On the IHRA schedule for more than a decade, the summer race at Castrol Raceway has seen some of the most famous figures and legendary races turn a tire at Edmonton’s most well-known racing facility and now the IHRA returns with the next chapter of IHRA Nitro Jam drag racing.
Castrol Raceway will host the eighth of 12 events on the 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series schedule the weekend of July 4-6, with competition in a number of unique classes all run on the full quarter-mile.
A full field or Pro Mods return to the IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals
This is drag racing how it is meant to be, and it all takes place July 4-6 in Edmonton as more than a dozen classes fill the lanes highlighted by the return of Top Fuel Dragster, Nitro Funny Car, Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car, Nitro Harley, Pro Mod, Jet Dragster and more.
“The Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals at Castrol Raceway have earned the reputation as the must-see event on the IHRA calendar. With a lineup unique to this event made up of more than a different classes, there is something for everyone at Canada’s biggest drag race,” said Scott Gardner, President of IHRA Motorsports. “This year, we are thrilled to welcome back Pro Modified as a full field of ear-shattering, five-second Pro Mods join Top Fuel Dragsters, Nitro Funny Cars, Jets and more spread over three days. It is like the Woodstock of drag racing.”
This year, every lap matters as the stars of the Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series push their machines to the limit in their chase for the 2014 IHRA World Championships. Qualifying will take place Friday, July 4 and Saturday July 5 followed by eliminations on Sunday, July 6.
One of the most unique elements of the IHRA national event at Castrol Raceway is the massive assortment of race cars. The professional lineup at this year’s event will include competition Top Fuel Dragster, Nitro Funny Car, Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car, Nitro Harley, Pro Mod, Alcohol Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster, Jet Dragster and more.
Nitro Harley presented by Drag Specialties are back with 220 mph passes on only one wheel
Three nitro-powered classes will take center stage at Castrol Raceway, joining the insane racers in Pro Modified and the thrilling Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster team.
In IHRA’s premier category, Castrol Raceway will host one of only two completely open fields in Nitro Funny Car with the IHRA. Fans will see the return of 2014 race winner Tim Nemeth in the “Iceman” Funny Car, alongside Edmonton native and three-time winner of this event Tim Boychuk in “Forever Forward,” plus other famous rides such as the “Twig Zeigler” tribute machine and more.
Also making history in Edmonton will be the debut of the world’s only Jet Dragster championship program being contested by the four fastest women in drag racing – the Larsen Motorsports jet team. This four-car team is made up of four very talented female competitors with vastly different backgrounds. From a 19-year-old college student, to a female test pilot, a nurse and an entrepreneur who holds the operation together, the team of Elaine Larsen, Marisha Falk, Dawn Perdue and Kat Moller will compete in 300 mph, side-by-side jet-powered drag racing action.
Top Fuel Dragster returns to the mix this season as four of the quickest accelerating machines on earth go to war on the Edmonton quarter-mile at over 300 mph. Canadian Ike Maier will defend his home turf as he goes head-to-head against a trio of heavy-hitting American Top Fuel drivers in Kyle Wurtzel, Bruce Litton and Scott Palmer. The drivers will make two passes Saturday and Sunday.
A second Funny Car group, the Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car group, will join the action as these nostalgia machines once again wow audiences with quarter-mile burnouts, backup girls and close, side-by-side, 200 mph competition. They will be joined by an assortment of racing machines in Alcohol Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster, Nitro Harley and more.
One of only two open fields on the IHRA schedule this season, expect great competition in Nitro Funny Car
Finally, the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals will once again host one of the biggest Pro Modified competitions in Canada with a full field of powerful nitrous-fed and supercharged machines.
Bringing the event to a close will be a huge fireworks display that accompanies the world’s only jet-powered Fire Truck that will bring the event to a close.
In addition to all of the on-track action, the 2014 IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals will feature an all-new and fully interactive Fan Fest pit experience. Fans can tour the pits, meet the drivers and take part in a number of fun family activities including the Larsen Motorsports Jet Technology Center, a hands-on look at the design and technology behind a jet-powered racing team, and the Hollywood Cars of the Stars featuring real cars from famous movies and television shows such as the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Batmobile from the 1960s Batman television series and more.
In addition to the professional action, the event will also include two full days of sportsman racing competing on the IHRA’s Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL. Racing for that series will take place Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.nitrojam.com or at the gate. Showtime is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information on the 2014 IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals, visit www.nitrojam.com.
