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Sitko Racing Takes Small Step Towards Big Leap!
Sitko Family Racing - July 28, 2007
 Two-car teams are for the pros, with a few exceptions. Right now, to compete in the professional categories in the NHRA, if you don’t have a second car (or third, or fourth), it’s nearly impossible to compete at a high level. When you think about these teams, you think Schumacher, Kalitta, Bernstein, Prudhomme, Force and Pedregon. But, do you think of the name Sitko?
At nowhere near the same level and with nowhere near the same funding, Sitko Family Racing took the big step July 21st and 22nd at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. Nathan Sitko (Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot and former Top Alcohol Dragster driver) stood on the outside while older brother Troy took the wheel of the Martin Sjogren/Ken Sitko-owned Top Alcohol Dragster.
The new adventure into multi-car teams began over the off-season when the team began thinking of the possibility of Troy getting behind the wheel. Troy and Nathan’s father, Ken Sitko and his father George Sitko began discussing the situation with long-time friend and fellow drag racer, Martin Sjogren and a deal was made soon after.
 The team picked up the dragster with truck and trailer in the spring and began work. There was a lot of work to do and very little time to do it if the team wanted the dragster out at the track at all in 2007. With a lack of an NHRA track located within 5 hours of Edmonton, the decision was made for Troy to get licensed in the IHRA Top Dragster class. The car was brought up to date by Ken, Troy, Nathan and George and an engine was built using the team’s spare parts and used pieces from other teams, including a valve cover that had literally been set on fire and hit a wall at 230+ miles per hour by Steve Gasparrelli.
During the final week, George and Ken built a new Lenco front to back and Steve Sitko (the former driver of the dragster) and Troy changed rear end gears. Finally, the car was ready to run. The team started the dragster in the driveway behind the Sitko’s home (which didn’t go well with neighbors) and the car was loaded up Friday night for testing.
The first day went very well. The car went straight down the track as Troy got more and more comfortable in the car. The first two passes were half blasts to make sure the car would hold up. After all, the dragster was built in a span of about 50 days.
 On his third pass, Troy Sitko ran his first 6-second pass and he spent his next 3 runs over the 200 miles per hour mark, earning his IHRA Top Dragster license. Nathan signed Troy’s license along with a couple of Top Dragster-licensed drivers who attended the bracket meet in Edmonton that weekend, Tom Ebertz and Randy Modersohn.
The team is now readying both dragster and funny car for a trip to Spokane, Washington August 3rd and 4th.
(Photos by Sheryl Ogonoski)
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