After an extremely successful 2011 that included multiple records, wins and a world championship, Peter Gallen capped his dream season by being named the 2011 Nitro Jam Pro Driver of the Year. 

Gallen, from Broomall, Pa., racked up an impressive eight wins in 11 finals during the 2011 season behind the wheel of his familiar purple and gold “Poverty Stricken”1974 Vega on his way to the championship in Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car. Gallen also produced the quickest pass in nostalgia history at 5.557 seconds at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in August to go along with his speed record set last year. 

His accomplishments not only garnered him his first nitro championship, but made him the unanimous selection for the award for Nitro Jam’s top driver. 

“It was a storybook year. It just seems like every year my team just gets better and better and that makes it easier on me to go out there and do my thing,” Gallen said. “We are very happy to receive this award and are thrilled with the season. Now our mission is to get this car ready for another big year in 2012.” 

Gallen recorded wins at six of the nine events in 2011 including weekend sweeps at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam in February at Northern Nitro Jam in August. Gallen’s dominance led to him wrapping up the season championship with two races to go, using a dominating round winning percentage of 85 percent to cruise to the series title by 227 points over runner-up Mike McIntire in the “McAttack” Camaro. 

“After finishing runner-up to (Steve) Nichols last year, we made it our goal to step it up and win it all this year,” Gallen said. “Not only did we accomplish that goal, but we were able to do several other things that added to the season like resetting the record. With the momentum of the season we just had, I except even bigger things out of this team next year.” 

Gallen’s dominance of the Nitro Jam series actually began in 2010 when he won seven times on his way to a runner-up finish to 2010 champ Steve Nichols. In two seasons Gallen has visited 21 finals and recorded 15 wins. 

Now Gallen will regroup and try to repeat in Nitro Jam’s biggest and most popular class as the bar is raised even higher entering the 2012 season.