Is it the great, side-by-side racing at over 300 mph? Is it the nostalgia of being one of the longest, continuously running events on the International Hot Rod Association’s current schedule? Is it the mix of great Canadian competition with the already well-established U.S.-based IHRA stars?
While all are great candidates for what makes this event truly unique, the real answer as to why the IHRA’s annual trip to Edmonton is the biggest drag racing event in all of Canada lies in the sheer number and variety of the classes.
Every year the IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports and Parts Canada features a head-spinning number of classes, unique exhibitions and exciting extras that make this event the must-see race on the IHRA calendar.
And 2014 will be no exception.
The 2014 IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals will feature professional competition in three nitro classes, including 10,000 horsepower Top Fuel Dragsters, Nitro Harleys and one of only two open Nitro Funny Car fields on the 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam schedule. The event will also see the return of Pro Modified to the lineup, along with the Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car group, exhibition runs in Alcohol Funny Car and Alcohol Dragster, the debut of the all-female Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster Team, the return of Mark Smith in the “Fire Force” jet-powered fire truck and more.
In the nitro classes alone, fans will see a four-car Top Fuel match race between Ike Maier, Scott Palmer, Kyle Wurtzel and Bruce Litton, along with an open Nitro Funny Car competition that will pit defending race winner Tim Nemeth in the “Iceman” nostalgia machine versus three-time Rocky Mountain Nationals champion and IHRA regular Tim Boychuk, event regular Nathan Sitko and more.
Also returning in 2014 will be the extremely popular Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car group featuring a variety of unique cars, wild designs, backup girls and good, old fashioned racing. Always filled with upsets, Joey Steckler enters the weekend as the defending Rocky Mountain Nationals champion.
Pro Modified will also be back on the schedule after a one-year absence as nearly a dozen ear-shattering, five-second Pro Mods fill the lanes at Castrol Raceway attempting to make an eight-car field.
The event will conclude with exhibition passes by local drag racing stars in Alcohol Funny Car and Alcohol Dragster, plus the debut of the Larsen Motorsports Jet Dragster 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.
And that’s just in the professional categories.
Once again, the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals will couple with the IHRA’s Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour as racers in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod and Junior Dragster, plus local competitors in Castrol Raceway’s weekly bracket program, battle it out for an Ironman trophy and championship points.
The 2014 IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports and Parts Canada will take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Castrol Raceway. Racing will take place all day, with professional competition beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
For ticket information visit www.nitrojam.com or call Castrol Raceway at (780) 461-5801.
