{"id":7725,"date":"2026-07-14T00:13:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T00:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/?p=7725"},"modified":"2026-07-14T01:33:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:33:47","slug":"points-positive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/?p=7725","title":{"rendered":"Points Positive!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>While racer participation fell short of pre-event expectations \u2014 Nathan Sitko and Hodgson Racing took full advantage of the cards they were dealt while winning the 2026 Rocky Mountain Nationals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The talented Edmonton-based group \u2014 who are again deep within the points mix for NHRA\u2019s Heritage Hot Rod Series championship chase &#8211; were dominating while while winning a 4-car shootout at the RAD Torque Raceway event last Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-12-at-5.42.21\u202fpm-e1783987899278.png\"><img src=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-12-at-5.42.21\u202fpm-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7723\" width=\"550\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After qualifying #1 (3.767 secs) for a 1\/8th-mile program* which featured two USA and two Canadian based teams, the Hodgson Racing Bubble Up\/Pacemaker Firebird continued a rapid pace during eliminations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(<em>* Shortened to 1\/8th mile due to far top end track asphalt seepage after pre-event rain issues<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image0-e1783987880892.jpeg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image0-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7722\" width=\"550\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nathan topped cross-town Edmonton driver Tim Boychuk in round #1 (with a 3.899 secs clocking) and with that advanced to face Mike Peck in the final round. Peck had defeated HRHS points leader Shane Westerfield in round one by a 3.828 secs to 3.864 secs count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hrhs_wht_200x85.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"200\" height=\"85\" src=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hrhs_wht_200x85.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7728\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nathan gained a significant starting line advantage in the final and roared to a decisive 3.874 secs to 4.188 secs win margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That was a huge win for our team with regard to the championship points chase,&#8221; Nathan said. &#8220;The top four are so close in points, every event is big and will be so right to the end.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The tricky track conditions and weather were a challenge this weekend &#8212; but we were able to manage the horsepower well enough to land in the number one qualifying spot and hang on for the event win.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As to the lower then expected class car count for the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series date &#8211; Nathan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It could have been easily 8 cars. Unfortunately Derrick Moreira and Tim Eickstadt didn&#8217;t attend on short notice and local racer Jason Bussey and his two cars weren\u2019t there either. Not sure &#8212; but I wish we could have attracted more cars up here for the fans.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nathan&#8217;s win was but the latest feather in the cap for Hodgson Racing winning the Rocky Mountain Nationals event on their home turf, with previous titles to their credit including: 2016 &#8211; 2017 &#8211; 2019 &#8211; 2023 events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Unknown-12-e1783991722888.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Unknown-12-e1783991722888.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7731\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Defending 2025 Hot Rod Heritage Series champ Shane Westerfield was &#8220;in the house&#8221; at Edmonton driving the Austin &amp; O&#8217;Brien &#8220;Northwest Hitter&#8221; &#8217;69 Camaro.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Unknown-10-e1783991699499.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Unknown-10-e1783991699499.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7730\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Edmonton home-town favourite Tim Boychuk supported the RMN event with his now Plymouth Barracuda-bodied &#8220;Happy Hour&#8221; entry.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Posted by Bruce Biegler<br>Photos by Louren Sansregret &amp; Doug Nichol<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While racer participation fell short of pre-event expectations \u2014 Nathan Sitko and Hodgson Racing took full advantage of the cards they were dealt while winning the 2026 Rocky Mountain Nationals. The talented Edmonton-based group \u2014 who are again deep within the points mix for NHRA\u2019s Heritage Hot Rod Series championship chase &#8211; were dominating while [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7725"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7725"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7725\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7740,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7725\/revisions\/7740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nitrofccanada.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}