From the very beginning of the sport of drag racing, Top Fuel racing has been headlining events across North America.

Whether it is the bright orange header flames lighting up the night sky or the incredible speeds produced by these kings of the quarter-mile, the rush of Top Fuel racing has been an exciting part of the drag racing landscape for decades. And in 2011, that tradition has taken center stage at Nitro Jam events across the nation as former champions Bobby Lagana Jr. and Bruce Litton have taken their rivalry to new heights and have achieved new status as the “fastest show on earth.”

Through two races the pair of Top Fuel superstars have produced dozens of side-by-side 300 mile per hour passes and a show that has taken the sport by storm. Now the pair of Lagana and Litton will join several additional nitro classes and plenty of extras on a two-race swing through Arizona and Texas beginning March 25-26 at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson and wrapping up April 1-2 at San Antonio Raceway in San Antonio.

   Bruce Litton 

“Last year was a dream come true season for us winning the championship, but for us to follow that up with another incredible start and record numbers for this team is just remarkable,” Lagana said. “We have been racing for over 12 years now and through two events we have already produced many of our career best laps. We are absolutely thrilled with the way things are running and look forward to another great battle with Bruce this season.”

And any drag racing fan will tell you that Top Fuel racing is among the most exhilarating and mind-blowing spectacles in existence today and the men behind these marvels are loved for their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for the fans and for the sport they love.

“This is all I know. I have been drag racing nearly my entire life and there is nothing quite like strapping in an 8,000 horsepower rocket and reaching speeds of over 300 mph in a little over four seconds,” Litton said. “The Lucas Oil dragster has been running great numbers so far this year and we look forward to continuing to put on a great show and getting back on top.”

And that tradition will continue beginning in Tucson, Ariz. at the Arizona Nitro Jam March 25-26 as defending Nitro Jam champion Bobby Lagana Jr. and ’07 champ Bruce Litton will duke it out in the sports fastest class to determine who truly is the top Top Fuel racer in Nitro Jam competition today.

After two events Lagana holds a slight lead in their match racing showdown with three wins and a six-point advantage in the Nitro Jam championship standings.

   Bobby Lagana Jr. 

Among the feats achieved so far in 2011 by the Top Fuel duo are a collection of great runs that has the pair averaging well over 300 miles per hour. Following Baton Rouge Lagana leads the way with an average run of 4.873 seconds in the quarter-mile at nearly 315 mph. Litton is just behind with a 4.889 second average at over 311 mph. Litton, however, owns the top time of the season so far with a 4.735 second lap produced in Palm Beach back in January, while Lagana has a top speed of 322.34 mph.

Combined the pair have an incredible 37 Nitro Jam wins and nearly two dozen years of Top Fuel racing experience between them.

And to make the pairing even more interesting, their rivalry has been renewed just one season after their epic championship battle in 2010.

Last year Litton and Lagana traded the Top Fuel points lead nearly half a dozen times before Lagana finally pulled out the win with a brilliant victory in the final pass of the year to narrowly escape with his first career Top Fuel championship.

In addition to dominating the final point standings, the pair also owned every statistical category during the ’10 season including combining for 14 wins and 24 final rounds. Now, the two most dominating drivers in Nitro Jam competition over the past two years will square for the sport’s biggest prize – a Nitro Jam championship Ironman.

Headlining the pair of Top Fuel gladiators is Lagana. A native of Scarsdale, NY, Lagana finally had the breakout season he has been waiting for with a career-best eight victories and four runner-ups in 10 races on his way to his first career championship last year. After years traveling with and coming up just short on the Nitro Jam tour, Lagana’s breakout victory puts him in an elite class of Top Fuel champions. For his career, Lagana enters the 2011 season with 13 career wins in 24 finals.

In the other lane is Nitro Jam’s living legend Bruce Litton. Based in Indianapolis, Ind., Litton holds an impressive streak of 12 consecutive years finishing in the top five in points including one championship coming in 2007 and five championship runner-ups. For his career Litton has racked up an impressive 23 victories in 63 final rounds.

Last year Litton came just shy of adding a second championship to his mantle with six victories in 12 finals, including finishing with an impressive 24-13 round win-loss record. Hungry for a second title after years as a bridesmaid, Litton and the Lucas Oil team will be going all-out against their rival this season.

It is a highly anticipated matchup between two of the heavyweights of the sport and it is a pairing that will only add to the already huge lineup of nitro classes this season.

And it all gets underway at Southwestern International Raceway the weekend of March 25-26 at the Arizona Nitro followed by the San Antonio Nitro Jam at San Antonio Raceway April 1-2. Don’t miss being a part of two of the biggest Nitro Jam’s of the season.

Tickets start at just $25 in purchased in advance and can be found online at www.nitrojam.com.