DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

STORY AND IMAGES PHIL HUTCHISON

After rain curtailed Friday’s qualifying, the Famoso Drag Strip staff along with the Cacklefest’s Cindy and Steve Gibbs , had a full day of action scheduled for a beautiful Saturday at Famoso Dragstrip north of Bakersfield CA. The 2026 edition of the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion was packed with fans and racers.

The highlight of the day or night in this case, was the famous Cacklefest which features dozens of nostalgia dragsters and altereds fired up all at once. Some of the cars were static started on the strip while the majority were kick started coming down the Famoso fire up lane. The noise and smell was breathtaking with some fuel cars rumbling and shooting flames in the beautiful California night sky for what seemed like forever.

Before the Cackle, eliminations in all the categories were set with Jimmy Kelso from Tucson Arizona continuing to lead the Nostalgia Funny Car field with a world setting 5.484 in the orange Speed Sport ’70 Camaro.

Canadian Nathan Sitko was #2 in the Bubble Up ’68 Firebird with a 5.522 and Jon Capps from Las Vegas NV was third with a 5.557 in the Matthew’s Motorsports ’70 Camaro.

The quick bump of 5.799 was held down by Ryan Horan from Sylmar CA in the Infinity Plumbing Designs Camaro.

The Nostalgia Top Fuel field was led by Tyler Hester from Visalia CA at a 5.708.

Local hero Adam Sorokin was the bump car with a 6.099 in his blown Chevy dragster.

Eliminations continue Sunday starting at 8:00 am