The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow 2016 Season came to an exciting conclusion this past weekend at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, IN.
After 43 teams qualified for the National Dual Championship, 20 teams went to compete at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and 23 teams had gone to the PRI Show.
Starting on Dec. 9, the top four SEMA teams went head to head against the top four PRI teams in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Dual National Championship Elite Eight. Each team competed three times, and had their time averaged to determine the overall winner.
In first place came Team Comp Cams, from Burton Center for Arts and Technology in Virginia, with a time average of 17:43. Chris Overfelt, coach for Team Comp Cams, has previously won the 2014 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Championship.
“This year, my team practiced hard to be accurate and quick,” said Overfelt. “During the Elite Eight Competition, I was overwhelmed by being in such a tight group of times. I am very proud of my team and their effort to become the 2016 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow National Champion.”
Coming in second place was Team Holley, from Forsyth Central High School in Georgia, with an average time of 18:50. Jacob Cochran from Team Holley, stated, “I have learned leadership skills and how to work with new people. I have learned that communication is key to being productive as a whole. Hot Rodders of Tomorrow impacted my life experience as well. The friendships I have built with Hot Rodders have impacted my life greatly.”
Team Fragola, from Peach County High School in Georgia, took third place with an average time of 19:12. Team Fragola also won the Parts Pro Perfect Engine award with the fastest time of 16:46. This award is earned when a team rebuilds the engine accurately and efficiently. Four out of the five teammates have been competing in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge for the past four years.
Team Howards Cams, an all-girls team coached by Jill Arata from Belvidere North High School in Illinois, took fourth place from the Elite Eight Finals at the 2016 PRI Show with an average time of 21:05. This was the first-ever all-girls team to make it to the Elite Eight Finals.
Each team earned scholarship opportunities from OTC, SAM Tech, UNOH and UTI.
Below are the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Championship Elite Eight Final results.
| School | State | Team | Instructor | Time Average | |
| 1st | Burton Center for Arts & Technology #4 | VA | Comp Cams | Chris Overfelt | 17:43.3 |
| 2nd | Forsyth Central High School #1 | GA | Holley | Marlo Miranda | 18:50.0 |
| 3rd | Peach County High School | GA | Fragola | Johnny Rickerson | 19:12.7 |
| 4th | Belvidere North High School #1 | IL | Howards Cams | Jill Arata | 21:05.3 |
| 5th | Fremd High School #1 | IL | Taylor | Steven Elza | 21:20.3 |
| 6th | Elkhart Area Career Center | IN | Be Cool | Ryan Gortney | 21:23.3 |
| 7th | C D Hylton High School | VA | Vibrant | Eddie Stevens | 23:44.0 |
| 8th | Fremd High School #2 | IL | Aeromotive | Steven Elza | 24:56.3 |
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is a non-profit and S.T.E.M. program whose mission is to develop the future of today’s youth for the aftermarket racing, performance and automotive accessory industry. High school teams from across the United States compete against a clock to accurately tear-down and rebuild an engine; teaching them not only mechanical knowledge, but the ability to work together as a team. The organization has awarded over $15.5 million in scholarship opportunities to deserving students. Learn more at HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.
