Wed, 20 Aug 2025, 19:59 PM Spencer Hyde Experiences Highs and Lows On Raceday in Brainerd

Courtesy of Elon Werner, Werner Communications Photo credit Innovation Creative Experts

BRAINERD, Minn. --- In drag racing, you can win or lose a race on the starting line, and the Canadian driver for Head Racing and Hyde Construction, Spencer Hyde, proved that this weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. As the current leader in the 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year contest, Hyde has been putting a lot of emphasis on improving and maintaining consistency with his reaction times. This paid off with an early first round win against Alexis DeJoria but ultimately cost him in the quarterfinals against Chad Green.

“Alexis has a great team. Zippy [Mike Neff] knows what he is doing, he’s been out here a long time, and he knows how to make that hotrod go fast,” said Hyde, at the top end after his holeshot first round win. “But Jim [Head] and Dave [Leahy] and the boys gave me a good car and I can finally say that the driver did his job and left on time and got us a round win there. We’ll take that, build on it and hopefully get it done again.”

Spencer Hyde and the Head Inc Hyde Construction Funny Car raced to the quarterfinals today at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals.

Ahead of race day, Hyde’s best pass at the Brainerd drag strip came during the second round of qualifying, with a 3.942 second, 302.62 mph run. In a highly competitive field, this was enough to put him in the No. 11 spot on race day. His first-round matchup was against No. 6 qualifier Alexis DeJoria. This was the second race in a row where these two lined up against each other in the first round. Hyde left on DeJoria, winning the race on a holeshot, his first in competition.

“We got a nice win in the first round,” said Hyde. “I have a great race car and Jim has previously run very well here. I am getting comfortable in this Head Inc. and Hyde Construction Funny Car and this is a good time of the season to start building your confidence.”

In the second round, Hyde faced Chad Green, who was still riding the high of beating his son, Hunter Green in round one. Green was off the starting line first, and despite Hyde having the quicker and faster car, Hyde fell to Green’s holeshot win.

“My reaction time for that round was pretty consistent with what I had been doing all weekend,” said Hyde. “I am tough on myself, but I am also working hard to continue to improve. It is a process, and I think we are moving in the right direction.”

With one race left in the regular Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Hyde will stay No. 8 in points. Less than 150 points separates him from the upper half of the Top 10, and with the opportunity to earn points and a half at the U.S. Nationals, Hyde has the chance to put himself in a very strong position at the start of the Countdown.

“We have a little bit of a break before the U.S. Nationals,” said Hyde. “This weekend I learned a lot since we had some cooler conditions yesterday and today. I think we will be tough in Indy and beyond.”

Hyde and the Head Racing team will be back in competition in two weeks at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals on August 27-September 1 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. There will be one qualifying session on Friday, August 29, two qualifying sessions on Saturday, August 30 and two more qualifying sessions on Sunday, August 31. For tickets or more information on the NHRA U.S. Nationals visit nhra.com.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 5.926 sec, 115.39 mph; Qual. 14
Q2: 3.942 sec, 302.62 mph; Qual. 7
Q3: 9.925 sec, 78.38 mph; Qual. 9
Q4: 4.461 sec, 194.63 mph; Qual. 11
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Inc. Hyde Construction Funny Car, (.074), 3.904 sec, 327.51 mph def. Alexis DeJoria, Los Angeles, Calif., Bandero Café Funny Car, (.103), 3.878 sec, 331.77 mph

Second Round
Chad Green, Midland, Tex., Bond Coat Ford Mustang, (.039), 3.979 sec, 309.34 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Inc. Hyde Construction Funny Car, (.099), 3.942 sec, 323.19 mph

Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Funny Car
1.  Austin Prock   1140
2.  Jack Beckman    898
3.  Matt Hagan      871
4.  Ron Capps       840
5.  Paul Lee        767
6.  J.R. Todd       720
7.  Dan Wilkerson   664
8.  Spencer Hyde    620
9.  Chad Green      577
10. Alexis DeJoria  568

Press Releases: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 05- Motorcycle Drag Racer Dystany Spurlock Aims for Historic NASCAR ARCA Series Bid
Jan 28- Hyde Reaches Elite Eight at U.S. Street Nationals
Jan 28- Red Line Oil Joins Hull Racing for the 2026 Season
Jan 28- Speedmaster Signs Mult-Year Partnership with John Force Racing as Co-Primary Sponsor of Josh Hart's Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 19- Jon Schaffer Named Crew Chief for Paul Lee's Nitro Funny Car Team in NHRA Mission Foods Series
Jan 17- John Force Racing Renews Apparel Partnership with Marwin Sports USA
Dec 18- Motorsports Community Raises $13,000 for Riley Kids at Return of Rev ‘n Roll Event
Dec 17- Sam Pack Ford Releases Buddy Hull Edition Mustang
Dec 13- Summit Motorsports Park Launches Launches "Race For Hope" Charity: Accelerating Positive Change
Dec 13- Sander Racing Wheels Named Official Wheel Partner of Elite Motorsports