Inaugural Battle Of The Jet Fire Trucks At IHRA Nitro Jam Summer Nationals At Cordova International Raceway May 29-30

NORWALK, OH – It’s never been done before. The inaugural Battle of the Jet Fire Trucks will take place at Cordova International Raceway during the May 29-30 IHRA Nitro Jam Summer Nationals.

Mark Smith’s jet-powered U.S. Fire Force fire truck is a popular attraction at every IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series national event. His candy apple red 1940 Ford fire truck is powered by not one, but two jet engines. Its flame-belching, ground-pounding passes down the quarter mile never fail to drop the jaw of even the most jaded motorsports fan.

Now Smith has a challenger. Enter Dave Modder, a volunteer firefighter from Randall, Wisconsin. A commercial pilot by trade, Modder has raced Jet Dragsters for nearly 20 years. His custom-built Dragon’s Fyre is a replica 1940 Ford truck powered by a General Electric J-85-17 jet engine.

Modder and his Dragon’s Fyre truck are partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (www.firehero.org).

“Those of us in the fire service know how important the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is,” said Modder. “For the families of firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the NFFF provides critical assistance. Our mission is create awareness of the group’s activities through drag racing, air shows, car shows and fire service events. What this foundation does is important to me since I’m an active firefighter.”

“The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation appreciates Dave’s commitment to our mission to honor the fallen, offer support to their families and help reduce firefighter line-of-duty injuries and deaths each year,” said NFFF executive director Ron Siarnicki. “The generous support provided through this partnership helps the foundation continue providing valuable resources to the survivors of fallen firefighters.”

Dragon’s Fyre and U.S. Fire Force will wage a fiery battle on CIR’s freshly-paved quarter-mile drag strip during the Nitro Jam Summer Nationals. If veteran sportscaster Howard Cosell were alive today, he might dub this smoky showdown “The Inferno in Cordova.”