MARION, Texas -- Ahhhh, I love the smell of nitromethane in the evening, kinda smells like IHRA Nitro Jam Racing. No April Fools either. The new IHRA Nitro Jam show returned to racing on the 1/4 mile, since their last visit in 2008, which was run on the 1/8 mile due to track conditions.

This years version on Nitro Jam is nothing like previous years with several new classes and a new format. The always popular 300MPH, Top Fuel Dragsters headline the list, with a scaled down version of Pro Fuel next on the speed charts. Prostalgia Funny Cars are new to the circuit featuring retro body styles of the famous originals. Also in the "nostalgia" theme are the Fuel Altered Roadsters. Finally the wild and wicked Nitro Harley class riders show off their two wheel courage at 200MPH.

"We tried to make this version of Nitro Jam a better show for the fans," related IHRA PR Director Larry Crum. "With the change in classes we have something different to offer and the addition of Grave Digger from Feld Entertainments Monster Jam series has quickly become a fan favorite."

"Our new format allows our fans to see a complete show in one day. In the past some families had to decide on going to see qualifying on one day or eliminations the next. This way they get to see a winner crowned in every one of our Pro Classes, every night."

"We've also incorporated two of our Sportsmen classes(Top Dragster and Top Sportsman) into our Nitro Jam portion of the show to give some of the local, weekly racers some more exposure."


Nitro Jam Pro Finals
Bruce Litton grabbed the victory in Top Fuel at the hit of the green. Litton was first off the line and stretched out his advantage at the finish line over Bobby Lagana.

“I love coming down here to San Antonio.” said Litton driver of the Lucas Oil, Slick Mist, TFX, Hadman Chassis. “I always feel this track owes me something even though it doesn't. We crashed here and I haven't forgotten it. We've also made some good runs here and won some races. We're very fortunate to beat Bobby(Lagana) tonight. He's a good racer with a good team.”

“That's the same car that we won our first race here in 2007 and went on to win the championship. The car likes this track, and response to it. We have all the runs from 207 and 2008 here on our computer. We looked at it to see what it liked then. We found something that I didn't realize that there is a certain spot on this track in the right lane that car doesn't like. So we compensated for that.”

“The track went from very hot to a pretty nice track over the night. This is our fourth race this year and this is as hot as it's been. That kind of threw us a curve ball. We backed it down first round to get it down the track and give us some data to work with. It was a good pass even though it actually dropped a hole(cylinder). It was only running on seven cylinders the last 300'.”


Top Fuel
Bruce Litton, 4.774 @ 301.41
Bobby Lagana, 4.922 @ 279.23



In a good side by side battle, Peter Gallen put up a record number on both ends to eat Mike McIntire for the Prostalgia Funny Car win. Gallen will need to back up both the speed and elapsed times on Saturday for the record to stand.

“My crew is so good, they prepared the car perfectly.” said Gallen driver of the ford8and9inchrearends.com, Zac's Hamburgers, Crandell Metal Products, Funny Farm Fabrications, Attack Chassis(old Scott Kalita car), in house motor. “The first run we really didn't tune the car for the track conditions. We decided to leave it alone for the second run. I have a quiji board in my trailer, and I just let it go where it wants to go to be honest. Mike McIntire is a tough player and we were just fortunate to get around him.”

“The track was prepped great. The biggest change was the track temperature, I didn't take that into consideration, the heat and the sun baking on the track. That's why we had a problem first round. The second round I talked to my crew and told them that I thought the track would come to us. We decided to leave this thing alone. My incremental numbers up to a second and half were real good. I just let the track come to us.

“We won't try to back up the record first round tomorrow, we'll be a little more conservative. If we're fortunate enough and the cards come together we'll go after the record second round. Our sponsors help us out a lot, but without my crew I couldn't get to these heights.”




Prostalgia Funny Car
Peter Gallen, "Poverty Stricken", 5.770 @ 252.10
Mike McIntire, "McAttack", 5.910 @ 235.11

Consis
Jon Capps, "Jungle Jim", 6.032 @ 235.97
Mark Sanders, "Mr Explosive" 6.120 @ 222.88(Red light)

Mike Smith, "Brand X", 6.111 @ 214.24
Greg Jacobsmeyer, "All Star", 6.332 @ 217.60

John Dunn, "Dunn & Gone", 7.923 @ 136.78
Rick Krafft, "Chicago Fire", 17.606 @ 77.27


In another race that had a winner before the green ever came on, Chris Bennett was awarded a solo pass after Jim Maroney did his burnout and just kept on going. Maroney made a steady 6.30 pass for the victory.

“The track was actually pretty good.” commented We didn't have any trouble getting down the track all day. Typically we don't hook up, this time she went right down A to B. We were real pleased. We'll tune the car for the conditions, but it'll go down a dirt road if we want it to. The air got better for the second round so the car ran a bit better. You could feel it early on.”

“I'm a third generation Fuel Altered driver, I've got this stuff running through my veins. This is a group effort between my Grandpa, my Dad and me, we kind of pool our pennies together. My dad does our motors and we have a laundry list of guys from the 60's that help us out.”

“I fly drones for the Air Force and a former C-17 pilot. I was active duty flying the C-17, but now work out of Creech AFB near Las Vegas. This gives me the opportunity to stay closer to home and do this. Being in the Ar Force was the best thing I ever did, but this is what feeds the beast. Being in that car is what I really love. This is a whole different thrill than what I do for the Air Force, giving it all for your country. Between them both, I'm in "Pure Heaven."



Nostalgia Fuel Altered
Jim Maroney, "Blind Faith", DQ
Chris Bennett, "Pure Heaven", 6.334 @ 210.77

Consi
Ron Maroney, "Nanook", 6.541 @ 216.65
Jason Richey, "Pure Hell", 6.554 @ 211.75(Hole shot win)



The Pro Fuel winner was determined before either car even staged. Robin Samsel did his burn out and then shit off in the staging lane. This handed the win to Mike Manners who laid down a nice 5.40 solo pass.
Pro Fuel
Mike Manners, "The Shredder", 5.456 @ 261.78
Robin Samsel, "The Predator", DNR(shot off after burnout)

Consi
Cherrisa Smallwood, "Nitro & Lace", 9.053 @ 100.58
Bill Evans, "Black Pearl", 5.390 @ 271.90


After problems in round 1, which he luckily won on a bye run, Jay Turner rebounded with a 6.49 pass at over 200mph, while Randall Andras shut off early.
Nitro Harley
Jay Turner, 6.494 @ 202.61
Randall Andras, 115.44 @ 80.26

Consi
Mike Scott, 6.995 @ 179.71(hole shot win)
Steve Dorn, 6.959 @ 192.06

Rob Hall, "Airborne Express", 10.182 @ 130.17

Jill Canuso, "Queen of Hearts", 5.322 @ 296.83(red light)
Terry Rosberg, "Jersey Thunder", 5.796 @ 267.54

Kent Shockley, "Shockwave", 6.171 @ 147.73
Randy Brown, "Grave Digger", 8.619 @ 7.454

Nitro Jam Pro Qualifying
Top Fuel Dragster
Bobby Lagana, 5.674 @ 176.84
Bruce Litton, 4.941 @ 289.81

Pro Fuel Dragster
Mike Manners, "The Shredder", 5.481 @ 263.43
Bill Evans, "Black Pearl", 5,786 @ 260.27

Cherrisa Smallwood, "Nitro & Lace", 6.328 @ 231.48
Robin Samsel, "The Predator", 5.727 @ 236.78

Prostalgia Funny Car
Rick Krafft, "Chicago Fire", 6.038 @ 218.13
John Dunn, "Dunn & Gone", 7.648 @ 132.24

Mark Sanders, "Mr Explosive", 6.067 @ 238.85
Peter Gallen, "Poverty Stricken", 6.021 @ 246.58

Jon Capps, "Jungle Jim", 6.086 @ 205.95
Mike McIntire, "McAttack", 5.892 @ 237.59

Mike Smith, "Brand X", 6.415 @ 206.14
Greg Jacobsmeyer, "All Star", 6.215 @ 220.80

Nostalgia Fuel Altered
Chris Bennett, "Pure Heaven", 6.369 @ 203.80
Ron Maroney, "Nanook", 6.544 @ 219.51

Jim Maroney, "Blind Faith", 6.328 @ 222.66
Jason Richey, "Pure Hell", 6.406 @ 218. 34

Nitro Harley
Steve Dorn, DNR
Jay Turner, 13.850 @ 78.55

Mike Scott, 6.813, 188.84
Randall Andras, 6.776 @ 169.75

Jet Dragsters
Jill Canuso, "Queen of Diamonds", 5.338 @ 296.05
Terry Rosberg, "Jersey Thunder", 5.746 @ 269.78

Exhibition
Kent Shockley, "Shockwave", 8.177 @ 200.36
Randy Brown, "Grave Digger", 8.505 @ 75.48

Rob Hall, "Airborne Express", 10.046 @ 137.15