Matt Sackman to Make Top Fuel Match Racing Debut with Paton Racing at Canadian Nationals
It’s been over a year since Matt Sackman made a pass in a Top Fuel dragster, so he wasn’t exactly expecting a call from Canadian nitro veteran Todd Paton to drive one of the two Paton Racing Top Fuel dragsters at this weekend’s 24th Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex in Ontario. But it didn’t take long for Sackman to accept the opportunity to make his first trip to Canada to make his match racing debut. Driving the Fast Eddie Speed Wear/Performance Data Systems Top Fuel dragster, he’ll take on Gary Kraus in the “Pony Up” Mustang Nitro Funny Car on Saturday, August 3.
Sackman, an Illinois native who now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, has a long résumé that made him an ideal candidate. He served as a crew member on Antron Brown’s Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster for several seasons and earned his Top Fuel license in the car in 2019. He estimates he made another nine runs during testing in 2022, his last season as a Top Fuel crew member, with a personal best of 3.78 seconds at 325 mph. Driving his family’s Hangsterfer’s Top Dragster, he won the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in 2023 and 2024 to go along with his one divisional win. He’s also a three-time Top Alcohol Dragster regional winner in one of Randy Meyer’s A/Fuel dragsters.
Sackman knew Paton, whose Performance Data Systems provides data acquisition products and support for racers in a variety of classes, from his years as a crew member and sportsman racer. He wasn’t expecting that relationship to turn into an opportunity to drive a Top Fuel car, though.
“I was at work and my phone rang and it was Todd,” Sackman began as he explained how the opportunity came about. “I had talked to him at Bristol about ordering a cable for my dad’s car, so I figured he was calling about that. He’s like, ‘That’s actually not why I called. Want to drive one of my fuel cars in Canada?’
“I had to think about it for a second because I was dumbfounded that he was asking me to drive,” Sackman continued. “Obviously, it was a yes. I was very excited. It’s a very cool opportunity. I’ve never been to Canada before, so getting to go to Canada to drive a fuel car is really cool. I’m looking forward to going up there.”
While he first assumed he would be racing against Paton in the team’s matching dragster, he later learned that he’ll line up against the “Pony Up” Nitro Funny Car instead. It’s a unique pairing, but one Sackman feels he’s prepared to tackle.
“I’ve never staged a Top Fuel car against anybody before, so that’ll be a new experience, then I get to do it against a Funny Car,” Sackman said. “Running at some of the Nitro Chaos races last year in Randy Meyer’s A/Fuel car, I got to stage against all kinds of nitro cars. It should be a cool experience and should make for some cool pictures and video.”
David Hilner photo
Sackman grew up around nitro cars since his father, Darren, served as a crew member on multiple Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. Matt spent years working towards the opportunity to drive a Top Fuel car, a dream he lived in 2019 when he earned his Top Fuel license. He’s since stepped away from the nitro world on a full-time basis, and while he doesn’t expect that to change after this match racing experience, he’s open to any opportunities that come knocking.
“You never know what could happen,” Sackman said. “Obviously, I have hopes and dreams, but I’m just going up there to have a good time and help Todd put on a good show. If something comes of it, great. If not, I’m still very grateful to Todd for calling me and giving me an opportunity to do this. It’s not too often that somebody calls and asks you to drive their fuel car. I’m just appreciative to Todd and the whole Paton Racing team for the opportunity.”
Paton will face Quebec’s Dan Mercier in the all-Top Fuel match race pairing of the Canadian Nationals. The lineup also includes a quad of Canadian A/Fuel dragsters, Jet Funny Cars, Pro Mods, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and more.
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