IHRA
Jay Turner relives terrifying crash at Mardi Gras Nitro Jam
Courtesy of IHRA
BATON ROUGE, LA – The scene was terrifying, the mood in the air tense. For a couple of moments it wasn’t known whether or not longtime Nitro Harley competitor Jay Turner was hurt, or worse.
The sold out crowd at State Capitol Raceway stood on their seats, leaned on the fences, anything to try and catch a glimpse of the man who, just moments before, was rushing down the quarter-mile on only one tire, blasting fire out of the pipes at over 150 miles per hour all to the amusement of one of the largest crowds to ever watch a drag race in the state of Louisiana. But now all they were seeing were the flashing lights of emergency crews surrounding the two-time champ.
For a few minutes the loudest sport in the world was reduced to silence. For a few moments thousands of fans, officials and even fellow competitors were reminded just how dangerous this sport can be. Despite all of the pageantry, despite all the flashy cars and can-you-believe it moments the sport of drag racing creates, behind the wheel, or in this case behind the handlebars, are human beings doing what they love most all while trying to put on a show for the fans.
Litton, Maroney, Evans and Scott fill Sunday victory lane at Mardi Gras Nitro Jam
Courtesy of IHRA
PORT ALLEN, LA – No Mardi Gras celebration would be complete without an abundance of beads, decorations, 
music and plenty of Cajun cuisine and that is exactly what the winners of Sunday’s Nitro Jam finale enjoyed in victory lane as over a dozen different drivers hoisted a brand new Ironman trophy during an absolutely huge race weekend at the third annual Mardi Gras Nitro Jam at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge.
And topping that list was the popular “Poverty Stricken” Funny Car team headed by driver Peter Gallen who swept the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car category over the weekend and vaulted to the top of the Prostalgia championship standings in the process. Gallen pushed his car to the limit both nights of the annual Louisiana event, defeating Mike McIntire both times to perform the only sweep of the weekend.
Record crowds on hand to witness huge Mardi Gras Nitro Jam
Courtesy of IHRA
PORT ALLEN, LA – Bobby Lagana didn’t cross the finish line first on Saturday, in fact he didn’t even finish first in his 
own lane, but he still broke through with his first ever win at State Capitol Raceway in front of a historic crowd at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam Saturday in Baton Rouge
Lagana, who had won at every track on the Nitro Jam tour except State Capitol Raceway entering this weekend’s event, finally got the proverbial Louisiana monkey off his back Saturday to claim his fourth consecutive victory dating back to last year and his 14th career Ironman in a wild one over Bruce Litton in front of a standing room only crowd.
“To be honest it feels great to finally get a win here. We have been close so many times, but we were finally able to conquer the beast, even if it wasn’t the prettiest win,” Lagana said. “I am also thrilled to see the crowd out here tonight. Everyone, from the IHRA to the great people here at State Capitol, put on such a great show. The crowd was here early and they stayed late.”
Ford Racing partners with IHRA as major contingency sponsor in 2011
Courtesy of IHRA
Norwalk, OH – The International Hot Rod Association is pleased to announce a new and exciting partnership with 
Ford Racing that will see the popular car manufacturer take on the role as a major contingency sponsor for the 2011 season.
Ford Racing will be posting for Ford bodies and engines at all IHRA Nitro Jam and Summit Pro-Am events this season. With the addition of Ford Racing the IHRA contingency program continues to flourish with new sponsors coming on board on a regular basis.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ford Racing to the IHRA family and I look forward to having Ford involved with some of the best sportsman racing in the country,” said Kurt Oberholtzer, IHRA Director of Contingency and Sales.
Lagana leads Nitro Jam into Cajun Country looking for first Mardi Gras win
Courtesy of IHRA
PORT ALLEN, LA – It is like déjà vu all over again for Top Fuel ace Bobby Lagana Jr.
Exactly one year ago Lagana began the season with a weekend sweep of the Nitro Jam opener at Palm Beach International Raceway, setting up a brilliant run to his first career Nitro Jam championship after nearly a dozen years behind the wheel of the quickest and fastest class in motorsports.
And while Lagana would certainly not object to a repeat of the 2010 season after opening the year with another sweep in Palm Beach, one thing Lagana would love to change this year is his record at State Capitol Raceway – 0-3.
Lagana (near) hopes to finally break through with his first win at Baton Rouge against rival Bruce Litton
IHRA announces newly created Division 6 on Summit Pro-Am tour
Courtesy of IHRA
Norwalk, OH – Just one month after announcing the creation of a new division in the Summit SuperSeries consisting of tracks in the western United States and Canada, the International Hot Rod Association is pleased to announce that
it will also be expanding the Summit Pro-Am Tour as well with the creation of Division 6 consisting of five races in 2011 in British Columbia and Alberta.
The newly created division, also known as the Border Bandits, will expand the IHRA’s regional touring series to include its new western markets and provide racers on the west coast who have never had an opportunity to compete for an IHRA title a chance to compete for points and a championship on the Summit Pro-Am Tour.
“We have been looking to reach out to racers on the west coast for a long time and with the creation of the new division and with so many great tracks getting involved I think this is the first step in really making some noise in areas of the country we have never touched before,” said division director Frank Kohutek. “We are going to try some things out this first year, get racers used to the way these things are done, before we step it up and really grow the division over the next few years. This is certainly an exciting time to be a part of the IHRA.”
Bennett in ‘Heaven’ entering Mardi Gras Nitro Jam
Courtesy of IHRA
PORT ALLEN, LA – For most racers, the first event of the season is typically a chance to shake off the cobwebs of a 
long offseason and try to get back in rhythm with a few smooth, consistent laps.
That certainly wasn’t the case for third generation racer Chris Bennett.
You could almost say Bennett was in “heaven” following the opening race of the 2011 Nitro Jam season as Bennett and the “Pure Heaven” Fuel Altered team fired off one career best lap after another en route to winning the first ever Fuel Altered race as a part of Nitro Jam competition while setting the bar for the new class entering the second event of the year February 19-20 at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam in Baton Rouge.
Memphis International Raceway joins IHRA family
Courtesy of IHRA
Norwalk, OH – Feld Motor Sports and the International Hot Rod Association are proud to announce that Memphis International Raceway has signed a multiyear sanctioning agreement with the IHRA and plans are already in place to
add a Feld Motor Sports event to the schedule in the near future.
The recently purchased Memphis facility will reopen as an IHRA sanctioned facility later this year, with the Summit SuperSeries sportsman racing program and weekly test and tune sessions to take place immediately. The new owners are also working diligently to add national and regional events to the schedule for the 2011 season.
“I’m incredibly excited to add Memphis International Raceway as an IHRA facility,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “Obviously we’ve had great success with this same group at Palm Beach International Raceway. Memphis is a great market and I can’t wait to get the ball rolling and start getting IHRA events at the facility.”
Sanders runs low E.T. three out of four rounds in Palm Beach
Courtesy of IHRA
MAPLE VALLEY, WA – After traveling nearly 4,000 miles across the country from Seattle to southern Florida for the first race of the 2011 Nitro Jam season, the “Mr. Explosive” team headed by driver Mark Sanders finally returned
home with an Ironman in hand this week as Sanders kicked off the young season with a victory at the Palm Beach Nitro Jam at Palm Beach International Raceway last month.
Sanders qualified with the top spot on opening night at the Palm Beach Nitro Jam with a very quick 5.82 second lap at 244 miles per hour, a precursor of things to come as Sanders went on to meet up with another drag racing superstar in the final. With the IHRA Chicago style format, Sanders’ time was good enough to advance the “Mr. Explosive” Funny Car into the finals against IHRA legend Paul Romine. In that final round matchup Sanders was out of the gate first and never looked back, putting down another consistent 5.87 second lap at 242 mph, defeating Romine’s 5.941, 240 mph.
Southwestern International Raceway to host third stop on 2011 Nitro Jam tour
Courtesy of IHRA
Norwalk, OH – After a few weeks of deliberation culminating with a unanimous vote by the racers, the International Hot Rod Association and Feld Motor Sports is proud to announce that Tucson, Ariz. based dragstrip Merles
Southwestern International Raceway has joined the IHRA family of member tracks.
Merles Southwestern International Raceway has confirmed that the venue will be sanctioned by the IHRA and, according to new owner LJ Motorsports and CEO Bernie Longjohn, the IHRA affiliation will bring with it many racer friendly programs including the Summit SuperSeries and Teen Championship Racing, culminating with the southwestern United States debut of the fastest growing motorsports event in the country as Nitro Jam comes to SIR the weekend of March 25-26 with one of the biggest shows of the year.
