Sechelt's Curtis Munson has reached the top of the mountain in National Hotrod Association (NHRA) racing.
Munson was among the top drivers at the NHRA's Northwest Division summit racing series at Champion Raceway in Eagle Point, Ore., Sept. 9.
The Sept. 9 day of racing was highlighted by the Race of Champions, a race within a race that pitted the top points-earning drivers from each track in head-to-head competition. Munson's home track is Mission Raceway.
Munson drove his '81 Malibu around Robert Steffen of Tumwater, Wash., for the win in the pro category and punched his ticket to the national run-off in November at the NHRA Auto Club of Southern California finals at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
Each category winner will square off against the NHRA summit finals champions from NHRA's other six divisions for a winner-take-all $5,000 purse. Each of the drivers who advances to Pomona will receive an additional $3,500 for competing at Pomona Raceway.
Munson is still in a bit of shock over what he's just accomplished.
"This is like the Stanley Cup for bracket racing - it doesn't get any bigger than this," Munson said. "When I won in Medford, I had guys 40, 50 years old coming up to me and asking for my autograph. I just had one of those great days at the track where everything came together. I was unstoppable. I won every heat."
Munson has been racing in Mission since he was 18 years old. What started out as just a fun hobby on weekends has gradually gotten a bit more serious the past few years.
"The guys in Mission called me up and asked me to start racing in the larger races at the ET Finals events," he said. "For three years I went and raced in Mission and some of the other tracks and I never could get any solid results, or for that matter, make it down the track. Last year I finally won a couple of rounds at a race in Seattle. This year I set some goals and I wanted to be in the Race of Champions. In my wildest dreams I never could have imagined that I'd win the whole thing."Munson is currently number three in points in Mission.
"It's just unbelievable. Since I won in Medford, I've gotten calls from other racers all over the U.S. Speedzone magazine is doing a two-page feature on me. It's crazy," he said. "I've won the biggest event that you can win. I'm just stoked that I won this. Down in the U.S. this is so big."
Munson is in Ashcroft this weekend for an event and plans to race in Mission at the beginning of October.
"I want to make sure my car is running well and keep that feel for racing," Munson said. "I can't wait to get to California. It's going to be an experience of a lifetime."
