TEMECULA, CA – 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. Continue reading →

LAS VEGAS – Spencer Hyde and the Head Racing team continued their impressive rookie campaign at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Facing a highly competitive 21-car Funny Car field, Hyde qualified in the No. 5 position, marking another milestone in his first full-time NHRA season and strengthening his position as the leading contender for NHRA Rookie of the Year.

“I remain so proud of the guys over at Head Racing and am really grateful for the opportunity to drive for and learn from Jim [Head],” said Hyde. “This weekend proved how consistent we have become, and how comfortable I have gotten in this nitro Funny Car.”

Hyde’s weekend was highlighted by an outstanding 3.917 second, 324.75 mph run during Friday’s second qualifying session, the third-quickest pass of the round, earning him a valuable bonus point. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, Hyde was one of the only drivers in the field to make four solid and competitive runs throughout qualifying. Continue reading →

STRATFORD, ON – Canadian drag racer Spencer Hyde has taken the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series by storm during his rookie season. The Stratford, Ontario, resident has proven himself to be a standout first year driver piloting the Head Inc. Funny Car owned and tuned by Hall of Famer Jim Head. Hyde has won the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals Mission #2Fast2Tasty event, raced to a fist-full of semifinals and two final rounds, qualified for the 2025 Countdown in the Top Ten and secured the No. 1 qualifier at the Reading Nationals, the first Countdown playoff race.

“I feel like I have proven myself race after race driving this Funny Car, which arguably is the toughest race car to drive,” said Hyde, an accomplished multi-class driver. “I have won a lot of races leading up to my jump to Funny Car, but this was a whole new animal. Thanks to Jim and the team for giving me a good car I think I proved myself in one of the toughest classes in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.”

Hyde’s self-evaluation is echoed by the opinions of some of his toughest competitors. Throughout the season Hyde has held his own against numerous Funny Car world champions including Jack Beckman (1-1), Ron Capps (2-2), and Austin Prock (1-1). The rookie has a winning record in his lone meetings with world champions Matt Hagan (1-0) and Cruz Pedregon (1-0). Continue reading →

DALLAS  – Canadian Spencer Hyde continued to turn heads during his rookie season, this week making the most of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed, the fourth race of the Countdown. The driver of the Head Inc. Nitro Funny Car continued to make waves in his rookie season, knocking out former Texas Fall Nationals winner Bob Tasca III in the first round and advancing to the quarterfinals.

“I came into this race really wanting to make a statement,” said Hyde. “Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving, so my entire family was able to be in town for the weekend. And then of course, my fiancé, Courtney, calls Texas home. It would have been the perfect race to secure my first Nitro Funny Car win, but I am optimistic about what these last two Countdown races will bring.”

After four qualifying runs made in front of huge crowds on Friday and Saturday, Hyde entered race day in the No. 9 qualifying position. This position was based on the strength of a 3.945 second, 299.28 mph pass he made on Friday night while competing for the Battle for the Saddle. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – In the third race of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown, Spencer Hyde, driver for Head Racing and the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, continued his fight to move up in the point standings. Hyde entered race day of the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in the No. 8 qualifying position, up against driver Jack Beckman.

“We had to really dig deep this weekend,” said Hyde. “It’s our playoffs and everyone is out here battling. This team worked really hard all through qualifying and we felt good going into the first round. We made runs in cool weather on Friday night and in the heat yesterday.”

Hyde’s best pass of the weekend came on Friday night, when he was competing for the “Top Hitter” bat. His 3.903 second, 325.61 mph run was enough to slot him into the No. 8 qualifying position on Sunday. He was up against No. 9 qualifier Jack Beckman. This was their third time this year meeting in eliminations, with Hyde coming out ahead in the previous two. Continue reading →

CHARLOTTE – Rookie standout Spencer Hyde continued to strengthen his case for NHRA Rookie of the Year honors this weekend at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, powering the Head Inc. Ford Mustang into the second quad for a quarterfinal finish and leaving the event sitting eighth in the championship points standings.

Hyde entered eliminations in the No. 12 qualifying position, thanks to his Q3 pass of 3.967 seconds at 324.12 mph. In the first round, he lined up against veterans Chad Green, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria. Rising to the occasion, Hyde delivered his quickest run of the weekend, a 3.944 second, 325.06 mph pass, to take the win light and advance alongside Green.

“We have a race car that can win races and I am getting better with every pass,” said Hyde. “That was a big first-round win for the Head Inc. and Hyde Construction Funny Car team. I can’t say enough about how well this team is working together. We made some great runs in qualifying but it was pretty hot this weekend.” Continue reading →

READING, PA – The NHRA Countdown is designed to make the final six races of the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series interesting, and the first race, the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, did exactly just that. Spencer Hyde, the rookie Funny Car driver for Head Racing, entered race day in the No. 1 qualifying position. After advancing to the quarterfinals, he was knocked out earlier than he anticipated, along with No. 2 qualifier and points leader Austin Prock and No. 4 qualifier Jack Beckman.

“This race had so many crazy things happen, in every professional class,” said Hyde. “I said when I earned the No. 1 qualifier that I knew it would be no guarantee, but to have No. 1 qualifiers out early, crashes happen in Top Fuel and funky DQ circumstances happen in Pro Stock is pretty wild. There’s a reason they call this place the House of Chaos, and it definitely lived up to that name. I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win, but that’s drag racing for you.”

Hyde earned his first No. 1 qualifying spot during the second qualifying session on Friday, with his best pass of the weekend, a 3.868 second, 330.07 mph run. In the first round of eliminations, he was up against part-time driver Phil Burkart Jr. It wasn’t the smoothest run, but Hyde was the first to the finish line, allowing him to advance to the quarterfinals. Continue reading →

READING, PA – The Canadian driver for Head Racing, Spencer Hyde, can officially add a No. 1 qualifier to his 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year resume. He earned the No. 1 qualifying position at the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway off the strength of his second qualifying run that he made on Friday evening. This 3.868 second, 330.07 mph pass held steady on Saturday as the 17 cars behind him tried unsuccessfully to grab the pole position from him.

“Getting this No. 1 qualifier is awesome,” said Hyde. “We’ve been waiting 15 races to do that. It’s good for my guys and for me. It gives us all some extra confidence and motivation to go and win this thing tomorrow.”

This is the first No. 1 qualifier of Hyde’s Funny Car career. Hyde understands entering race day in the top position sets him and the Head Racing team up for best possible success. He is looking to turn four win lights on tomorrow, getting his first Funny Car win and making it a perfect weekend of Provisional No. 1 qualifier, No. 1 qualifier and Wally winner. Continue reading →

READING, PA – 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.”

Spencer Hyde in the Maple Grove Raceway media center on Friday night talks about the prospect of earing his first career No. 1 qualifier, photo credit Werner Communications

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. Continue reading →