Nitro Jam wraps up season August 12-13 with huge show at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park

By Nitro Jam Media

Get ready Michigan; championship nitro racing is back at Martin. 

After a few appetizer events held throughout the summer, fans at the legendary U.S. 131 Motorsports Park facility are gearing up for the main course as America’s biggest drag racing spectacular returns to Martin, Mich. August 12-13 for two days of over-the-top motorsports action. 

And as the final stop for the professionals on the 2011 Nitro Jam Tour, U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and the IHRA have a huge finale planned for the annual summer stop at America’s premier motorsports destinations that is sure to pack the house and give race fans in western Michigan the event they have been waiting for. 

 

“Martin is always one of the most exciting stops of the IHRA Nitro Jam season. It is one of the most beautiful facilities in the country and produces some of the best racing seen all year,” said IHRA Nitro Jam President Aaron Polbun. “This year we have a lot lined up for this race including several nitro classes, a huge sportsman race and our biggest show of the year with jets, wheelstanders, Grave Digger and the works. It should be an exciting weekend. If fans can only make it to one race this year this is it.” 

The 2011 Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will feature a huge lineup of nitro racing and motorsports entertainment for Michigan race fans combined with one of the biggest sportsman races of the year making the annual summer stop in Martin the must-see Nitro Jam event of the year. 

Among the stars of the Northern Nitro Jam are four nitro classes including Pro Fuel Dragsters, Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars, Nitro Harleys and Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, plus one of the biggest sportsman races of the year highlighted by the annual Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown during the “Night of Fire” Saturday night. The August 12-13 event will also feature a thrilling supporting cast that includes two jet dragsters, two jet funny cars, two wheelstanders and the much anticipated debut of the “monster showdown” between the towering Grave Digger monster truck and the 30,000 horsepower Super Shockwave jet semi. 

 

And, like the dozens of events that came before it, it wouldn’t be Nitro Jam without the stars. 

Highlighting the nitro lineup at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will be the stars of Pro Fuel Dragster as defending Nitro Jam champion Bill Evans in the “Black Pearl” looks to repeat as champion against rival Michael Manners in “The Shredder” dragster. Looking to throw a wrench in their plans is Robin Samsel in “Predator” and Cherissa Smallwood in “Nitro and Lace.” 

In the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car ranks it will be a battle of some of the fastest nostalgia Funny Cars in the country as Peter Gallen in the “Povertry Stricken” Vega takes on the likes of Greg Jacobsmeyer in the “Allstar” Dodge, former world champion Laurie Cannister in “Bullet Bob,” John Dunn in the “Dunn and Gone” Duster and many more. 

Also in competition will be Nitro Harley stars Jay Turner, Steve Dorn, Randal Andras and Mike Pelrine waging a 200 mph war on two wheels, along with the insane stars of Nostalgia Fuel Altered featuring such legendary names as “Nanook”, “Pure Hell”, “Nasty Benjamin” and “Blind Faith.” 

 

Wrapping up the weekend will be a finale for the ages as four jets, two wheelstanders and the incredible showdown between Monster Jam superstar Randy Brown in the world famous Grave Digger monster truck and the 30,000 horsepower Super Shockwave jet truck threaten to bring down the house. 

In the sportsman ranks racing will be contested in nine classes including Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod, Top ET and Mod ET capped off with the $51,000 showdown during the Moser Axle-Mania competition. 

Racers competing in this year’s Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown are: Top Sportsman – Norm Williams, Bob Gulitti, Dave Dins and Mike Sowards; Top Dragster – Steve Furr, Dave Elrod, Joe Gary and Mike Kalin; Super Stock – Larry Cummings, Brandon Peterson, Clay Bullard and Gil Carty Jr.; Stock – Michael Beard, Lisa Bolton, Nick Folk and Brian Rowe; Quick Rod – Anthony Elrod, Michael Pennington, Greg Slack and Richard Preiser; Super Rod – Billy Smith, Cameron Manuel, Jon Jablonski and John Taylor; Hot Rod – John Dustin, Chris Dean, Donald Webb and Nick Karas; Wild Card – Jeffrey Gardiner, Kevin McLamb, Steve Furr and Jacob Elrod. 

Get your tickets today to one of the biggest Nitro Jam events at the year August 12-13 at the Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.