NORWALK, Ohio -- Saddle up race fans, Nitro Jam is heading west.

Later this month the International Hot Rod Association’s Nitro Jam series, the world’s most exciting motorsports thrill show and competition, will be packing up and heading west with two huge shows in Salt Lake City, Utah and Edmonton, Alberta during its annual western swing.

Featuring everything from monster trucks to the return of Top Fuel racing, the Nitro Jam western swing is one of the most exciting two week stretches of the year for the Norwalk, Ohio based series. And this year promises to be the biggest yet as Nitro Jam presents two huge shows at the NAPA Auto Parts Nitro Jam presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports and Cricket Wireless at Rocky Mountain Raceways June 29-30 and the MOPAR Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals at Castrol Raceway July 6-8.

“This time of year is always special for Nitro Jam as we gear up for our annual trip west. Salt Lake City and Edmonton are always overflowing with incredible fans and feature some of the best racing and biggest variety found anywhere in the sport,” said Aaron Polburn, IHRA President. “We have a great lineup planned for this stretch that is geared toward fans of all ages, from motorsports enthusiasts to people who just want to see things go fast, and we look forward to presenting all of that in a format unique to this series.”

First up on the Nitro Jam western tour will be a stop at the newly repaved Rocky Mountain Raceways in Utah June 29-30 for the NAPA Auto Parts Nitro Jam presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports and Cricket Wireless.

Added to the Nitro Jam schedule fulltime in 2010, this annual stop in the Rockies has proven one of the most exciting additions to the lineup in years. With a picturesque view of the mountains just past the end of the newly repaved and faster-than-ever facility, the NAPA Auto Parts Nitro Jam will without a doubt set records and provide local fans with a night of racing they won’t soon forget.

Headlining this year’s event will be the debut of the Grave Digger versus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle monster truck showdown in addition to one of the most exciting AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car lineups seen all year. The Utah event will also feature three additional nitro classes in Pro Fuel Dragster, Nitro Harley and Fuel Altered and will come to a close with the showmanship of the 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet-powered semi.

While Grave Digger and TMNT will go head-to-head in easily the “biggest” drag race in the world, the stars of AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car will put together the “biggest” show in terms of talent. Eight of the world’s quickest and fastest Funny Cars will travel to Salt Lake City for bragging rights and an Ironman trophy at an event that has become a crown jewel on the nostalgia Funny Car circuit.

One week later the Nitro Jam series will pack up and head north of the border to Edmonton, Alberta for the MOPAR Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals at Castrol Raceway July 6-8.

When the event in Edmonton was added to the Nitro Jam schedule for the first time in 2003, little did they know that it would one day grow into one of the biggest drag racing spectacles in the world. Featuring one of the most diverse lineups of professional and sportsman competition spread over more than a dozen different classes, the MOPAR Nitro Jam at Castrol Raceway routinely draws tens of thousands of fans from all over Canada and the United States.

The 2012 edition of the MOPAR Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals will continue the tradition of diverse high-horsepower entertainment as seven professional classes fill the lanes headlined by the thrilling return of 300 mph Top Fuel Dragsters to the Nitro Jam lineup.

In addition to the return of Top Fuel, the Edmonton event will also feature a 16 car qualified field of AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, Nitro Harleys and Pro Nostalgia Funny Cars, in addition to Chicago-style racing in Fuel Altered and Alcohol Funny Car.

The exhibition portion of the evening will feature Canada’s only monster truck drag race between Grave Digger and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and the return of the 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet semi.

Don’t miss Nitro Jam’s famous western swing at Salt Lake City, Utah June 29-30 and Edmonton, Alberta July 6-8 for two huge weekends of racing. For more information logon to www.nitrojam.com.