Monday Race Report: Nitro Jam Opener, NHRA D7, And More!

Andrew Wolf
March 26, 2012
SMALLWOOD, BOYCHUK, PELRINE, MARONEY CAPTURE WINS ON OPENING WEEKEND OF NITRO JAM SEASON IN TUCSON

The 2012 IHRA Nitro Jam season got underway on Friday at the Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., where champions were crowned before overflow crowds in the exciting nitro-fueled eliminators. Read More >>


Mickey Thompson Tires Monday Morning Race Report

IHRA: The IHRA’s Nitro Jam tour kicked off in the deserts of Arizona over the weekend as the Southwestern International Raceway hosted the Arizona Nitro Jam to an overflow crowd thirsty for nitro. On Friday’s opening night, Cherissa Smallwood beat the boys in Pro Fuel Dragster, using a career best elapsed time in the final round to defeat Bill Evans, 5.55 to a 5.64. Smallwood was joined Friday by Prostalgia Funny Car heavy-hitter Tim Boychuk, Fuel Altered winner Ron Maroney, and Nitro Harley champ Devin Pelrine in victory circle. As day two came to a close, Maroney and Pelrine once again found themselves holding the hardware; Maroney defeating Kyle Hough by a 6.71 to 7.40 count, while Pelrine took an easy 6.88-second single when scheduled opponent Damian Cownden couldn’t make the call. Joining them was Funny Car winner Mike Savage and Pro Fuel champ Johnny Ahten. Check out Day One and Day Two coverage from the Arizona Nitro Jam on IHRA.com.

NHRA Division 7: The NHRA’s Pacific Division contested their third event of the season over the weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Annie Whiteley downed the always tough Tony Bartone in the final round, 5.67 to 5.78, while in Competition Eliminator, Clint Sallee’s red light handed the victory over to Adam Bowdish and his B/SMA entry. Don Kennedy used an  exceptional .017 reaction time in the Super Stock finale to defeat Jimmy DeFrank, Jim Meador benefited from opponent Cliff Hanson’s red light in the Stock Eliminator final, and Chad Langdon came out on the winning end of a double breakout Super Gas matchup with Randy Balough. The Top Alcohol Dragster final on Sunday afternoon was negated following winds that sent debris through the finish line timing beams, and that final will be re-run during qualifying for next weekend’s Full Throttle event. For complete results from the Lucas Oil Series event at Las Vegas, log on to Drag Race Central.

IHRA Division 2: Claud DeBonis led the opening day winners at the IHRA Pro-Am Tour Heat Wave Division 2 event at the Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida, capturing the Top Dragster title by a mere three inches in a great drag race with Bradley Snowball. Norm Williams’ red light in the Top Sportsman final handed the easy win to Dennis Wallace, while Mike Ruff nailed a perfect reaction time in the Super Rod final to defeat Darius Poitier. On Sunday, Mark Nowicki went undefeated on the weekend as he earned the Super Stock crown for the second day in a row, defeating Brien Radley, while B.J. Bianchi put together a stellar 0.016 package in the Stock Eliminator finale to down Manny Sousa. For complete weekend results, visit IHRA.com.

IHRA Division 9: Kyle Cultrera scored the Top Dragster crown at the IHRA Pro-Am Raiders Division 9 season opener at North Carolina’s Piedmont Dragway over the weekend, benefiting from Steve Furr’s scant .003 red light in the finale. Clayton Roberts, meanwhile, used a great .003 on the green side to down Mark Payne for the Top Sportsman title, while Brandon Peterson and Jamie Southards scored wins in Super Stock and Stock, respectively. For complete weekend results and the rest of the event winners, visit Drag Race Central.

Super Chevy Show: Jimmy Marino scored the Pro Modified title at the super Chevy Show contested over the weekend at the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida, turning a lap of 4.17 seconds to defeat John Adams, who slowed to just a 5.39 effort. Marino was joined by Box winner Tony Mazza and No Box champ Mitch Popi.

No Problem Stock/Super Stock Combo: Sportsman racing star Kevin Helms scored the event title at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La.as opponent Tony Mandella left tuch a touch too soon in his SS/AH machine.

The Weekend Winner Circle

Arizona Nitro Jam – Tucson,Ariz.
The 2012 IHRA Nitro Jam season got underway on Friday at the Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., where champions were crowned before overflow crowds in the exciting nitro-fueled eliminators.
EVENT WINNERS
Day 1 Pro Fuel Dragster: Cherissa Smallwood
Day 1 Prostalgia Funny Car: Tim Boychuk
Day 1 Nostalgia Fuel Altered: Ron Maroney
Day 1Nitro Harley:
Devin Pelrine
Day 2 Pro Fuel Dragster:
Johnny Ahten
Day 2 Prostaglia Funny Car:
Mike Savage
Day 2 Nostalgia Fuel Altered:
Ron Maroney
Day 2 Nitro Harley: Devin Pelrine
Top Dragster: Cindy Hawk
Box ET:
Juan Woo
Motorcycle:
Jim Burris
Street ET:
Carles Mapes
Junior Dragster Runoff:
Gabriel Brown
Junior 13-17:
Gabriel Brown
Click here to view more results >>
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Division – Las Vegas, Nev.
The NHRA’s Pacific Division contested their third event of the season over the weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Annie Whiteley and Adam Bowdish led the lengthy list of winners.
EVENT WINNERS
Top Alcohol Funny Car: Annie Whitleley
Competition Eliminator:
Adam Bowdish
Super Stock:
Don Kennedy
Stock:
Jim Meador
Top Dragster:
Kevin Kleineweber
Top Sportsman: Joe Roubicek
Super Comp:
Butch Belair
Super Gas: Chad Langdon
Super Street: Austin Dawning
Sportsman Motorcycle:
Tom Medlin

Click here to view more results >>