In just a few days the world’s quickest and fastest cars will take to the track in western Pennsylvania with one thing on their mind – taking home an Ironman trophy.Known as the highest honor available in IHRA Nitro Jam competition, the Ironman is a symbol of hard work meeting success in the form of an event win. But trophies won’t be the only thing up for grabs this weekend as three of Nitro Jam’s top nitro classes will also be competing for world records in front of an anticipated capacity crowd at this weekend’s Pittsburgh Nitro Jam at Pittsburgh Raceway Park.
Primarily a quarter-mile racing organization, this weekend’s Pittsburgh Nitro Jam will be a unique event on the 2011 Nitro Jam national event schedule as it serves as the only eighth-mile race of the season. Similar to short track racing versus superspeedways in oval racing, this weekend’s event at Pittsburgh Raceway Park will combine the best of Nitro Jam drag racing with closer racing and more exciting finishes.
“I have never been to Pittsburgh before and I have never run eighth-mile before, especially in this car, so it should be interesting,” said current Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car points leader Peter Gallen. “We are looking forward to seeing what this thing can do under that format and seeing if we can continue our great season.”
Among the drivers looking to add their names to the record books at this unique event are the stars of the Pro Fuel, Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car and Nitro Harley classes. With all three divisions being new to Nitro Jam competition, eighth-mile records have not yet been established in the classes so anything goes this weekend.
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Mike Manners - 'Shredder' Pro Fuel Dragster
Gallen, the current quarter-mile world record holder in Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car at 5.744 seconds at over 252 miles per hour, will be one of the drivers looking to double-up this weekend with world speed and elapsed time records in both quarter-mile and eighth-mile competition behind the wheel of the “Poverty Stricken” ’74 Vega. The other driver looking to double-up this weekend is Bill Evans in the “Black Pearl” Pro Fuel Dragster who holds the quarter-mile mark at 5.240 seconds at 283.85 miles per hour.
Both drivers, along with the competitors in the Nitro Harley division, will be in for a battle this weekend vying for new records at the inaugural Pittsburgh event with many of the top drivers from around the nation.
“Last year we were able to record the quickest and fastest lap in Pro Fuel history in New Hampshire and we are hoping to do that again this weekend in Pittsburgh,” Evans said. “It will be different not going the full distance, but it should provide some close racing which I think the fans will enjoy.”
And proving just how much power these machines possess, fans will consistently see passes of over 200 miles per hour in only 660 feet of track among many of the classes.
In addition to the fierce competition in Nitro Jam’s three nitro classes, fans at the Pittsburgh Nitro Jam will also see an eighth-mile battle between the incredible 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet semi and the world’s most recognizable race machine Grave Digger.
Don’t miss Pennsylvania’s biggest motorsports event this Friday and Saturday at Pittsburgh Raceway Park at the Pittsburgh Nitro Jam.
For more information logon to www.nitrojam.com or call (724) 668-7600