Tue, 11 Nov 2025, 15:22 PM Carl Spiering Honoured at Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame Ceremony

Courtesy of Bruce Mehlenbacher Inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame

Carl Spiering

MONTREAL, Quebec - Carl Spiering was honored tonight into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame during its 10th Anniversary Gala at the Armon Plaza Montreal Airport Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.

"Thank you to the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame for this incredible acknowledgement," said Carl Spiering. "When I started drag racing, I never in my wildest dreams thought about this honor, but when I got the call, I was pretty darn excited. It certainly would not have been possible without the support of my family, my crew, my sponsors and of course the fans that buy the tickets to support our sport."

A total of 13 nominees were inducted into the Hall of Fame this year at a ceremony celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the sport of drag racing.

"Congratulations Carl Spiering on your induction into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame! The CDRHF recognizes your commitment, innovations and impact you have made to the sport of drag racing," said Paul Tlustos, Marketing Communications Manager (Retired) Eaton's Electrical Business Canada. "Carl's many supporters and fans will be pleased to learn of his induction. I feel privileged to have witnessed just a small part of his successful journey."

Spiering joined an elite group which includes racers, mechanics, crew chiefs, engine and chassis builders, track promoters, announcers, track officials, photographers, journalists, and sponsors who have been honored for their contributions to the sport.

"I have known Carl dating back to when he competed as a Ski-doo racer, worked with him during his time with Eaton Cutler-Hammer and of course the Pro Modified Racing Series (PMRA)," said Bruce Mehlenbacher, an inducted member of the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. "Carl has done it all in drag racing, successful competing, building race cars, race engines and components and his time with Eaton Cutler-Hammer educating thousands of fans across Canada about our sport. I value his friendship; his credentials speak for themselves, making him a natural to be inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame."

Several members of Carl's family, and associates were in attendance tonight, including his wife Tanja, Ron Spiering, Mark and Tiffany Spiering, Rob Becker, Wally and Lynn Braun, Scott and Stacy Wildgust, Rob Conway and Paul Thlustos (Eaton Cutler-Hammer), Frank and Andrea Federico, Warren and Charlotte Bodman, Joe Muro, Dion Potestio, Bruce Mehlenbacher and Carolyn Ellerker.

Carl Spiering began drag racing more than 30 years ago. After his time with snowmobiles, Carl worked his way up through the ranks in faster and more serious competition drag racing classes.

After several years as a factory-sponsored Ski-doo racer and Bombardier team owner, Carl raced NHRA Pro Comp at St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, Ontario, in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, he switched to a Chevrolet Camaro in the Pro Modified class.

After much success running across the eastern United States and Canada over the next few seasons, he travelled with the Paton Racing Team to further educate himself on the sport of drag racing. In 1998, he won the Pro Comp Track Championship at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.

The next challenge for his racing career started in 1999. He secured corporate backing with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and joined forces with the Persico Brothers from Western New York to drive their Pro Modified 1967 Camaro in local and IHRA competitions until 2002.

After driving and tuning the Persico Brothers machine, he ventured out independently, campaigning a 1957 Chevrolet in Pro Modified at the end of 2003.

Spiering secured major primary financial and corporate sponsorship from the Eaton Corporation's Canadian Electrical Business (Cutler-Hammer). This remains one of the largest sponsorships in Canadian drag racing. Carl would host and entertain thousands of Eaton Cutler-Hammer distributors, customers, employees and VIPS at corporate events and National event races in North America's International Hot Rod Racing Association (IHRA).

Carl won several International Hot Rod Racing Association (IHRA) national events, including Budds Creek, Maryland, in 2003; Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, in 2005; Castrol Motorsports Park in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2008 and the Torco Pro Modified Shootout at US 131 Motorsport Park in Martin, Michigan in 2005. Carl was also a part of the first field of Pro Modifieds at the 2000 NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Carl was one of the early Pro Modified racers favoured to break the six-second quarter-mile barrier in legal IHRA competition, running a 6.03-second time at Mission, BC and a 6.01-second time at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, ON.

At this time, Carl built a very successful and influential motorsport business. In 2005 / 2006, Carl formed Engine Research and Development (ERD). This full-service engine building and dyno tuning shop based in the Niagara area became one of the premier establishments for high-performance engines and support throughout North America and the UK.

Spiering was influential and played a key role in forming the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) with Bruce Mehlenbacher in 2005. The series became one of the strongest pro-modified drag racing series in this popular class. It features a solid contingent of teams at some of the best facilities in Eastern Canada and the United States. The PMRA has been a major player in the Pro Modified ranks, it produced some of the best racing in North America, with top cars and drivers doing battle on drag strips in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Michigan, and Maryland.

Carl introduced his daughters, Lisa and Monica, to the sport of drag racing, starting them both in Junior Dragsters. Lisa progressed to Top Dragster, competing in IHRA National Events across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Ohio, and Michigan.

Carl won the first-ever Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) event at Toronto Motorsports Park's Cayuga Dragway on Victoria Day Weekend in 2005, driving his Spiering Motorsports Eaton Cutler-Hammer entry. He defeated Al Billes.

Carl Spiering was the first recipient of the John Massingberd Memorial Award, presented by the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) in 2009, to a deserving individual who represents the same commitment, dedication, and passion that John Massingberd conveyed for the sport of auto racing.

Since stepping out of the driver's seat, Carl has been a valued and influential support to many racers, both professional and sportsman, in drag racing.