Local racer pushes through mechanical woes to reach season goal
After a season that repeatedly threatened to derail his plans, Airdrie drag racer Jason Born has secured the qualification he wanted: he will compete in the U.S. Northwest Division 6 E.T. Finals this autumn.
Born’s road to the U.S. event has been anything but smooth. Over the course of the season he endured recurring transmission trouble and saw four race weekends cancelled by rain. At one points meet, the transmission in his truck — which had already been repaired once — failed on his first pass.
“I looked in the rearview mirror and I saw the smoke coming out, and I could, I could feel that it was not right,” Born said. He moved toward the side of the track, hoping he had not left oil on the racing surface. By the time he reached the end of the track, he said fluid was pouring out.
That incident ended his opening points weekend, but it was not his only setback. The season also included four rain cancellations that wiped out opportunities to score. Still, despite the interruptions and mechanical drama, Born qualified for both Northwest Division 6 E.T. Finals events on NHRA’s 2026 Summit Racing Series schedule.
Two finals on the calendar
Born will race in the Canadian event at RAD Torque Raceway in Edmonton, scheduled for Aug. 29–30, and the U.S. finals at Qlispé Raceway Park in Airway Heights, Washington, near Spokane, which run Sept. 4–6. The Washington event was the goal he publicly set last November.
| Event | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Division 6 E.T. Finals (Canada) | RAD Torque Raceway, Edmonton | Aug. 29–30, 2026 |
| Northwest Division 6 E.T. Finals (U.S.) | Qlispé Raceway Park, Airway Heights, Wash. | Sept. 4–6, 2026 |
Background and persistence
Born is a lifelong racer from the Airdrie area who grew up on a farm west of the city. He has been drag racing for nearly two decades and previously spent 16 years competing in motocross. His track record coming into 2026 showed momentum: in 2025 he posted three wins, two runner-up finishes and finished third overall in his division.
Those results were achieved amid mechanical challenges. In 2025 he borrowed his wife’s car to salvage points after a transmission failure, and at least once received help from a competitor who offered a vehicle. Born and his family also worked through the night to get his truck back on the track — efforts that underline how grassroots motorsport in Alberta often depends on hands-on fixes and local support.
- Setbacks: recurring transmission problems, four rain cancellations.
- Achievements: qualified for both regional E.T. Finals, including the U.S. event he targeted.
- Background: nearly 20 years drag racing; 16 years motocross; grew up on a farm west of Airdrie.
“It’s been a lifelong dream to be able to to race in the states,” Born said, reflecting on the step up to international competition. The U.S. finals represent a chance to measure his program against a broader field and to compete on a bigger stage.
Implications for local racing community
Born’s journey highlights the realities of regional drag racing: mechanical reliability, weather and limited resources can all conspire to limit opportunities. Yet his persistence also illustrates how Airdrie-area racers can reach higher levels when they combine experience, community support and determination.
For local fans and fellow competitors, Born’s qualification is a reminder that success in the Summit Racing Series depends on consistency across a season, not just single events. It also offers a moment of pride for Airdrie’s motorsport enthusiasts, who have watched a local driver convert setbacks into a shot at the U.S. finals.
Born will now prepare his team and equipment for back-to-back championship weekends in Edmonton and Washington. With the mechanical gremlins still fresh in memory, the emphasis will be on keeping his truck together long enough to make those passes count.
For Airdrie’s racing community, the next few weeks will show whether the city’s persistence on the prairie can translate into results on the national and international strip.
