Tyler Hilton, Nathan Sitko, Jason Pettit & Bret Williamson Claim Victories At 54th Nightfire Nationals!
(Photos by Kim Fuller) • The annual Nightfire Nationals presented by Bi-Mart lit up Idaho with an upset weekend of nitro and NHRA Heritage Series action, reaffirming its status as a crown jewel in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series and the New Family.
Funny Car standout, Canadian Nathan Sitko drove Ron Hodgson’s Bubble Up/Pacemaker Firebird to a hard-fought victory, laying down a stout 5.703 Elapsed Time at 250.88 MPH over a deep, but short 15-car field. Sitko and Hodgson’s team ended the five-year Nightfire dynasty of the Austin & O’Brien Camaro nitro funny car in dramatic fashion — points leader Shane Westerfield lost fire after his burnout in the final, halting their bid for a sixth straight title, held by driver Bobby Cottrell.
It was a family showdown in Top Fuel as Tyler Hilton edged out his uncle Mike Hilton in the AA/Fuel Dragster final. Tyler’s 5.794 ET at 246.93 MPH nipped Mike’s 5.993 ET at 239.23 MPH pass, delivering an all-Ohio classic nitro showdown. Tyler’s victory was his third in a row at Firebird and continues to lead the Heritage Series Top Fuel points over Pete Kaiser.
Jason Pettit (far lane) in his sleek ’48 Fiat Topolino-bodied brute claimed the AA/Fuel Altered crown with a strong 6.189 ET at 227.69 MPH — outpacing Utah’s Mathew Leonard in his ’32 Bantam, with an off-pace 6.853 ET in the final round.
Over in Pro Modified, Bret Williamson’s Corvette stormed to victory with a quick 3.92 at 196.13 after John Durden red-lit at the line in 1/8th mile competition.
The Bracketeer Series, that ran across all three nights, crowned six champions:
- Bracketeer: Ryan O’Connor
- Pro: Andy Schmall
- Heavy: Tyler Rush
- Bike/Sled: David Wood
- Pro Comp: Austin Schoenfeld
O’Connor also captured the Top Fire title, capping a stellar weekend in the sportsman ranks.
The Nightfire Nationals once again delivered on its promise of wall-to-wall action, historic matchups, classic autograph sessions and momentum going into the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage season’s second half.
The next event for NHRA Heritage Series funny cars is the Nostalgia Summer Nationals at Woodburn, Oregon dragstrip on August 21-23. For NHRA Top Fuel Thunder Under the Lites at Redding Motorsports Park Sept. 19-20. The California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports, the Heritage Series World Finals will be held at Bakersfield’s legendary Famoso Dragstrip October 24-26, this year teamed up with Nitro Revival.
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