Hatters fare well at NHRA National Open

By Medicine Hat News on July 20, 2021.

The drag strip was lively all weekend with drivers from across Western Canada facing off at the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association’s NHRA National Open event, and local drivers made the most of their chances.

Medicine Hat’s Tanner Gaetz picked up Saturday’s Super Pro victory by edging out Calgary’s Rob Harrison in the final. In the Sportsman class, Randy Stowe defeated fellow Hatter Brendan Ashby. Medicine Hat’s Kiandra Gaetz clinched the Junior Lightning victory by defeating Humbolt’s Clara Layfield in the final, while fellow Hatter Mark Simmons fell in the Super Quick final to Leduc’s Braydon Ochitwa.

Also Saturday, Cypress County’s Luke Munsch bested Medicine Hat’s Dale Figley in the Junior Street final, Saskatoon’s Rich Harder took the Pro win over Maple Creek’s Terry Opsal, Airdrie’s Steve Campbell beat Calgary’s Adam Hettler to win the Motorcycles and Sleds class, Calgary’s Ken Mostowich took both the Super Comp and Super Gas victories, Brandon’s Darren Pearce defeated Brooks’ Jason Kendel to win the Super Street event, Morinville’s Daniel O’Connor won the Junior Thunder final and Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle beat Abbotsford’s Darrell Stobbe for the ST/SST/Combo win.

Gaetz picked up the Junior Lightning win again on Sunday, this time defeating Maple Creek’s Kindi Opsal. Fellow Hat product Riley Toth won the Motorcycles and Sleds final ahead of Zach Toth, while Dean Adie beat Ashby in an All-Hat Sportsman final, and Hatter Dale Figley defeated Cypress’ Paige Munsch in the Junior Street final.

Also Sunday, Gibbons’ Shawn Loblick won the Super Pro event ahead of Calgary’s Rob Harrison, Ridgeville’s Robert Schultz defeated Mostowich to win the Super Comp event and Brandon’s Jeff Crooks beat Mostowich in Super Gas. Kendel defeated Wembley’s James Rutherford in the Super Street final, Sherwood Park’s Norman Lapointe won the ST/SST/Combo event ahead of Stobbe, Barnwell’s Ed Van Der Kooi won the Super Quick/TD/TS final ahead of Edmonton’s Chevy Reeves and Faith Loblick picked up the Junior Thunder win.

On Friday, Zeller bested Hettler in the Non-Electronics Gamblers final, Sherwood Park’s Jacob Mills won the Junior Gamblers and Reeves picked up the Electronics Gamblers victory.

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