The Canadian competitor clinched his title during the 2024 WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance.
NORWALK, OH: Canada can celebrate being on top of the world again, thanks to Ontario native Drew Buchner, who surfaced as the 2024 WDRA Summit No Box World Champion after a storybook season.
Buchner was first introduced to the sport through his wife, Vicki, who grew up in a racing family centered around St. Thomas Dragway. After spectating for a couple of seasons, he raced a friend’s car a few times in 2001 before diving headfirst into the Street class in 2002, where he finished second in the points standings and claimed the Rookie of the Year honors. By then, Buchner knew he was hooked, so he purchased his 1985 Camaro, where his winning ways skyrocketed with a 2003 Modified (No Box) Track Championship during his first attempt. Fast forward twenty-two years, and he has accumulated six track championships and at least seven second place finishes in the points at St. Thomas Dragway.
Buchner chuckles when he admits, “My wife says I’m a little crazy that way. When I start something, I put one hundred and ten percent focus into it. The first couple of years, I ran No Box only, but after that, I started racing Box and No Box, but I’ve never had a box in the car.”
Although he qualified last season, this year was Buchner’s first attempt at a WDRA World Championship due to unexpected complications days before the event. Until now, his track record at Montgomery International Dragway has been more of a cautionary tale as he’s experienced broken racecars, motorhome failure, and seemingly lousy luck with each trip. Feeling resilient and looking for redemption, the Buchners made the 16-hour trek back to Alabama to attempt a fairy tale ending. Drew earned a spot in the No Box class, and his thirteen-year-old son, Owen, represented St. Thomas Dragway in the junior dragster ranks.
On his way to the winner’s circle, Buchner defeated Michael Jefferson from US 13 Dragway, Matt Luckett from Windy Hollow Dragway, Nate Schroeder from Cordova Dragway, Rich Komor from North Florida Motorplex, and Fred Kaufman from Mid America Dragway before squaring off with Ernie Humes who represented Farmington Dragway.
The Chevrolet versus Ford and North Carolina versus north of the border battle was vanquished on the starting line when Humes was .004 red beside Buchner, who was .022 green and holding a few hundredths for the win. The WDRA Summit No Box World Championship sits atop an impressive list of accomplishments for Buchner and his family this season.
At the St. Thomas Dragway WDRA Race for the Rod and the Race of Champions during the WDRA Northern Bracket Finals, Drew and Owen each won their respective classes on the same day. The eldest Buchner also earned a $250,000 runner-up at the TB $250K at US 131 Motorsports Park in July and finished second in Super Street points standings within the NHRA John Scotti Canadian Championship Series.
“It’s kind of weird to say I’m a World Champion, so I think it’s going to take a while for it to sink in,” Buchner admits. “It’s been an unbelievable year. It’s always been the goal to win a World Championship, but for it to happen is just unreal. For my son and I to qualify and compete together and for us both to finish in the top ten is special. I’m super proud to represent Canada, our country, and everyone who races at our home track. It feels great to be the first to bring it [World Championship] back to St. Thomas Dragway.”
Buchner’s victory awarded him twenty thousand dollars cash, a billet WDRA Rod trophy, and free entry into any WDRA member track event next season courtesy of the WDRA Champion Card. Additionally, each WDRA World Champion received a $1,000 gift certificate from Technocraft Trailer Cabinets and a Contingency Connection Championship Package.
Even though they were far from home, Buchner was surrounded by support throughout the weekend as multiple family members made the trip. His wife Vicki, children Owen and Olivia, sister Darla, and brother-in-law Matthew were there to cheer him on and make the final victory that much sweeter. He also mentioned that his father and father-in-law passed away within the last few years, but he feels they were there watching and are certainly missed. He also thanks John Hutchinson from Hutch’s Transmission and Bill Little from Belmont Automotive for their mechanical support.
“It was an exceptionally well-ran event,” Buchner adds. “WDRA puts racers first, and it was phenomenal to see. They wanted to make sure every round went smoothly; it was all about the racers, and seeing all the time and effort they put in was great.”
When asked about working toward the opportunity to return to the WDRA Summit World Championships next season, Buchner replied in pure Canadian fashion, “You bet, eh?”
For more information about the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and the Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series, visit our website at www.racewdra.com.
