The only appearance of Top Fuel Dragsters in the United States with the International Hot Rod Association’s (IHRA) Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series will take place at the IHRA Nitro Jam Northern Nationals August 8-9 at US 131 Motorsports Park as the class joins four other professional categories in the final national event before the World Finals.
Just one year after making the fastest pass in the 40+ year history of the IHRA at 330.79 miles per hour, Dom Lagana and his brother Bobby, a two-time IHRA Nitro Jam champion, will return to the track they call home in a brother versus brother match race in the quickest cars on the planet. And that is only the beginning.
The 2014 IHRA Northern Nationals will also feature the return of IHRA’s original class, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, competing on the quarter-mile in 220 mph, side-by-side competition. The event will also feature the largest field of Nitro Altereds seen all season, in addition to competition in Nitro Harley, Jet Dragster and more all taking place August 8-9 at US 131 Motorsports Park.
“The Northern Nationals is an event synonymous with world-class IHRA drag racing. And this year, we plan to keep that tradition alive with an event unlike any other seen this year,” said Scott Gardner, President of IHRA Motorsports. “Top Fuel and quarter-mile Pro Stock racing are worth the price of admission alone, but we have so much more to go along with it. Add in the fact that racers will be chasing championship points in the final race before the World Finals, and this will be one event that you cannot miss.”
The Lagana brothers, hailing from just outside of New York City in Scarsdale, New York, will bring their nitro-fed dragsters to US 131 in a match race of the fastest accelerating machines on earth. The pair will make two passes each night.
Last year, in an attempt to set a new personal best for the team, Dom Lagana made headlines with the fastest pass in IHRA history at 330.79 mph, covering the quarter-mile in 4.633 seconds. This year, Bobby will push his brother to see who the fastest racer in Michigan is.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock will also highlight the return of the Northern Nationals to western Michigan as these powerful, 800+ cubic inch mountain motored machines return to the quarter-mile. At the center of the Pro Stock showdown will be the intense rivalry between the Black Diamond Motorsports team, consisting of new IHRA world record holder John DeFlorian and teammate Kevin Bealko, and the Goforth Racing Team made up of points leader Cary Goforth, along with Dean Goforth and Todd Hoerner. Former IHRA world champion Pete Berner, John Konigshofer, Brad Waddle and more will make up the field.
Also making history at US 131 Motorsports Park 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 and an entrepreneur who holds the operation together, the team of Elaine Larsen, Marisha Falk, Dawn Perdue, Allison West and Kat Moller will compete in 300 mph, side-by-side jet-powered drag racing action.
Rounding out the action will be two additional nitro classes known for their “extreme” racing.
Nitro Altered will feature a showdown of classic cars from the 60s and 70s as these short-wheelbased machines wiggle and wobble down the quarter-mile at over 200 mph. The field will feature such iconic cars as “Nanook” driven by third-generation racer Kyle Hough, “Rat Trap” driven by legendary drag racer Ron Hope, “Arizona Thunder” driven by Mike Hilsabeck, “Blind Faith” driven by former Nitro Jam champion Ron Maroney and “Bullet Bob” driven by two-time event winner this season Don Blackshear. In total eight Nitro Altereds will be in competition, by far the largest field of the season.
Nitro Harley will round out the nitro categories as the powerful motorcycles travel the quarter-mile at over 220 mph only one wheel. Iconic racer Jay Turner leads the class into Martin as he tries to position himself for a championship against the likes of Mike Scott, Randal Andras, Mark Cox, Larry Brancaccio and more.
In addition to all of the on-track action, the 2014 IHRA Northern 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.
Tickets to the 2014 IHRA Northern Nationals can be purchased in advance at www.nitrojam.com or at the gate day of show.
Showtime is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information on the 2014 IHRA Northern Nationals, visit www.nitrojam.com or call US 131 Motorsports Park at (269) 672-7800.
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