It was smiles all around for team owners Ryan and Ron Hodgson after their driver Nathan Sitko collected the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Nitro Funny Car class title. (*More details for this team win can be viewed: HERE)

The Rocky Mountain Nationals included a debut for long-time Nostalgia Nitro Funny car driver David Brant who made a switch to AA/FA.  David has now ditched the Camaro body for this 1948 Fiat to compete. Alberta’s “Brants Nitro Shop” Fuel Altered was an immediate fan favourite.

Saskatchewan’s Mikę Gondziola took his nitrous-assisted C7 Corvette to both a “Wally Win” for Pro Mod and also a new track record (3.78 secs) reset during the process.

Tyler Stamler took his X275 S10 to the RAD Torque winner’s circle for the second time in 2026, winning the Rocky Mountain Nationals after picking up the X275 win at BorderWarz last month.

BC-based racer Jason Gagnon was behind the wheel of this beautiful nitrous assisted 1970 Nova. The car, making its debut in this class and configuration, was out for a shakedown before Roy Lazic, father of former NHRA Pro Mod World Champion Jordan Lazic, is scheduled to drive it. Jason turned on a win light in Limited Street racing, however, skipped the scales after the run, handing a win to Vanessa Richards.

NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national event winner McKenna Bold was in attendance at her home track.  The popular local driver competed in the 4.50 secs 1/8th mile index Nostalgia class – where she quite naturally picked up the win!  McKenna who is a a team driver for Randy Meyer’s injected-nitro camp over within NHRA circuit racing, was driving (filling in for Natasha Turik) in Craig Anstead’s Pro Alcohol Dragster.

Sturgeon County, Alberta racer Corey Newman picked up a 1937 Chevy, formerly campaigned by Grant Howell in Canada West Doorslammers action. The gorgeous red coupe consistently laid down massive, smoky burnouts.

The ’26 Rocky Mountain Nationals was graced by the presence of — Pat Reynolds — of the famed Reynolds and Bateman championship winning TAFC team.  Pat was in attendance over the weekend, taking in much of the action from the RAD Torque Raceway starter’s stand.

An interesting event inclusion featured Red Deer-based Lance Whyte on the property making laps with his new NHRA level Top Alcohol Dragster.  Racing to the 1/8th mile mark – Lance laid down a personal best 4.156 on Saturday night. His dragster will see action next — at the Saskatchewan International Raceway 60th anniversary race on August 15th.

Chris Gould – now driving this very menacing-looking Camaro, aptly named ‘Predator’, advanced all the way to the finals for  X275  — but he lost out to Tyler Stamler.

Monty Beagle doubled up big time on the weekend – first winning Top Comp from the rained out Medicine Hat race and then taking the Rocky Mountain Nationals event!  With that — Monty became the 2026 points champion for the NHRA John Scotti Canadian Championship Series.

The Western Canadian portion for the  NHRA John Scotti Canadian Championship Series did wrap up at Edmonton. The season finale event did include a win in Stock/Super Stock combo for local Mopar-brand proponent – Darcy Clarke.   (*DragRaceCanada will be posting results from all of that NHRA class competition – coming separately – coming soon!)

This event “high” was provided by Kale Menzel —  who also doubled up — winning both a Pro and Super Pro tile with in his 1968 Dart.  Some “lows” came below – belonging to unlucky X275 and Limited Street class racers.   Bob Cooke was involved in a serious crash Saturday afternoon, where his 1993 F150 suffered extensive damage.  Prior, X275 racer Trevor Kinsey and Limited Street racer Matt Robert unfortunately came into a tangle during Thursday testing.   Thankfully all three drivers were okay.  (Incident photos courtesy of: Nitromaniac TV).