Paul Romine grabbed the number one spot in AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car
By JM Hallas
Marion, TX. (Sept. 25, 2015) – They say patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait. Well, the wait is over.
After the closing of San Antonio Raceway at the beginning of the year, IHRA was forced to pull the plug on the normal early spring date for their IHRA Nitro Jam show. Through the efforts of Iain Grae and dozens of volunteers, the speed plant, just outside of San Antonio was reborn at the end of spring. IHRA and SAR then agreed on a later date for Nitro Jam and that time has finally arrived.
IHRA and Nitro Jam have long been a fan favorite dating back to the Inaugural IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in 2003. Despite missing a year or two along the way, fans and racers still pack the pits and grandstands for the high-powered show featuring a variety of classes, including the local bracket racers.
This year’s version brings the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars, Pro Stocks, Jet Dragsters, and the wild OOFA Outlaw Fuel Altereds. Two Nitro Harleys and Jet Trucks will also be making exhibition runs along with bracket racing for the Box (Top Eliminator), No Box (Modified Eliminator) and Jr. Dragsters on Saturday.
Friday night’s action was two rounds of qualifying for the Pro classes to set the fields in Nitro Funny Car, Jet Dragsters, and Nitro Harleys (non-points race). The OOFA Outlaw Fuel Altereds ran one round at qualifying with a second scheduled for Saturday. The Pro Stocks will run a third round of qualifying on Saturday along with Bracket time trials and eliminations before the start of Pro eliminations at 5:00 pm. There was also an open test-n-tune session throughout the evening.
Romine Takes Qualifying Rounds
Paul Romine in the Man o’ War AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car led the way throughout both rounds of qualifying. Romine laid down a 5.762 @ 247.52 in the first round then bettered that in the second session with a 5.709 @ 248.07. John Smith in the Jungle Jim tribute blue car slotted in second with a 5.714 while Mark Sanders (Mr. Explosive) sits third at with a 5.825 pass.
But, that wasn’t the biggest news. Second in points, Mike McIntire Jr. (McAttack), failed to make the eight-car field. McIntire had trouble on his burnout in round 1 and shut it off. In round 2 the best he could do was 6.124 pass leaving him outside looking in for eliminations Saturday. This gives defending Nitro Funny Car and last year’s event champ Jason Rupert a clear shot to a repeat title.
Nitro Jam Qualifying
AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car round 1
Paul Romine, Man o’ War, 5.762 @ 247.52
John Smith, Jungle Jim (Blue), 5.990 @ 249.45
Jason Rupert, Bays & Rupert Black Plague, 5.854 @ 247.52
Mark Sanders, Mr. Explosive, 5.877 @ 230.89
Roger Hodgson, Troy Lee Design, 5.9178 @ 248.07
Tim Boychuck, Forever Forward, 5.960 @ 211.67
Mike Smith, Jungle Jim (Red), 5.852 @ 255.28
John Capps, Candies & Hughes, 6.043 @ 239.11
Bob Godfrey, Burning Money, 6.170 @ 235.23
Mike McIntire Jr., McAttack, DNR/Broke on burnout
AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car round 2
Paul Romine, Man o War, 5.709 @ 248.07
John Smith, Jungle Jim (Blue), 5.714 @ 259.37
Mark Sanders, Mr. Explosive, 5.825 @ 246.85
Rodger Hodgson, Troy Lee Design, 5.856 @ 251.82
Tim Boychuck, Happy Hour, 5.867 @ 241.29
Mike Smith, Jungle Jim (Red), 9.008 @ 96.55
John Capps, Candies & Hughes, 6.094 @ 224.89
Mike McIntire Jr., McAttack, 6.124 @ 224.78
Bob Godfrey, Burnin’ Money, 7.186 @ 127.37
Jason Rupert, Bays & Rupert Black Plague, DNR
Goforth Goes For It
Cary Goforth leads Pro Stock qualifying with one more round Saturday
Cary Goforth is doing what he needs to do to gain points on current points leader John Montecalvo. Goforth put up the best numbers in both qualifying sessions with one more round to go Saturday. Goforth went 6.325 @ 220.37 in round 1 then knocked off another 2/100th in round 2 going 6.310 @222. 44. Montecalvo kept in range staying second in both rounds (6.369 and 6.339). Kevin Bealko holds the third spot barely edging out John DeFlorian by a couple thousandths. Pro Stock racers have one more chance at a better spot or to bump into the field with their third round tomorrow.
Pro Stock round 1
Cary Goforth, 6.325 @ 220.37
John Montecalvo, 6.369 @ 220.16
John DeFlorian, 6.379 @ 221.35
Matt Bertsch, 6.404 @ 217.18
Kevin Bealko, 6.425 @ 201.79
Scott Benham, 6.746 @ 205,95
JR Carr, 7.144 @ 131.66
Dean Goforth, 7.529 @ 182.11
Brad Waddle, 8.183 @ 118.67
Scott Hintz, 9.050 @ 112.16
Pro Stock round 2
Cary Goforth, 6.310 @ 222.44
John Montecalvo, 6.339 @ 217.60
Kevin Bealko, 6.374 @ 217.08
John DeFlorian, 7.117 @ 144.32
Matt Bertsch, 6.445 @ 218.34
Dean Goforth, 6.459 @ 217.08
Scott Benham, 6.712 @ 207.09
Scott Hintz, 7.129 @ 178.01
Brad Waddle, 10.666 @ 83.15
JR Carr, 11.091 @ 77.40
Outlaw Fuel Altereds round 1 (4.00 index)
Billington Busts Off a Big One
Mark Billington (Magic Dragon) was all but perfect in the first round of OOFA Outlaw Fuel Altered qualifying. Running on a 4.00 index, Billington laid down a lap of 4.004, just 4/1000ths off perfect. Donnie Massey and Mary Reep fall into second and third. Eric Buchanan was 9/10,000ths off the number with a 3.9991. The Outlaw Fuel Altereds have one more round to go on Saturday to finish setting their field.
Mark Billington, 4.004 @ 160.83
Donnie Massey, 4.014 @ 180.51
Mary Reep, 4.028 @ 162.40
Jimmy Jones, 4.085 @ 150.30
Clint Cross, 4.181 @ 150.50
Donny McSwain, 4.226 @ 172.02
Mark Bowman, 4.548 @ 170.65
Ken Singleton, 5.836 @ 83.60
Doyle Smith, 8.154 @ 69.22
Eric Buchanan, 3.999 @ 190.03
Raymond Dawson, 3.977 @ 179.35
John Broussard, 3.951 @ 180.51
Bobby Marriott 3.916 @ 190.11
Nick Poloson, 3.885 @ 168.92
Terry Brian, 3.865 @ 164.35
Kat Captures Jet Dragster Pole
Kat Moeller put her Jet Dragster in the number one qualifying spot
After round one it looked like Elaine Larsen would pick up the number one spot, and the top qualifier points with her 5.903 @ 264.08. Kat Moeller wasn’t giving up, though. In her round two pass, she went to the top of the qualifying sheet with a blistering 5.761 @ 275.40. Marisha Falk moved past Larsen for the second spot, with Larsen and Shea Holbrook rounding out the order.
Jet Dragster round 1
Elaine Larsen, 5.903 @ 264.08
Shea Holbrook, 6.021 @ 264.55
Marisha Falk, 6.076 @ 272.07
Kat Moeller, 6.081 @ 190.92
Jet Dragster round 2
Kat Moeller, 5.761 @ 275.40
Marisha Falk, 5.869 @ 273.72
Elaine Larsen, 5.901 @ 268.34
Shea Holbrook, 5.940 @ 266.43
In Nitro Harley qualifying/exhibition, Ricky House made a good pass in round 1 with a 6.572 @ 192.07 while Brian Jernigan shut off early. In the second round, both bikes had issues off the line and eased on down the track at rather pedestrian speeds.
Nitro Harley round 1
Ricky House, 6.572 @ 192.07
Brian Jernigan, 11.681 @ 87.11
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