The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow 2016 Season came to an exciting conclusion this past weekend at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis. After 43 teams qualified for the National Dual Championship, 20 teams went to compete at the SEMA Show and 23 teams had gone to the PRI Show. Starting on Friday 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 3 times, and had their time averaged to determine the overall winner.
Team Howards Cams, an all-girls team coached by Jill Arata from Belvidere North High School, 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.
Team Fragola, from Peach County High School, took third place with an average of 19:12. Team Fragola also won the Parts Pro Perfect Engine award with the fastest time of 16:46. The Parts Pro Perfect Engine Award is earned when a team rebuilds the engine accurately and efficiently. 4 out of the 5 teammates have been competing in the Hot Rodders of tomorrow Engine Challenge for the past 4 years.
Coming in second place was team Holley, from Forsyth Central High School, with a great 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.”
In first place came Team Comp Cams, from Burton Center for Arts and Technology, with an amazing time average of 17:43. Chris Overfelt, coach for Team Comp Cams, has previously won the 2014 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Championship. Coach Chris Overfelt stated, “This year, my team practiced hard to be accurate and quick. 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.”
Each team earned scholarship opportunities from OTC, SAM Tech, UNOH, and UTI.
Below is the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Championship Elite Eight Final result.
| 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 |
