Gallen Dominates in Nitro Jam’s Return to Palm Beach

April 28, 2013 Posted By Bill Pratt

Huge crowd on hand for CarSafe Palm Beach Nitro Jam

JUPITER, Fla. (April 27, 2013) – Nitro Jam made its much anticipated return to Palm Beach International Raceway on Saturday to the fanfare of another incredible south Florida crowd.

Thousands packed into PBIR to witness the return to Nitro Jam’s unique brand of motorsports entertainment and the fans did not walk away disappointed as Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Peter Gallen (AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car), Jay Turner (Nitro Harley) and Kyle Hough (Fuel Altered) took home Ironman trophies during the 2013 CarSafe Palm Beach Nitro Jam.

Peter Gallen dominated Funny Car in Nitro Jam’s return to Palm Beach International

Under the direction of Palm Beach International Raceway track manager and new IHRA CEO Jason Rittenberry, the unique event was a hit and capped a very successful tour of Florida following a record-breaking stop at Bradenton Motorsports Park the week prior.

On the track, the competition was as fierce as ever.

With a stellar track underneath them Nitro Jam’s top stars posted some incredible numbers, none more so than reigning AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car World Champion Peter Gallen. The Broomall, Pennsylvania native posted two blistering laps on the cool Florida evening to take his fourth Funny Car win in a row and stake his claim as the fastest Funny Car on the east coast.

Gallen had laps of 5.775, 248.29 and 5.794, 246.12 on the PBIR quarter-mile to put the purple and gold “Poverty Stricken” Monza in the winner’s circle once again. In the final opponent Mike Halstead ran into trouble immediately off the line and coasted across the line in the “Candies & Hughes” entry with an 8.345, 122.05 in the runner-up effort.

Jay Turner and Tracy Kile continued to post incredible laps in Nitro Harley

Both of Gallen’s laps were without issue as the Pennsylvania native continues to make a name for himself only a few years after rejoining the sport.

In the consolation round Mike Minick drove the “Chi-Town Hustler” to a win over Mike McIntire and the “McAttack” team with a very fast 5.897, 239.74 lap. All four drivers had stellar times Saturday night, with Gallen, Minick and Halstead posting sub-six second runs in round one.

Another class that turned heads Saturday night was Nitro Harley as Jay Turner and Tracy Kile continued to post incredible numbers on the back of two of the fastest nitro-powered motorcycles in the sport. On Saturday it was once again Turner as the Julian, N.C. native won in a very close race with a 6.492, 218.97 to Kile’s 6.591, 212.06.

Bruce Litton continued to dominate opponent Kyle Wurtzel in Top Fuel

Top Fuel once again thundered down the Palm Beach quarter-mile Saturday night during the CarSafe Palm Beach Nitro Jam as Bruce Litton took home his very first Palm Beach Ironman with a sweep of Kyle Wurtzel in the sports fastest class. Litton’s best pass of the night came in round one with a 4.905, 294.75 and the Indianapolis native followed that up with a tire-smoking 5.807, 177.42 in the final. Wurtzel broke and could not make the final call.

Finally in Fuel Altered Kyle Hough traded jabs with Ron Hope, but came away with the Ironman after Hope broke in the final. With a clean track and no competition, Hough still posted a solid 6.762, 218.72 in the “Super Nanook” Altered to take the win.

After two very successful Nitro Jam events in the state of Florida the series will take some time off before returning to action at the Suzuki Pittsburgh Nitro Jam June 1 at Pittsburgh Raceway Park.

JUPITER, Fla. — Saturday’s final results from the IHRA CarSafe Palm Beach Nitro Jam at Palm Beach International Raceway. The race is the fourth of nine in the 2013 Nitro Jam Series:

TOP FUEL
Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, Ind., 5.807, 177.42 def. Kyle Wurtzel, Warsaw, Ind., BROKE.

PROSTALGIA NITRO FUNNY CAR
Peter Gallen, Broomall, Pa., ’77 Monza, 5.794, 246.12 def. Mike Halstead, Fontana, Calif., ’70 Barracuda, 8.345, 122.05.

NOSTALGIA FUEL ALTERED
Kyle Hough, Las Vegas, Nev., ’23 roadster, 6.762, 218.72 def. Ron Hope, Franklin, Tenn., ’33 Bantam, BROKE

NITRO HARLEY
Jay Turner, Julian, N.C., 6.492, 218.97 def. Tracy Kile, Asheville, N.C., 6.591, 212.06.

JUPITER, Fla. — Final round-by-round results from the IHRA CarSafe Palm Beach Nitro Jam at Palm Beach International Raceway, the fourth of nine events in the 2013 Nitro Jam Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Bruce Litton 4.905, 294.75 def. Kyle Wurtzel 5.072, 261.42;
FINAL — B. Litton 5.807, 177.42 def. K. Wurtzel BROKE.

NITRO HARLEY:

ROUND ONE — Tracy Kile 6.663, 205.32 def. Jay Turner BROKE;
FINAL — J. Turner 6.492, 218.97 def. T. Kile 6.591, 212.06.

PROSTALGIA NITRO FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Peter Gallen, Chevy Monza, 5.775, 248.29 def. Mike Minick, Dodge Charger, 5.922, 239.10; Mike Halstead, Plymouth Barracuda, 5.940, 242.93 def. Mike McIntire, Chevy Camaro, 6.020, 231.00;
CONSOLATION — M. Minick 5.897, 239.74 def. M. McIntire 6.684, 146.65;
CHAMPIONSHIP — P. Gallen 5.794, 246.12 def. M. Halstead 8.345, 122.05.

NOSTALGIA FUEL ALTERED:

ROUND ONE — Ron Hope, Bantam, 7.106, 199.20 def. Kyle Hough, ‘T-Ford, 7.802, 143.16;
FINAL — K. Hough, 6.762, 218.72 def. R. Hope BROKE