The March Meet is steep in Top Fuel tradition – Garlits, Sorokin, McEwen, and Warren have all hoisted that iconic triangular trophy head high in victory at the patch. Four-time NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel champ Tyler Hilton and the Great Expectations III team have done it all and won it all in Top Fuel – except for one. The March Meet title has eluded their path of dominance. A healthy dose of California sun, great track conditions, and that elusive nitro consistency proved to be the combo as team Hilton finally broke through for a March Meet victory at the recent 68th running of the event.
Qualifying found many of the teams dusting off the cobwebs of 2025 in search of a 2026 winning formula. Visalia’s Overtime Special team, with Tyler Hester in the seat, took top qualifying honors, running an all-time best pass at 5.67 at 224.66 MPH. Tyler Hilton and Pete Kaiser, who battled down to the wire for the 2025 Top Fuel crown, landed No. 2 and 3, respectively, with solid 5.70-zone passes.
Michael Hilton and Frank McBee both ran their personal best ETs to date, a pair of 5.74s, to hold down the fourth and fifth spots. Making his Top Fuel debut in spectacular fashion was seven-time NHRA Heritage Series Funny Car champ Bobby Cottrell, whose 5.98 landed him No. 6 on the ladder. Of note and on the bump was second-generation nitro ace Adam Sorokin in the sleek Champion Speed Shop entry. Adam’s father, Mike Sorokin, won this very event 60 years ago in the legendary Surfers fueler.
Come eliminations, the unpredictability of nitro racing was on full display. No. 1 qualifier Hester was beat in round one when his throttle cable broke on the hit, allowing Sorokin to run his weekend best of 5.91 for the win. Michael Hilton won with a 6.77 and .309 RT when McBee red-lit away his March Meet chances. Tyler Hilton and Kaiser both won their opening rounds, setting up a huge semifinal showdown.
In the semis, Michael Hilton ended Sorokin’s title quest with a 5.75 @236.96, then Kaiser and Tyler Hilton rolled into the burnout box for battle. Kaiser left first – way first with a .05 holeshot – but unlike last year’s final, Hilton ran him down at the top end to punch his ticket to the final – 5.68 to a losing 5.81 for Kaiser.
In the final it was uncle Michael Hilton vs. nephew Tyler Hilton for the 2026 March Meet title. Michael left early and tripped the red light, while Tyler stormed to an unbeatable 5.71 at 265.09 for the win – his very first March Meet title…finally.
This story was originally published on March 13, 2026. 
The post Tyler Hilton Adds Final Jewel to Top Fuel Crown With March Meet Victory first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
