Canadian native fuel Funny Car drivers give NHRA’s Summit Racing Equipment event a go…

Nitro Funny Car driver Spencer Hyde was a hometown hero this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Team owner Jim Head is from Ohio, while Hyde, from Stratford Ontario, does consider the Norwalk track his ‘American home track.’

Both Hyde and his legendary crew chief and team owner, Jim Head, were kept busy on and off the track. Even though they made a fierce race day attempt, the Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car had an early exit after the first round.
 
Hyde entered race day on Sunday in the No. 13 qualifying position, based on the final pass he made during qualifying, a 3.965 second, 322.19 mph run.

He was up against No. 4 qualifier Jack Beckman, who he had a 2-1 record against going into this matchup. Even though Hyde made a stout 3.936 second, 327.19 mph pass, it was not enough against the 2012 Funny Car world champion. Beckman went on to make it to the finals.

“I have a lot of respect for Jack Beckman, both as a driver and as a mentor to so many of the Funny Car guys out here,” said Hyde. “Today was his 60th birthday, so the only positive way I am looking at this first round loss is knowing I at least didn’t send a guy packing on a milestone birthday.”
 
The Norwalk race officially marks the halfway point of the 2026 season. There’s now just four races left before the Countdown to the Championship.

Coming out of this weekend, Hyde and the team have two weekends in a row off before heading to Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California – coming July 17-19th.

“We’re all going to get some much needed rest before buckling down and trying to get as many points as possible before the Countdown starts,” said Hyde. “We have to keep making Hyde Construction, OUTLAW Light Beer and the Caine Group proud as we get into the thick of the rest of this season.” 

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Transplanted Toronto native Jeff Arend completed his most recent assignment driving for legend Jim Dunn Racing – also at the Norwalk Ohio event.

Jeff was driving the Jim Dunn Racing Blaze Exhaust Probes-presented Funny Car this weekend.

After earning an initial #10 provisional qualifying position for Friday, that did turn into the #16 provisional qualifying position.

In round one his 4.071 ET at 308.43 mph, lost to defending NHRA World Champion Austin Prock’s 4.031 secs ET at 318.84 mph.

““Norwalk was another nice weekend for Jim Dunn Racing. We enjoyed spending time with Blaze Probes, Crocodile Cloth and all the NHRA fans,” Jeff said.

“The Blaze Probes Dodge ran consistent runs throughout qualifying and on race day. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win light over a very close race against our first round opponent, Austin Prock. The engine and parts looked great all weekend. We will push harder going into the next event in Sonoma, California.”

Posted with files by Elon Werner and Ashley Wilson
Photos by Dave DeAngelis