The IHRA Nitro Jam Palm Beach Nationals offers up fun for fans of all ages

On Friday, April 24, thousands of fans braved threatening skies to attend day one of the annual IHRA Nitro Jam Palm Beach Nationals Presented By Sunoco Race Fuels at Palm Beach International Raceway. Nitro Jam is “heads-up” drag racing entertainment – first racer to the finish line wins – in all five pro categories. The exciting show includes qualifying and eliminations for: Crower Pro Mod, AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car presented by Aeromotive, U.S. Bounty Hunters Pro Stock, Nitro Harley and Jet Dragster classes.

 

This year’s Nitro Jam also includes spectacular, flame-belching runs by the U.S. Fire Force jet-powered fire truck. The antique 1940 Ford fire truck is powered by not one, but two jet engines and its top speed of 407 miles per hour was recorded recently on a decommissioned WW II airstrip.

The race is a feast for all of your senses, and promises to be a festive, if noisy, affair.

 

As in 2014, one of the special attractions this year is the renowned Hollywood Cars of the Stars collection from the Miami Auto Museum at the Dezer Collection. The exhibit will include famous television and motion picture cars including a James Bond movie car, the TV Batmobile from 1966, the General Lee Dodge Charger from the Dukes of Hazzard TV series and the DeLorean time machine from the 1985 cinema hit, Back to the Future.

For fans of drag racing of all types, you will be happy to know that every Nitro Jam spectator ticket also is a pit pass – affording the opportunity to walk right up to the Nitro Jam drivers and riders and see their cars and motorcycles. The racers always are happy to autograph their hero cards for fans of all ages. 

 

 

In addition, Nitro Jam fans are invited to tour the Larsen Motorsports Jet Technology Center in the pit area. All five Larsen Motorsports jet-powered dragsters will be on display, as well as exhibits and speakers that explain the story behind one of the most popular and powerful forms of motorsports.

Learn more about the Jet Technology Center at http://www.elainelarsen.com/#!research/cx8x.

During Friday’s qualifiers, the assembled crowd was treated to several near record paced runs, as well as two disqualifications. As in the NHRA, oil downs are heavily frowned upon, and any dragster than causes a delay by oiling down the track has their run automatically thrown out, This led to the Hawaiian Funny Car, piloted by Tim Boychuk, to not make the field.

Qualifying results after two rounds at the IHRA Nitro Jam Palm Beach Nationals Presented By Sunoco Race Fuels at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Florida.

 

 

CROWER PRO MOD

 

1.       Isaias Rojas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 2006 Cobalt 5.983 sec./239.06 mph

 

2.       Jimmy Keen (Parrish, Florida) 1963 Corvette 6.030 sec./236.01 mph

 

3.       Bill Lutz (Canal Winchester, Ohio) Camaro 7.024 sec./167.57 mph

 

4.       Mike Pruss (West Palm Beach, Florida) 1951 Chevrolet 7.434 sec./132.31 mph

 

5.       Ruben Tetsoshvili (Wesley Chapel, Florida) 8.957 sec./99.94 mph

 

6.       Dina Parise (New Freedom, Pennsylvania) 11.655 sec./83.58 mph

 

 

 

AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR PRESENTED BY AEROMOTIVE

 

1.       Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, California) 1969 Camaro “Black Plague” 5.669 sec./258.42 mph

 

2.       Mike Smith (Boynton Beach, Florida) 1975 Vega “Jungle Jim” (red car) 5.723 sec./249.58 mph

 

3.       Paul Romine (Fishers, Indiana) 1979 Mustang “Man O’ War” 5.741 sec./248.93 mph

 

4.       Mike McIntire Jr. (Mentor, Ohio) 1970 Camaro “McAttack” 5.753 sec./252.99 mph

 

5.       Steve Nichols (Newark, Delaware) 1970 Camaro 5.835 sec./241.93 mph

 

6.       Mark Sanders (Maple Valley, Washington) 1970 Mustang “Mr. Explosive” 5.840 sec./246.71 mph

 

7.       Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Indiana) 1974 Vega “U.S. Male” 6.057 sec./220.94 mph

 

8.       Rick Krafft (Chesterton, Indiana) Chesterton, Indiana) 1974 Vega “Jungle Jim” (blue car) 6.927 sec./132.70 mph

 

Did not qualify:

 

Tim Boychuk (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) 1977 Trans-Am “Hawaiian”

 

 

 

U.S. BOUNTY HUNTERS PRO STOCK

 

1.       John Montecalvo (Speonk, New York) 2013 Camaro 6.252 sec./223.99 mph

 

2.       Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2013 Camaro 6.3008 sec./222.29 mph

 

3.       Dean Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 2014 Camaro 6.342 sec./212.56 mph

 

4.       Trevor Eman (Pos Chiquito, Aruba) 2011 Mustang 6.343 sec.//221.27 mph

 

5.       J.R. Carr (Pasco, Washington) 2015 Camaro 6.352 sec./219.04 mph

 

6.       Cale Aronson (Chillicothe, Missouri) 2010 Mustang 6.356 sec./221.20 mph

 

7.       Matt Bertsch (Tecumseh, Michigan) 2007 Mustang 6.388 sec./219.90 mph

 

8.       John Konigshofer (Otterville, Ontario, Canada) 2013 Mustang 6.399 sec./220.73 mph

 

Not qualified:

 

John DeFlorian Jr. (Arnold, Missouri) 2015 Camaro 6.404 sec./214.01 mph

 

Kevin Bealko (Bridgeport, West Virginia) 2013 Camaro 6.414 sec./220.94 mph

 

John Pluchino (Commack, New York) 2006 Escort 6.597 sec./195.25 mph

 

Scott Hintz (Odessa, Texas) 2013 Mustang 10.118 sec./110.80 mph

 

 

 

NITRO HARLEY

 

1.       Rickey House (Humble, Texas) 6.334 sec./217.77 mph

 

2.       Tii Tharpe (East Bend, North Carolina) 6.409 sec./215.48 mph

 

3.       Tracy Kile (Asheville, North Carolina) 6.434 sec./211.43 mph

 

4.       Jay Turner (Julian, North Carolina) 6.464 sec./211.46 mph

 

5.       Randal Andras (Amelia, Louisiana) 6.505 sec./216.76 mph

 

6.       Jim Fagan (Valley City, Ohio) 6.731 sec./199.40 mph

 

7.       Larry “Drums” Brancaccio (Nutley, New Jersey) 6.781 sec./206.80 mph

 

8.       Alvin Kobernusz (Manly, Iowa) 6.782 sec./203.12 mph

 

Not qualified:

 

Lyle Newton (Naniamo, British Columbia, Canada) 7.339 sec./00.00 mph

 

 

 

JET DRAGSTER

 

1.       Katarina Moller (Osprey, Florida) 5.719 sec./280.49 mph

 

2.       Elaine Larsen (West Melbourne, Florida) 5.842 sec./271.30 mph

 

3.       Allison West (Coral Springs, Florida) 5.877 sec./272.94 mph

 

4.       Marisha Falk (Port Orange, Florida) 5.991 sec./271.46 mph

 

Did not qualify:

 

Shea Holbrook (Groveland, Florida) 6.065 sec./264.23 mph

The actions continues on Saturday, with the third round of Nitro Jam qualifying starting at 2 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies take place at 4:45 p.m., followed by the first round of Nitro Jam eliminations at 5 p.m. The second round of Nitro Jam eliminations is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the final round of Nitro Jam eliminations at 8:30 p.m.

 

Schedules subject to change.

Tickets are relatively inexpensive for a day of family fun. Saturday Adult  admission is $25, and Childrean (ages 6-12) are $10. They can be purchased at www.nitrojam.com or at the gate. If you happen to post anything to social media while you are there (and we all know you will) tag it with #NitroSelfie to be entered into a contest for an IHRA shopping spree.

 

Palm Beach International Raceway is located at 17133 Beeline Highway in Jupiter, Florida. For more information, please call (561) 622-1400 or visit www.racepbir.com.

For a preview of some of the action, be sure to tune in for a special episode of Speedway Digest’s Thursday Night Thunder, featuring some of the stars of the IHRA Nitro Jam Series, at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speedwaydigestradio/2015/04/24/thursday-night-thunder-with-adam-Sinclair. Also, please don’t hesitate to check the Speedway Digest Thursday Night Thunder facebook page at www.facebook.com/sdthursdaynightthunder.

Adam Sinclair