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43 Teams Qualify for Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Dual Championship

By SEMA Editors

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Qualifying
The final qualifying event for the 2016 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge season took place at the 11th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl at Joliet’s Route 66 Raceway this past weekend (July 30–31).

The 2016 qualifying season for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is complete, and 43 teams are preparing for the 2016 Dual National Championship at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the PRI Show in Indianapolis.

The last qualifying event for the 2016 season took place at the 11th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl at Joliet’s Route 66 Raceway this past weekend (July 30–31). 

In the end, Team Howards Cams, an all-girls team from Belvidere North High School, took third place with an improved time of 24:10. Coming in second place, Team Comp Cams from Burton Center for Arts & Tech enhanced their time to 22:00. Team Vibrant from C. D. Hylton High School took first place with a time of 19:42. With these teams improving their times during competitions, they advance in the ranks of the 2016 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Playoff Standings.

Team Mr. Gasket from Parkland College came in fifth place with at 27:51. Coach David Charney from Team Mr. Gasket said, “The students work really hard to qualify for the Dual Championship this year.” Charney mentioned, “It feels amazing to qualify for the first year and be able to go to the SEMA Show this year!”

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Qualifying
Team Aeromotive from Fremd High School qualified for the Dual Championship with a time of 29:05.

Coming in seventh place, Team Aeromotive from Fremd High School qualifies with a time of 29:05. Coach Steve Elza from Fremd High School mentions, “This will be the first year out of all eight years of being involved with Hot Rodders where I will take two teams the Dual Championship.”

These two teams now advance to the 2016 Dual Championship held later this year. To qualify, a team must tear down and rebuild the engine within 34 minutes.

Grudge Match

A total of seven teams competed at the 11th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl this past weekend, only the four top teams were able to advance to the first annual NMRA vs. NMCA Grudge Match. The Grudge Match was held on Sunday, July 31. Team Comp Cams from Burton Center for Arts & Tech took first place and got to take the NMRA vs. NMCA Grudge Match Plaque home with a time of 23:01, just five seconds different from Team Speed Pro, the second-place team.

Coach Chris Overfelt from Team Comp Cams, who has competed the last five years at Hot Rodders events stated, “It was excellent to compete outside with the NMRA/NMCA drag racing event.” Overfelt often mentions to his students, “Leave no doubt—don’t doubt yourselves” giving them motivation to do their best.

For more information, visit www.HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.