First year Funny Car driver Spencer Hyde, of Stratford, Ontario, was named 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year at the 2025 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. Hyde, who races for Hall of Fame tuner and team owner Jim Head, received the most votes from a national media panel recognizing his on-track performance as well as his contributions through media coverage and fan engagement.

“It’s a huge feather in my cap to come out here as a nobody and do well,” said Hyde. “We’re at a 50 percent win-loss ratio, which is pretty tough to do your first year out here. You’ve got a guy like Tony Stewart who won it last year. Other big names in our sport, last race in Vegas, I lined up against Del Worsham, who was Rookie of the Year in 1991. To be added to this list is a huge honor. I hope to be another Rookie of the Year who goes on to win big races and championships.” 

A top ten finisher in the highly competitive Funny Car class Hyde, won the Las Vegas Four-Wide NHRA Nationals Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge early in the season and raced to two final round appearances at the New England Nationals (Epping, NH) and the Sonoma Nationals (Sonoma, CA), respectively. He was also the No. 1 qualifier at the opening race of the NHRA Countdown playoffs during the Reading Nationals (Reading, PA). He secured two additional semifinal finishes and six quarterfinals finishes throughout the 20-race season.

In addition to his on-track success Hyde has been a frequent guest on the NHRA Nitro Alley Stage during national events with NHRA announcer Hannah Rickards talking with fans about his rookie season. The Canadian-based driver has joined numerous motorsports podcasts throughout the season engaging with the hosts about his racing accomplishments and his first year behind the wheel of a nitro Funny Car.

Hyde was also a guest on season two of the hit show, Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, where he shared how he got into drag racing and what he has loved about racing in the Funny Car class thus far.

Posted by Elon Werner
Photos by Courtney Enders & Dave DeAngelis