At this point, it appears the field of 2025 Rookie of the Year candidates should accept the fact they are racing for second place.
Spencer Hyde, the overachieving rookie driver for Jim Head Racing, delivered another top-shelf performance during first-day qualifying for the NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
Hyde’s 3.868-second pass at 330.07 mph in the Head Contractors & Engineers Ford Mustang gave him the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car on Friday. The run added yet another highlight to a rookie campaign that has consistently exceeded expectations and kept him in the middle of the playoff conversation.
This weekend is Hyde’s first appearance in the Countdown to the Championship, but his performance did not carry the look of a newcomer. Instead, the Canadian driver showed the same poise and power that has carried him to two final rounds, a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win, and now the possibility of his first career No. 1 qualifier.
Hyde acknowledged the significance of the run but kept his focus on the larger goals ahead. “We’ve known all year that we’ve had a pretty fast car when conditions are good, and Jim’s (Head) known for swinging for the fences when the track will take it,” Hyde said. “We’ve made several runs like that this season — just haven’t been in the right place at the right time. Tonight, we left the tune-up alone, let the racetrack come to us and it went right down through there with an .86. That was pretty cool, and hopefully it holds through tomorrow.”
The provisional No. 1 came in a loaded field, with reigning world champion Austin Prock close behind at 3.882 at 333.74 and veteran Paul Lee at 3.895 at 290.57. For Hyde, the chance to lead a playoff field stacked with title winners further confirmed how far his team has come in a short time.
Hyde also stressed that individual honors matter less than long-term results.
“Being in the Rookie of the Year conversation is awesome, and a No. 1 qualifier would be a big box to check,” he said. “But what I really want is to win one of these races. We’ve been close a few times this year and I’m confident that if we get back to another final, we can get it done.”
The young driver’s confidence is rooted in both recent performance and trust in his crew. After the session, Hyde is quick to point out how much faith he has in the group that Jim Head assembled around him.
“I’m very fortunate to have a really good group of guys over there,” he said. “Jim has put together an awesome team. Devon has kind of been the lead guy for three or four years now and he’s taken charge and assembled a really good group. They gel well, they get along well, and they’re pumped every round.”
That crew chemistry has helped Hyde rebound quickly from setbacks. He admitted that his holeshot loss to Ron Capps at the U.S. Nationals still stings, but he has moved forward with a renewed focus.
“I beat myself up at Indy losing on a holeshot to Capps, and not that I was terribly late, but two thou would have made the difference, and I felt that was on me,” Hyde said. “But anyways, we’re hungry. It’s my first time here, first time in the Countdown, like you said. Points are reset so it’s anybody’s game now, so we’re hungry.”
Part of that hunger is shared by his crew chief and car owner. At 77, Jim Head still obsesses over every detail, and Hyde said his intensity keeps the entire team sharp.
“Jim is always deep in thought. He analyzes everything beyond what you could imagine,” Hyde said. “He’s a genius. He thinks about things that most people don’t think of. He was happy with that run. He went out there confident that’s what it was going to run, and that’s what it did.”
Hyde’s seamless adjustment to Jim Head Racing is another storyline worth noting. For years, he operated his own Pro Mod program with family and friends who volunteered their time. Entering a fully professional organization could have been daunting, but Hyde said the transition was smoother than expected.
“I was nervous to come into something with a paid group of guys and it’s just a job for them. But honestly, it’s not. These guys all love it just as much as my guys back home did,” he said. “That’s been a really awesome feeling and made the whole experience so much better.”
Hyde believes the Maple Grove Raceway feels familiar, reminding him of his Canadian roots. That sense of comfort, combined with a quick car, has him optimistic about the rest of the weekend.
“The facility is beautiful. This area kind of reminds me of home in Canada where we live out in the sticks and in the hills so this feels like home to me,” he said. “I think the weather is going to be warmer tomorrow. Track conditions are probably going to be a little trickier, so I’m hopeful that that .86 will hold up, but you never know. There’s a couple of guys out here that can uncork a run at any time and knock your socks off.”
Even the smallest changes have played into Hyde’s learning curve. He recently debuted a drag butterfly-style steering wheel, which he said took some getting used to but could ultimately be safer.
“Could you tell I didn’t know how to use it down there and almost hit the wall?” Hyde joked. “That was my first run to the finish line with it. Right now, I like it. I think it’s a lot safer because it’s wrapped like a steering wheel, not just bare aluminum, so I like it.”
