NORWALK, Ohio (October 14, 2015) – International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) racers, sponsors, family and friends gathered Sunday evening to celebrate the 2015 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series season. Champions took to the stage to accept their trophies and reflect on their year. In addition, the IHRA announced the Crew Chief of the Year and the Pro Driver of the Year awards.
The long trek to the Summit Racing Equipment World Finals featuring Nitro Jam started out in Tucson, Ariz. back in February. Teams then traveled to 11 events across the United States and Canada enduring weather along the way in hopes of becoming the next IHRA World Champion. In the end, five champions were crowned in AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car presented by Aeromotive, Crower Pro Mod, Pro Stock, Nitro Harley and Jet Dragster.
Jason Rupert defended his AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car World Championship and set a world record on his final winning pass of the 2015 season. He edged out Mike McIntire Jr. by 90 points followed by Tim Boychuk, Mark Sanders and Paul Romine. Rupert was also presented with the IHRA Pro Driver of the Year award at the year-end banquet.
The Pro Stock championship came down to the final pass of the season at Memphis International Raceway. John Montecalvo lost to JR Carr in the finals giving Cary Goforth the Pro Stock World Championship by a mere 12 point difference. Montecalvo’s crew chief, Tommy Lee, was presented with the Crew Chief of the Year award. The remaining top-five in the point standings are John DeFlorian Jr, JR Carr and Kevin Bealko.
Dina Parise took home the Crower Pro Mod World Championship as she defeated veteran driver Bill Lutz by 50 points. Parise competed in all Pro Mod events this season in “Stella” and tallied two runner-up finishes. Ruben Tetsoshvili, Billy Harper and Isaias Rojas Concepcion rounded out the top-five in the standings.
Jay Turner returned to the podium this season as he added IHRA Nitro Harley World Championship trophy number four to his collection. The veteran driver went up against Tracy Kile in the final race of the season. Turner dominated the weekend as he was the number one qualifier, won the race and broke the ET world record. Randal Andras, Jim Fagan and Rickey House finished in the point standings top-five.
The IHRA Jet Dragster championship was determined at the San Antonio Nationals Fueled by Sunoco. Elaine Larsen took home the World Championship for the second-year in a row. Marisha Falk celebrated her final race with Larsen Motorsports with a win and a second-place finish in the point standings. Kat Moller and Shea Holbrook finished third and fourth, respectively.
2015 Final Point Standings
AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR PRESENTED BY AEROMOTIVE
1. Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, California) “Bays & Rupert Black Plague” 1022
2. Mike McIntire (Mentor, Ohio) “McAttack 932
3. Tim Boychuk (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) “Happy Hour” 703
4. Mark Sanders (Maple Valley, Washington) “Mr. Explosive” 679
5. Paul Romine (Fishers, Indiana) “Man O’ War” 489
6. Shawn Bowen (Grand Blanc, Michigan) “Violator” 360
7. Steve Nichols (Newark, Delaware) “Steve Nichols” 347
8. Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Indiana) “U.S. Male” 215
9. Mike Smith (Boyton Beach, Florida) “Jungle Jim” 197
10. Kris Krabill (Kent, Washington) “Bardahl Northwest Hitter’ 168
PRO STOCK
1. Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 767
2. John Montecalvo (Center Moriches, New York) 755
3. John DeFlorian Jr. (Arnold, Missouri) 687
4. JR Carr (Pasco, Washington) 649
5. Kevin Bealko (Bridgeport, West Virginia) 554
6. Matthew Bertsch (Tecumseh, Michigan) 506
7. Trevor Eman (Pos Chiquito, Aruba) 401
8. Dean Goforth (Holdenville, Oklahoma) 353
9. Scott Hintz (Odessa, Texas) 274
10. John Konigshofer (Otterville, Ontario, Canada) 253
CROWER PRO MOD
1. Dina Parise (New Freedom, Pennsylvania) 463
2. Bill Lutz (Canal Winchester, Ohio) 413
3. Ruben Tetsoshvili (Wesley Chapel, Florida) 355
4. Billy Harper (Paducah, Kentucky) 287
5. Isaias Rojas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 212
6. Jimmy Keen (Parrish, Florida) 210
7. Billy Glidden (Indianapolis, Indiana) 146
8. Robert Patrick (Fredericksburg, Virginia) 125
9. Paolo Giust (Osgoode, Ontario, Canada) 115
10. Chuck Mohn (Fountainville, Pennsylvania) 99
NITRO HARLEY
1. Jay Turner (Julian, North Carolina) 842
2. Tracy Kile (Asheville, North Carolina) 710
3. Randal Andras (Amelia, Louisiana) 642
4. Jim Fagan (Valley City, Ohio) 470
5. Rickey House (Humble, Texas) 459
6. Tii Tharpe (East Bend, North Carolina) 343
7. Bob Malloy (Elmton, Maryland) 336
8. Alvin Kobernusz (Manly, Iowa) 315
9. Lyle Newton (Nanaimo,British Columbia) 235
10. Mike Pelrine (Havre Boucher, Nova Scotia) 202
JET DRAGSTER
1. Elaine Larsen (West Melborne, Florida) 1127
2. Marisha Falk (Port Orange, Florida) 1065
3. Kat Moller (Sarasota, Florida) 1035
4. Shea Holbrook (Groveland, Florida) 816
5. Allison West (Coral Springs, Florida) 147
SCOREBOARD: 2015 Nitro Jam Victories
CROWER PRO MOD
Isaias Rojas – 1 (April 18 – Bradenton)
Jimmy Keen – 1 (April 25 – Palm Beach)
Ruben Tetsoshvili – 1 (May 31 – Cordova)
Billy Harper – 2 (June 20 – Maryland, October 11 – Memphis)
Bill Lutz – 1 (August 8 – Martin)
Paolo Giust – 1 (August 16 – Grand Bend)
AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR PRESENTED BY AEROMOTIVE
Mike McIntire – 4 (February 7 – Tucson, April 18 – Bradenton, April 25 – Palm Beach,May 31 – Cordova)
Tim Boychuk – 1 (March 14 – Baton Rouge)
Jason Rupert – 5 (July 11 – Spokane, July 19 – Edmonton, June 20 – Maryland, August 8 – Martin, October 11 – Memphis)
Mark Sanders – 1 (August 16 – Grand Bend)
John Smith – 1 (September 25 – San Antonio)
PRO STOCK
John Montecalvo – 2 (April 18 – Bradenton, April 25 – Palm Beach)
Cary Goforth – 2 (February 7 – Tucson, September 25 – San Antonio)
Kevin Bealko – 1 (March 14 – Baton Rouge)
John DeFlorian – 1 (May 31 – Cordova)
Matt Bertsch – 2 (June 20 – Maryland, August 8 – Martin)
Larry O’Brien – 1 (August 16 – Grand Bend)
JR Carr – 1 (October 11 – Memphis)
NITRO HARLEY
Jay Turner – 5 (February 7 – Tucson, April 25 – Palm Beach, June 20 – Maryland, August 8 – Martin, October 11 – Memphis)
Tracy Kile – 1 (March 14 – Baton Rouge)
Randal Andras – 1 (April 18 – Bradenton)
Tii Tharpe – 1 (May 31 – Cordova)
Mike Pelrine – 1 (July 11 – Spokane)
Kevin Boyer – 1 (July 19 – Edmonton)
Bob Malloy – 1 (August 16 – Grand Bend)
JET DRAGSTER
Elaine Larsen – 4 (Feb. 7 – Tucson, April 18 – Bradenton, May 30 – Cordova, June 20 – Maryland)
Kat Moller – 3 (March 14 – Baton Rouge, July 19 – Edmonton, August 16 – Grand Bend)
Marisha Falk – 3 (April 25 – Palm Beach, July 11 – Spokane, August 8 – Martin, October 11 – Memphis)
Shea Holbrook – 1 (September 26 – San Antonio)
For more information, visit www.IHRA.com, www.NitroJam.com or connect with us on Facebook/NitroJam, Twitter @IHRA or Instagram @IHRANitroJam.
