two events. A wide variety of cars are expected, including Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Cobra Jets, and FCA (Chrysler) Drag Pak factory-built race cars.
The Stock/Super Stock Shootout is being presented by John Scotti, a prominent figure in Canadian motorsports and founder of the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Profits from money raised at these two races will be donated to the non-profit Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
Neale Armstrong, Director of Drag Racing Operations at Toronto Motorsports Park, has been looking forward to the return of a NHRA Divisional back at Cayuga for years. “This will be close to the old WCS Divisional events we held back in the 70’s and 80’s", noted Armstrong. "I enjoyed watching Super Stock, some of the best racers in the world, putting on a great show with their fantastic wheel stands. The cars still look close to what they did when they came off the showroom floor. It’s an event that any true drag racing fan shouldn’t miss.”
Cayuga racing legend, multiple award winning chassis builder, and Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee Fred “FJ” Smith, who also operates the long-standing Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series, and whose daughter Victoria is a past Can-Am Champion, is very excited about the race. “It’s great to have this race back in Cayuga, an event like this really belongs here. With the talent in our own series now mixed in with the best in the world, this will be a fantastic event”.
Former IMSA Road Racer and Toronto Motorsports Park CEO Uli Bieri is thrilled to host The NHRA National Open. "We are honored, after a 25-year absence that a National Open is coming back to Cayuga and Toronto Motorsports Park. I would like to thank David Mohn, the NHRA and John Scotti for working together with TMP to provide the racing fans of southern Ontario this amazing event. The National Open is a great addition to our 2016 racing schedule. The TMP team is already preparing, as we are expecting upwards of 400-plus competitors for the event and look forward to presenting a spectacular weekend to our fans and competitors."
The National Open will be held June 17-19 with race gates opening Thursday, June 16. Open testing starts Friday, June 17. Time trials and eliminations will take place both Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19, beginning at 10:00 am. Trackside camping and VIP suites are still available. The Dragway at TMP opens for the 2016 season April 17. For more information, visit www.torontomotorsportspark.com or 1-800-824-RACE (7223).
