“It’s one of our most prestigious events because of the venue,” IHRA President Aaron Polburn said. “The venue is one of the nicest that we go to. It’s the most well-lit that we go to and it has a history. Every style that drag racing has ever had has gone down that race track at one time or another.”
Top Fuel is back at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park
The 2013 CarSafe Northern Nitro Jam will feature a unique blend of professional and sportsman racing with hundreds of racers spread across multiple classes and three days of competition. Ironman trophies will be handed out to the winners on Saturday and Sunday.
In professional competition, the return of Mountain Motor Pro Stock will mark the first time since 2009 they will be seen on the IHRA circuit. The event will also feature four nitro-burning classes led by the 320 mph stars of Top Fuel Dragster. AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Harley and Fuel Altered classes will provide plenty of “oohs and ahs” as well.
Among the professional stars at this year’s event will be the return of one of IHRA’s oldest rivalries as former IHRA Top Fuel World Champions Bruce Litton and Dom Lagana battle at over 320 mph. In Nitro Funny Car Greg Jacobsmeyer and the "AllStar Dodge" team will battle Mike McIntire’s “McAttack” Camaro, Rick Krafft in the “Bullet Bob” machine and the world famous “Chi-Town Hustler” Dodge driven by Mike Minick.
Four of the best Funny Cars in the country will be on hand in Martin, MI
And the entire event will be highlighted by the return of IHRA’s very own Mountain Motor Pro Stocks.
Rounding out the action will be several exhibition classes including the Battle of the Jet Trains between the “Cannonball Express” and “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” jet-powered dragsters, the world famous “Chevy Rebellion” wheelstander, 30,000 Super Shockwave jet truck, fireworks and much more.
“This is gonna kind of be a combination Jet Jam/Nitro Jam,” Polburn said. “I think we may be on to something.”
In sportsman competition, the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL will feature seven traveling classes in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod plus Top ET, Mod ET and Junior Dragsters, with racers from the North Stars Division battling for points the whole way.
Yeah that's right - Pro Stock is back in IHRA competition at the Northern Nitro Jam
Defending winners from the event are Mike Sowards and Gary Wojnowski Sr. (Top Sportsman), Scott Doyen and Jacob Elrod (Top Dragster), Mark Nowicki and Joe McDougall (Super Stock), Brent Darroch and Brad Zaskowski (Stock), Jeremy Mason (Quick Rod both days), Jacob Elrod and Brad Lefever (Super Rod), Rick Baehr and Mark McKay (Hot Rod).
If that’s not enough to satisfy, an incredible fireworks display and pyrotechnics will close the event.
Friday’s Nitro Jam kicks off at 7 p.m. with sportsman races throughout the day on Saturday, Nitro Jam again at 7 p.m. and more sportsman races again throughout the day on Sunday. Tickets are $25 at the track the day of the show and $10 for children 12 and under.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.nitrojam.com or by calling U.S. 131 Motorsports Park at (269) 672-7800.
CLICK HERE for schedules, ticket links and more information on the CarSafe Northern Nitro Jam presented by Perry Harley-Davidson at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
