Spencer Hyde, the 2023 WSOPM champion, admittedly didn’ t have plans to compete in the 2025 / 2026 Winter Series. His screw-blown“ Jack & The Green Stock”’ 69 Camaro that he drove to victory in 2023 was temporarily parked while he focused on driving Jim Head’ s Funny Car in the NHRA Mission Foods Series, where he earned the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award.

But when reigning Winter Series champion Ken Quartuccio took a step back from driving the screw-blown Tidwell Nesloney Racing’ 69 Camaro to focus on business opportunities, Hyde got the call to drive the championship-winning car at the final two Winter Series races. He made the most of the opportunity at WSOPM, laying down a 3.560 at 205.16 to qualify third.

“ To think that I wasn’ t even going to race this [ Winter Series ] starting off, I missed the first race. When Ken Q and Scott Tidwell called me and said,‘ Hey, we want you to fill in,’ I jumped at it right away,” Hyde said.“ It’ s pretty exciting to jump into the car that won [ the championship ] last year. Any time you can jump into a high-level car like that that’ s got Steve Petty on

the keyboard, you’ re in good hands. You’ ve just got to show up and do your job. It does add some extra pressure, because you’ re expected to be as good as they are, and they’ re the best.”

Hyde and the Tidwell / Nesloney team made five solid passes in qualifying, giving Hyde confidence going into race day. Though he had to pedal in the first round and lost to fellow Canadian Kenny Lang, Hyde was grateful for the unexpected opportunity to compete in what will always be a special race for the past DI 30 Under 30 honoree.

“ I may get some shit for saying this, but it’ s the coolest thing going,” Hyde said of the WSOPM and Winter Series in general.“ It’ s such a fun atmosphere. It’ s so competitive. You get 60, 70, 80 teams out here that can all crack off good numbers. You show up here not knowing if you’ re going to qualify. To be in the No. 3 spot, that’ s pretty special.” – NATE VAN WAGNEN DI DI DI

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118 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 200