The 2010 Nitro Jam season on the SPEED Channel is set to air beginning this weekend with back-to-back showings of the first two Nitro Jam events of the season.

The new season of Nitro Jam will air Saturday, May 8 and will feature the Palm Beach Nitro Jam in West Palm Beach starting at 7 p.m. followed immediately by the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam in Baton Rouge at 7:30 p.m. only on the SPEED Channel.

Also new this season is seven-time IHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champion Mark Thomas calling the action. In addition to being a great storyteller, Thomas is one of the most knowledgeable IHRA historians in the sport. His addition will bring an extra flare to the already thrilling Nitro Jam broadcast.

“I have been a fan of IHRA for over 20 years now so this is a very exciting deal to be a part of. When the time came a few years ago I decided to retire from drag racing as something I wanted to do, so the fact that I could get involved on this end is a new and exciting challenge that I look forward to,” Thomas said. “I get to see the other side of it a little more and I can still spend time with my family and business while still being involved in IHRA and drag racing. It is very cool, kind of like adding another chapter to my career.”

Mark Thomas

Thomas is the IHRA career leader in final rounds with 64, winning 29 of those final round appearances. Thomas is also a seven-time IHRA World Champion with championships spanning two decades in ’90, ’91, ’92, ’94, ’01, ’06 and ’07.

“I really didn’t know what to expect, but once I got one under my belt it got a lot easier. Most people know that I tend to be long-winded so to try and fit everything I have to say in a half-hour show was not easy,” Thomas said. “I look forward to continuing to do this. I have listened to so many great commentators over the years and I have been around this sport and IHRA for so long it was just a natural fit for me and a fun way to stay involved.”

Next month the recently completed Spring Nitro Jam from Rockingham, N.C. will air on SPEED on Sunday, June 6 at 4 p.m. The rest of the broadcast schedule will be announced shortly.

“We are thrilled to have Mark doing the broadcast this year. He is one of the best storytellers that ever came out of the pit area. Once be becomes comfortable in his role these should be some of the most enjoyable shows we have ever produced,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “SPEED always does such a tremendous job with the Nitro Jam shows and I can’t wait for another season of Nitro Jam to get underway.”

All of the shows will showcase IHRA’s three nitro classes along with the Elite 8 Top Sportsman and Top Dragster shootouts, all of the sportsman finals and much more. Don’t miss a minute of the action as Nitro Jam returns to the SPEED Channel this weekend.