Spencer Hyde, the Funny Car driver for Head Racing and 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year lead contender, earned his first provisional No. 1 today at the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway.

His 3.868 second, 330.07 mph pass shot him to the top of the competitive, 18-car field, putting him .014 seconds ahead of No. 2 qualifier Austin Prock. 

“A No. 1 qualifier is obviously one of the boxes you want to check when you come out here,” said Hyde. “But qualifying doesn’t get you Wally’s. I want to win one of these things so badly. We’ve been close a couple times in the finals, and the race just didn’t go our way. But qualifying No. 1 puts you in the best possible position on race day, and I’m confident that if we get to a final again, we’ll get it done.”

Previously this season, highlights for Hyde have included trips to the finals at the New England Nationals and Sonoma Nationals, a No. 2 qualifier in Sonoma and a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win in Vegas. He has continued to improve across the board, and he credits a lot of his success to him and the Head Racing team gelling more and more.

 “Jim [Head] has put together an awesome team,” said Hyde. “These guys are pumped every round. They’re just excited to be here, and it makes the experience a whole lot better. I want to get a win for this team so bad. They work hard. They do such a good job giving me an amazing car. I really feel like this could be our weekend.” 

As a rookie, this is Hyde’s first time in the Countdown. Now that the points have reset, the race for the world championship is anyone’s game, and Hyde knows that low ET bonus points during qualifying matter. He entered Reading No. 9 in points, just two points behind Alexis DeJoria. The three bonus points he earned from going quickest of the second qualifying session were enough to already push him into No. 8, all before race day. 

“Every point matters in the Countdown,” said Hyde. “The weather is going to be warmer tomorrow. We’re going to run a little earlier in the day. Track conditions are probably going to be a little bit trickier. I’m hopeful that my 86 will hold up. But this team is hungry, and we’ll tackle whatever we are handed on Sunday.” 

A native of Stratford, Ontario Hyde credits Maple Grove Raceway and the surrounding Reading, Pennsylvania area for helping him to feel confident going into this weekend. 

“This is my first time at this track. The facility is beautiful,” said Hyde. “This area reminds me of home in Canada, where we live out in the sticks and in the hills, so this feels like home and I love it. It would be incredible to get both my first No. 1 qualifier and Wally in the first Countdown race of my Funny Car career.” 

Hyde and the Head Racing team will have two more qualifying runs tomorrow, September 13. The first will be at 1:30 p.m., where he will be paired with No. 4 qualifier Jack Beckman, and the final qualifying session will be at 4 p.m. If his 3.868 second ET holds up, he will earn his first No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car, further strengthening his NHRA Rookie of the Year resume.

Posted by Elon Werner
DragRaceCanada File Photo by Dave DeAngelis