Mike McIntire savors victory at Pittsburgh Nitro Jam!
Courtesy of IHRA
NEW ALEXANDRIA, PA – Finally, after seven previous meetings and seven excruciating losses to Peter Gallen and 
the “Poverty Stricken” team Mike McIntire and the “McAttack” crew finally got their revenge on Saturday with a thrilling victory during the finale of the inaugural Pittsburgh Nitro Jam at Pittsburgh Raceway Park.
And he wasn’t alone.
Saturday was a night for new winners as Michael Manners retook the Pro Fuel points lead with a victory over Friday winner Robin Samsel and Mike Scott, who traveled all the way from British Columbia to compete in Pittsburgh’s Nitro Jam event, claimed a win over Nitro Harley newcomer Jake Stordeur.
“We knew we had an advantage here this weekend with the shorter distance and we felt this was our weekend to turn things around,” McIntire said. “Ironically that didn’t even come into play tonight as Peter and I both pedaled and we were lucky enough to cross the line first. It has been over a year since our last win and we are certainly excited to be back in victory lane.”
McIntire and Gallen were once again the class of the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car field Saturday in Pittsburgh as the pair put down the two quickest laps in round one to match up in the final for the second night in a row. Gallen lead the qualifying round with a solid 4.898 elapsed time at 228.54 miles per hour in a win over Greg Jacobsmeyer while McIntire recorded a 4.920, 222.55 in a win over Laurie Cannister.
In the final a much anticipated battle tuned into an old-fashioned pedal-fest as McIntire lost traction immediately off the line and Gallen smoked the tires at 330 feet setting up a battle to the 1,000 foot line.
Both cars traded the lead several times in the battle for the Ironman, but it was McIntire who was able to record the victory by a little over five tenths of a second. McIntire posted a 7.254, 170.58 in the win, snapping a streak of seven straight losses to the “Poverty Stricken” team. Gallen recorded a 7.701, 115.18 in the runner-up effort.
Cannister won the consolation round over Jacobsmeyer, her first career nitro round win.
In Pro Fuel Michael Manners in the “Shredder” dragster lead from start to finish culminating with a win over Friday night winner Robin Samsel in picking up his fourth victory of the year.
Manners drew Bill Evans in round one for the second night in a row and was able to reverse Friday’s results with a 4.604, 250.42 to top the Pro Fuel charts. In the other opening round matchup Samsel posted a 4.670, 242.33 in a win over Cherissa Smallwood.
In the final Manners got off the line first with a huge holeshot and made a very nice run to pick up the win. Manners ran a 4.525, 253.24 in the victory, edging Samsel’s 4.607, 243.51.
In the consolation Evans won his third round in four tries over Smallwood.
With Saturday’s victory Manners also retook the points lead after Evans briefly topped the charts Friday night.
In Nitro Harley the final round participants from Friday were swapped out for Canadian Mike Scott and Nitro Jam newcomer Jake Stordeur and Scott was able to walk away a winner, his third of the season.
Stordeur lead round one with a weekend best 5.540, 201.61 in a win over Steve Dorn to take lane choice in the final against Scott who recorded a win over Friday winner Jay Turner.
In the final Stordeur got off the line first and appeared to be well on his way to picking up his first career Nitro Jam victory, but he lost power near halftrack and Scott was able to power past his opponent to take the win. Scott recorded a 5.625, 198.06 in the final to Stordeur’s 6.236, 151.21.
In the consolation Dorn finally found his groove in a win over Turner.
Closing out the weekend was another great show by the Shockwave jet semi and Grave Digger, Megasaurus, the Chevy Rebellion wheelstander and much more.
Next up for Nitro Jam is a trip west for back-to-back races in Utah and Alberta, Canada. The western swing will begin the weekend of July 17-18 at the Salt Lake Nitro Jam at Rocky Mountain Raceways.
