It’s no secret that Richard Freeman, the man credited with revitalizing Pro Stock into a viable professional division, wanted to one day be involved in some way in the fuel ranks. Today, that wish has become a reality.

Freeman’s brand Elite Motorsports will adorn the side of a Top Fuel dragster owned by Todd and Tony Paton at the season-ending In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals and driven by fellow Canadian Spencer Hyde.

Hyde made a name for himself earlier this season when he drove his Pro Modified to victory at the Drag Illustrated World Series Of Pro Mod presented by J&A Service earlier this year. This triumph at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla., has catapulted his career and set the stage for his debut in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. 

Oddly enough, for as much as Hyde has raced, the Pomona Top Fuel debut will mark his inaugural NHRA participation. 

“I started in Jr. Dragsters in 2006,” said Hyde. “In Canada, I grew up around snowmobiles and motorcycles. My parents wouldn’t let me race either of those, but I had a buddy who raced Jr. Dragsters. I started going to the track with him. One thing led to another, and 18 years later, we’re Pro Mod and Top Fuel racing.”

This plan came to fruition during a casual conversation at the Menards NHRA Nationals back in August.

“I was hanging out with the Elite team earlier this year in Topeka, and Bobby Lagana happened to be in the pit,” recalls Hyde. “He recognized me from when I was in Gainesville getting my license. He helped the Paton team when we were there, so we were chatting about it. Richard was kind of listening in, and I told him I was looking for funding to go to an event, and Pomona was one that they were pushing me to do. That’s when he said, ‘I’ll back you for Pomona.’"

Paton, a former driver in Top Alcohol Funny Car and later Top Fuel, believes Hyde will do well in the endeavor.  

“We are really looking forward to this,” said Paton. “Spencer did well in his licensing laps. In his first full pass, he did better than my career best in the car, so we are pretty impressed with him. He took to it like a pro. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do behind the wheel at an actual NHRA event. Partnering with Elite will cause a lot of buzz in the pits, and I’m looking forward to that too. I think it will catch a lot of people off guard to see their name on a Top Fuel car. I’ve always been one who enjoys the drama that goes along with drag racing, so I think it will be entertaining in more ways than one. I’ve known the folks at Elite for a long time, and I’m excited to get to work together on this.”

The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip will take place November 9-12 in Pomona, Calif.