In professional action, three of the five Nitro Jam classes have already secured their champions entering the event, with Jason Rupert, Ron Maroney and Elaine Larsen locking up the Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Altered and Jet Dragster titles respectively, but big money and even more championships are on the line when the IHRA returns to Memphis for the most exciting race of the year.
“The Summit World Finals is such a huge event for the racers, the fans and the IHRA. This event features the best-of-the-best in the world of drag racing from across North America and every pass down the track will have championship implications,” said Scott Gardner, President of IHRA Motorsports. “With both the professional and sportsman championships on the line October 10-11 in Memphis, there is simply no event more important than the Summit World Finals.”
Nitro Funny Car takes center stage in Memphis with an incredible lineup
In addition to IHRA’s five professional Nitro Jam categories, the Summit Racing Equipment World Finals will also feature two championship tournaments for the best racers in IHRA’s sportsman classes. Fans will witness bonus racing as they have an opportunity to watch the crowning of seven champions in the Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL and another three champions with the Summit SuperSeries presented by AMSOIL World Championship.
Highlighting IHRA’s professional Nitro Jam lineup are the extremely popular AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars. While California native Jason Rupert has already locked up the championship in the class, there is still plenty of bragging rights up for grabs with one of the biggest Nitro Funny Car races of the season in Memphis.
Rupert, who has won four races this season in the Bays and Rupert “Black Plague” ’69 Camaro, will try to add to his collection against fellow 2014 Funny Car winners Shawn Bowen in the “Violator” Pontiac, Mike McIntire in the “McAttack” Camaro and John Hale in the “Mike Burkhart” Camaro.
IHRA's sportsman racers take center stage in Memphis with a shot at a World Championship
Joining them in Memphis will be Ronnie Young in “Blue Max,” Tim Boychuk in “Forever Forward,” Mark Sanders in “Mr. Explosive,” Bruce Litton in “U.S. Male,” Peter Gallen in “Poverty Stricken,” Jake Crimmins in “Crazy Jake,” Mike Smith in “Hard Guys” and Greg Jacobsmeyer in “All-Star.”
“Memphis may just see one of the most competitive Nitro Funny Car races ever held. With new champion Jason Rupert joining three-time defending IHRA champion Peter Gallen, along with ‘Mr. Explosive’ Mark Sanders, record-setter Shawn Bowen, John Hale and more, we may see records shattered during the World Finals,” Gardner said.
Also making history in Memphis 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.
Pro Stock will enter the World Finals as one of two classes with its championship still up for grabs.
Returning to the IHRA in 2014, the Pro Stock championship will finally be decided in Memphis
One of IHRA’s original classes when it was founded in the early 70s, Pro Stock returned to IHRA competition in 2014 after a brief hiatus and has been met with overwhelming support, not to mention topping the list of record-breaking performances this season.
Three-time event winner in 2014, Cary Goforth, will lead the Mountain Motor Pro Stock cars into the World Finals behind the wheel of the Dean’s Casing Service 2014 Chevrolet Camaro. Just behind Goforth is John DeFlorian in the Black Diamond Motorsports Camaro. They will be joined by Goforth Racing teammates Dean Goforth and Todd Hoerner, most recent national event winner Kevin Bealko, John Konigshofer, Brad Waddle, Matt Bertsch and Scott Hintz.
IHRA’s other nitro divisions will include Nitro Harley and Nitro Altered, two radical and extreme classes that are among the most popular in the world for their death-defying competition.
Louisiana native Randal Andras leads the 220 mph nitro-powered class into Memphis as four drivers can still claim the Nitro Harley championship. Canadian Mike Scott is hot on his heels in second, followed by Mark Cox and Jay Turner.
Nitro Altered will include Arizona native and 2014 champion Ron Maroney in “Blind Faith,” Las Vegas native and third generation racer Kyle Hough in “Nanook, the popular “Arizona Thunder” driven by Mike Hilsabeck, “Bullet Bob” driven by Don Blackshear and more.
The lovely ladies of Larsen Motorsports will take center stage in Memphis
In addition to all of the on-track action, the 2014 Summit World Finals 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 Summit World Finals can be purchased online or at the gate. Adults can save $5 if they purchase their tickets in advance at www.nitrojam.com.
Showtime is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday for qualifying and 6 p.m. on Saturday for eliminations.
CLICK HERE for tickets to the 2014 IHRA Summit Racing Equipment World Finals
