NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2026 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series came to a close at Famoso Dragstrip with the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports, where Tyler Hester and Nathan Sitko claimed the weekend’s marquee victories in Nostalgia Top Fuel and Nostalgia Funny Car, respectively.

Hester, of Visalia, Calif., closed the season with a strong performance in the Nostalgia Top Fuel final, powering his Uyehara dragster to a 5.832-second pass at 231.83 mph to defeat Pete Kaiser. The Merced, Calif., racer was close behind with a 5.897 at a faster 239.87 mph, but Hester’s 5.832 was enough to secure the Reunion title.

In Nostalgia Funny Car, Canadian racer Nathan Sitko took the trophy back to Edmonton, Alb., after an impressive 5.558 at 232.31 mph in his ’68 Firebird. Sitko defeated Tucson, Ariz.’s Jimmy Kelso, whose ’70 Camaro slowed to a 6.119 at 174.55 mph in the championship round.

The Fuel Altered title went to Brandon Seraphine of Corona, Calif., in a close final against Vince Karstetter. Seraphine covered the track in 6.044 seconds at 193.05 mph in his ’32 Bantam to narrowly better Karstetter’s 6.065 at 253.37 mph.

James Maher earned the California Funny Cars victory in his ’84 Tempo with a 7.198 at 188.32 mph, defeating Rick Alvarado, who recorded the quicker elapsed time with a 7.088 at 191.12 mph.

Dustin Lee of Filer, Idaho, prevailed in Junior Fuel, running 7.025 at 187.89 mph to turn back Brad Woodard’s quicker 6.971 at 187.65 mph.

Pro Mod produced one of the weekend’s quickest side-by-side finals. Josh Kalich drove his ’19 Corvette to a 3.807 at 200.89 mph to defeat Troy Baugh, who countered with a 3.931 at 200.08 mph in his ’68 Camaro.

The three Nostalgia Eliminator trophies went to Steve Schoenfeld, Neil Schindler, and Noah Kolb. Schoenfeld captured Nostalgia Eliminator I over Cole Foster, Schindler defeated Troy Moyle for the Nostalgia Eliminator II crown, and Kolb topped Don Mallory in Nostalgia Eliminator III.

Kin Bates Sr. collected the Pro Comp victory after Sean Bellemeur broke in the final, while Don Momi earned the Hot Rod Eliminator title when final-round opponent Reed Montgomery fouled.

Lawton Ferreira II delivered one of the most precise runs of the event in the 7.0 Pro final. Ferreira clocked a 7.019 at 192.71 mph in his ’48 Topolino to defeat Steve Faller, who was nearly as close to the 7.0 target with a 7.025 at 188.08 mph.

The Gas Eliminator categories rounded out the list of Reunion champions. Casey Treur won A Gas Eliminator with a 7.614 at 173.67 mph over Kirk Hall, while Wayne Charbonneau claimed B Gas Eliminator with an 8.679 at 144.55 mph against Jeff Agalsoff.

Billy Teague emerged victorious in C Gas Eliminator after a tight final against Jeff Kleeman, and Bakersfield’s Steve Barta ended the hometown weekend with a D Gas Eliminator victory over Anthony Byers.

With victories spread among racers from California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Canada, the California Hot Rod Reunion provided a fitting finish to the 2026 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series season at historic Famoso Dragstrip.
 

The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports:

NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Tyler Hester, Visalia, Calif., '10 Uyehara, 5.832, 231.83  def. Pete Kaiser, Merced, Calif., '20 Bowen, 5.897, 239.87.

NOSTALGIA FUNNY CAR
Nathan Sitko, Edmonton, Alb., '68 Firebird, 5.558, 232.31  def. Jimmy Kelso, Tucson, Ariz., '70 Camaro, 6.119, 174.55.

FUEL ALTERED
Brandon Seraphine, Corona, Calif., '32 Bantam, 6.044, 193.05  def. Vince Karstetter, Buckeye, Ariz., '3t Ford, 6.065, 253.37.

CALIFORNIA FUNNY CARS
James Maher, Whittier, Calif., '84 Tempo, 7.198, 188.32  def. Rick Alvarado, Wheatland, Calif., '37 Topolino, 7.088, 191.12.

JUNIOR FUEL
Dustin Lee, Filer, Idaho, '15 Farr, JFB, 7.025, 187.89  def. Brad Woodard, Oceanside, Calif., '18 Dragster, JFA, 6.971, 187.65.

PRO MOD
Josh Kalich, Aromas, Calif., '19 Corvette, 3.807, 200.89  def. Troy Baugh, Redding, Calif., '68 Camaro, 3.931, 200.08.

NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR I
Steve Schoenfeld, Murray, Utah, '3t ALT, 7.768, 141.68  def. Cole Foster, Salinas, Calif., '24 Dragster, 7.556, 151.26.

NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR II
Neil Schindler, Eugene, Ore., '13 Sarmento, 8.615, 149.92  def. Troy Moyle, Carson City, Nev., '07 Sarmento, 8.557, 151.82.

NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR III
Noah Kolb, Glendora, Calif., '92 Tinman ALT, 9.623, 135.58  def. Don Mallory, Citrus Heights, Calif., '3t Ford, 9.568, 131.94.

PRO COMP
Kin Bates Sr., Anderson, Calif., '96 Tuttle, 8.239, 105.21  def. Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., '3t ALT, broke.

HOT ROD ELIMINATOR
Don Momi, Stockton, Calif., '38 Chevy Sedan, 8.634, 153.11  def. Reed Montgomery, Bakersfield, Calif., '70 Nova, foul.

7.0 PRO
Lawton Ferreira II, Spring Valley, Calif., '48 Topolino, 7.019, 192.71  def. Steve Faller, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., '32 Bantam, 7.025, 188.08.

A GAS ELIMINATOR
Casey Treur, Santa Maria, Calif., '33 Willys, 7.614, 173.67  def. Kirk Hall, Washousal, Wash., '67 Chev II, 7.572, 173.61.

B GAS ELIMINATOR
Wayne Charbonneau, Ramona, Calif., '48 Anglia, 8.679, 144.55  def. Jeff Agalsoff, Santa Clarita, Calif., '83 Monte Carlo, 8.715, 146.43.

C GAS ELIMINATOR
Billy Teague, Reedley, Calif., '67 Nova II, 9.749, 131.48  def. Jeff Kleeman, Bakersfield, Calif., '71 Demon, 9.744, 139.16.

D GAS ELIMINATOR
Steve Barta, Bakersfield, Calif., '62 Nova II, 10.605, 122.81  def. Anthony Byers, Paso Robles, Calif., '65 Nova SW, 10.588, 121.95.