With all new grandstands, a revamped track and a lineup unlike any other, fans and racers alike will be in for a treat when the stars of Nitro Jam return to the Steel City the weekend of June 1-2. 

After an overwhelmingly successful debut last year Nitro Jam will be returning to Pittsburgh Raceway Park the weekend of June 1-2 for the Pittsburgh Nitro Jam with three full days of racing. 

Featuring everything from nitro power  to sportsman racing, the 2012 Pittsburgh Nitro Jam will include a full nitro show with a Pittsburgh record four nitro-powered classes accompanying the two-day Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL culminating with another set of drivers earning their way into the 2012 Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL. 

In the professional ranks four nitro classes will fill the lanes at Pittsburgh Raceway Park highlighted by one of the biggest and best battles of the season in AMSOIL Prostalgia™ Nitro Funny Car. After last year’s incredible race brought the sellout crowd to its feet, the stars of the new hit class return to Pittsburgh to battle it out for bragging rights and a huge win as defending series champion Peter Gallen in the “Poverty Stricken” machine battles such legends as the “Chi-Town Hustler” driven by Troy Martin, the “War Eagle” driven by Dale Pulde and “McAttack” driven by Mike McIntire. 

The event will also feature the Pittsburgh debut of the wild and out-of-control Fuel Altered class as such famous names as “Nanook”, “Rat Trap”, “Nasty Benjamin” and “Blind Faith” try to keep the front end pointing straight in 1,000 feet of real estate. This once outlawed class features short wheelbases and high-horsepower engines producing some truly wild runs making this one of the most exciting classes in drag racing. 

And with so many legendary nostalgia machines filling the lanes, it will be a scene straight out of the glory days of the track once known as Keystone Raceway Park as some of the most famous names in drag racing return to the track. 

As for those fans wanting something a little more modern, Nitro Jam has you covered as well. 

Returning to Pittsburgh this season will be the 100-percent nitro-powered Pro Fuel Dragster class as 2010 Nitro Jam champion Bill Evans in the “Black Pearl” dragster battles Kristen Dennis in “Ladies First”, Cherissa Smallwood in “Nitro & Lace” and Robin Samsel in “Predator.” 

Rounding out the nitro classes at the Pittsburgh Nitro Jam are the stars of Nitro Harley as the one of the most extreme classes in the sport return for four exciting rounds of racing. Nitro Harley will feature four of the fastest racers on two wheels doing battle at over 220 miles per hour all from the back of a motorcycle. 

All four nitro-burning classes will compete Friday and Saturday night under the lights using the Nitro Jam racing format that features two rounds of racing with the quickest winners from round one meeting up in the finals to determine a champion. 

The exhibition portion of the event will feature the return of the 30,000 horsepower, fire-breathing Shockwave jet semi and the return of Grave Digger driven by Monster Jam superstar Randy Brown. 

In sportsman competition all seven IHRA classes will be featured as the stars of Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod battle for a spot in the year-end Tournament of Champions. This year will mark the very first time drivers in the Pittsburgh Pro-Am will compete during the Nitro Jam national event. 

In addition to all the on track action, new in 2012 will be a revamped FanFest pit party beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The FanFest pit party will feature driver autographs and various activities for racers and fans of all ages prior to the start of the Nitro Jam professional rounds.  

Nitro Jam racing will get underway at 8 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday. 

Don’t miss Pennsylvania’s biggest nitro extravaganza June 1-2 at Pittsburgh Raceway Park! For more information on the event visit www.nitrojam.com or www.pittsburghracewaypark.com .  

For tickets to the 2012 Pittsburgh Nitro Jam, click here.