NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
Todd Fleck crouches next to his dragster after winning the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association's super pro class on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 at the local strip.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Todd Fleck defended his title as the boss of the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association’s super pro class.
While he didn’t reach a final during the last weekend of action at the local strip, Fleck did enough to cement his place atop the super pro standings for a second consecutive season thanks to a commanding summer of racing.
“I’m very happy to get it again, two in a row,” said Fleck. “It was up and down a little bit. The car worked awesome, the driver was sometimes so-so, but I had a very good season.”
Like many drivers at the MHDRA, racing is a family affair for Fleck. The back-to-back super pro champ spent the season driving alongside his daughter Rachelle and says it’s been great to help her develop behind the wheel over the past 16 years.
“She’s 24 years old and she’s been doing junior dragsters since eight years old and she’s been running that (super pro) car since 16,” said Fleck. “We do work together lots. I have a very good crew with lots of friends who are always heling out, which we need as well to keep the cars going and everything.”
Rachelle added the two work together on the vehicles often, but they’re still rivals on the track.
“It’s really kept us together as a family,” said Rachelle, adding the class’s female racers rally together as well. “I love beating up on the boys, the old men. It’s definitely fun to do and they definitely underestimate the girls. Any time you can have girl power that’s definitely fun. The girls are always rooting for each other.”
While she would have enjoyed taking the title from her father, Rachelle admits it’s great to see him on top of the standings yet again.
“It’s a bit bittersweet. I wish it could be me but I’m actually really happy to see him take home the trophy again,” said Rachelle. “I didn’t do as good as I expected, but I didn’t hit the wall or anything so that’s a bonus.”
Todd added it was a particularly strong season for the super pro class, which inherited a number of younger drivers with plenty of experience to keep everyone at the top of their game every weekend.
“Every year it’s getting tougher and tougher,” said Todd. “A lot of these younger kids are coming out of junior dragsters and going into big cars, and they have eight years or more of racing already. It’s very tough nowadays. It’s not like it used to be.”
No other class champions were reported by the association as of press time.
As for final weekend results, Tyler Zeller won the last event, King of the Track, over Rick Wagenaar Sunday. Riley Toth and Braydon Benko were semifinalists, having won the pro bike and sportsman classes, respectively, earlier in the day.
Chance Edelmann won the pro class, while Arnie Dillman (super pro), Darian Dopp (junior thunder), Tanner Gaetz (junior lightning) and Isaac Stettner (junior street) rounded out the Sunday champs. All but Dillman (of Prelate, Sask.) and Stettner (of Regina) were from Medicine Hat.
Dave Toth won pro bike Saturday, but there weren’t nearly as many hometown winners. Brooks’ Darren Miller won super pro, the Hat’s Perry Bell took the pro class, and the Gas City’s Tristan Van Maarion was the junior lightning champ but the rest of the wins went to out-of-towners.
Humboldt’s Daniel Layfield won junior thunder, Stettner was the junior street winner, Tyler Twerdun of Calgary was the street no bar victor, Vauxhall’s Cyril Forchuk won sportsman, and Red Deer’s Dan Jackson took the street shootout.
On Friday, Edmonton’s Rod Hanger won the street class and Calgary’s Adam Hettler the bike division.
