The International Hot Rod Association® (IHRA®) and Nitro Jam® are pleased to welcome Domino’s Pizza as presenting sponsor for the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge, La.
If you thought one monster truck was exciting last year, just wait until the newest edition of Nitro Jam hits the track at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino's Pizza May 4-5 when a full night of nitro-powered drag racing, jet trucks, wheelstanders and more will be capped off with the “biggest” drag race in motorsports history – the battle of the monster trucks.
There is perhaps no truck more attractive – and definitely no truck faster – than the wild 1941 Willys driven by Louisiana native Al Suggs Jr.
With a unique green and purple Mardi Gras design complete with flames and even an evil jester, the Suggs Willys has become famous in motorsports circles not just for its abilities on the track, but for its eye-popping designs off of it.
With nearly every show car award you can collect, Suggs has made it a point to share his machine with the world and that includes showcasing the unique machine during the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino’s Pizza May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway, the home track for the man who was born in Baton Rouge and currently resides in Denham Springs.
But Suggs’ dream ride won’t be just another pretty face when it rolls off of its colorful matching trailer. It is coming to Baton Rouge for one reason and one reason only – to win the Pro Mod shootout and continue to break records.
“Our truck is the fastest truck in the world, simply put,” Suggs said. “This thing is not just another pretty car, it is actually one of the fastest as well and we are going to prove that in Baton Rouge.”
Suggs officially set the record for the quickest truck in 1/8 mile history at an event last year in Ennis, Texas. Originally set at four seconds flat in 660 feet of real estate, Suggs blasted down the track with a time of 3.801 in October of 2011 and later backed it up to officially take over the record for the quickest truck in the world.
Now Suggs will bring his team, his car and his girls – the famous Suggs show girls that travel with the car – to his home track in Baton Rouge with the goal of winning the event and possibly even lowering his record even more.
“With all of the traveling we do showing the car and racing, we never get to put on a show here in front of our home fans,” Suggs said. “Now that we have that opportunity we are looking forward to putting on a great show for everyone and possibly even lowering our record. We have fans from all over the state coming out to see us and we can’t wait to show them what this hot rod can do.”
Suggs will be one of over a dozen Pro Mods trying to make an eight car field. Last year, Abita Springs, La. native “Pizza Joe” Palmisano defeated Gary Rusich in a great final to take the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam crown. All of the Pro Mods will run twice each night during the Nitro Jam rounds with eliminations set to take place on Sunday during the Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am presented by AMSOIL sportsman race.
The 2012 Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino’s Pizza will take place May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway. The event will feature four nitro classes of Pro Fuel Dragster, AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Harley and Fuel Altered in addition to the wild Outlaw Pro Mod class. Each event will also feature an incredible show featuring jet dragsters, jet funny cars, the 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet semi, the Chevy Rebellion wheelstander and the Louisiana debut of the monster truck drag race between Grave Digger driven by Randy Brown and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle drive by Joey Parnell.
Gates open at 2 p.m. daily with the FanFest Pit Party scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and Nitro Jam at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 6 will feature a sportsman only competition coupled with Pro Mod eliminations.
“We are really looking forward to this event,” Suggs said. “Nowhere in the world can you see such a wide and unique variety of classes. This event has something for everyone and we look forward to packing the place and putting on a great show.”
When it comes to drag racing in Canada, one event has withstood the test of time as the biggest spectacle in straight line racing – the MOPAR Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals in Edmonton.
