Congratulations in order for Canada’s Nathan Sitko — who claimed a major season championship last weekend….
Iconic Edmonton-based Hodgson Racing has prevailed to win the 2026 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series points title for 2026 — after a 7-event season chase.
The team put on a superb display at fabled Famoso Raceway (near Bakersfield) winning the prestigious California Hot Rod Reunion event — the season finale of that series (Oct 26th) – and with that effort clinched the season championship.
Sitko and Company were pretty much spot on all weekend – with consistent and competitive runs each time down the surface – to best 20 other event entries for the Nostalgia FC division.
After qualifying #2 (5.522 secs) in the Pacemaker/Bubble Up Firebird,, the team defeated Todd Miller in round one (held Saturday) and then on Sunday prevailed first over opponents Mike Peck and Todd Plate in rounds two and three with consistent runs of 5.538 secs and 5.546 secs respectively.
In the championship round come Sunday evening, Sitko faced off against #1 qualifier Jim Kelso but beat him handily at 5.558 secs 237.31 mph while Kelso fell off pace at 6.119 secs.
Sitko’s semi final round victory over Todd Plate — had mathematically clinched the points title for the rising star Canadian racing talent.
“What can I say – that was a whirlwind weekend,” said a relieved Nathan Sitko. “This team is comprised of just an amazing group of people. Everyone was focused on getting the job done and made no mistakes. Ryan (Hodgson) made great calls tuning. He had the car running great – it made fast runs all weekend and that was needed — because there weren’t any easy rounds.”
“(After the Semi Finals) — When that win light came on — it was definitely party time in the shut down area!!,” he laughed. “That honestly was a huge weight off our shoulders – it felt like finally being able to finish the job. But then to regroup again — winning the race to — was the icing on the cake.”
“This is definitely the biggest achievement so far for me in drag racing! Just very happy and proud for our whole group, my family, my teammates, our sponsors. It’s huge!”
2026 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Champion – Nathan Sitko!!
The Hodgson Racing team have been frequent event winners and also at or near the top of the points mix for many seasons within the fan popular FC genre which features nothing but Nostalgia-bodied machines. They had in fact won the NHRA’s HRHS title in 2017 (with Ryan Hodgson driving). Nathan Sitko, assumed the race team cockpit beginning back in 2023 and he finished second in final HRHS season points the last two years consecutively.
And while the celebration from Bakersfield is perhaps just now winding down (?) – there is still some “meat left on the bone” for the team racing this season. The team will be entered at the final two events for the Legacy Nitro Funny Car circuit – which is an 11-race season series. That is concluding in conjunction with the NHRA Nationals race at Las Vegas (this weekend) and then at Pomona’s Finals in two weeks.
Hodgson Racing are the overall points leaders for that circuit too!
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos (Used With Permission) Courtesy of Hodgson Racing
