After doing very well again recently within North America’s Western Hemisphere Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car class – Edmonton’s iconic Hodgson Racing is primed for more potential greatness this season.

The Pacemaker/Bubble Up race team (owned by Ron and Ryan Hodgson), and featuring driver Nathan Sitko, is now in fact leading the points chase for two primary series – Legacy Nitro Funny Car and NHRA Hot Rod Heritage. With both of those circuits now in site of the season finish line – an opportunity does exist that this talented Canadian team could claim both championship points titles in 2026.

During the most recent event held in Boise Idaho (Nightfire Nationals Aug 7-9) Nathan Sitko placed R/UP, losing a final round decision to his nearest points rival (for both series), Shane Westerfield.

“At Boise we had the car running fairly well all day in the heat at Boise,” Nathan reported.” “As usual it was hot there (over 100° just like last year) and in the final round, it just didn’t perform the way had hoped. We got out to an early starting line lead .086 to Shane’s .130 r/t , but that lead was short lived when the engine got upset. Shane’s 5.77 @ 252.85 overtook our 6.01 @ 226.89 (I clicked it off a little early as he was pulling away).”

With that outcome, Nathan is leading the Legacy Nitro Funny Car (11-race series) points by a healthy margin (637 to 538) over Westerfield — with four more races on that season calendar, including at Woodburn OR (next weekend) followed by dates at Bakersfield (CHRR) and then the NHRA Nationals level races at Las Vegas and Pomona — all coming this fall.

Within the NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage Series (a 7-race chase), Nathan leads Westerfield by a narrow 421 to 404 points margin – with two race events left (at Woodburn and Bakersfield – which also accumulate Legacy Nitro FC points).

“There are four races left — with obviously, the first two being very major for determining the NHRA Heritage title,” Nathan added. “We feel good about leading the points in both currently — but also realise and have set our sites on every round remaining. Every round is super important.”

Hodgson Racing 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 won the NHRA’s HRHS title in 2017 (with Ryan Hodgson driving). Nathan Sitko, who assumed the race team cockpit beginning back in 2023 – finished second in final season points the last two years consecutively.

Posted by Bruce Biegler
DragRaceCanada File Photo (Dave DeAngelis) and courtesy of Legacy Nitro FC Series