Lakeshore Advance, 2013-07-17, Page 1616 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Racers, fans gearing up for historical weekend at Grand Bend
Classic IHIZA action highlights 14th
running of Mopar Nitro Jam
Nationals
Lakeshore Advance
(;RANI) BEND -The 2013
11IRA Nitro Jam series
returns to the (rand Bend
Motorplex in Grand fiend,
Ontario July 19-21 for the
Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals
presented by Parts Canada.
'1'his exciting 1/4 mile com-
petition is one of the biggest
If you go:
drag rices in Canada and
will feature racing in several
different classes with profes-
sional and sportsman racing
taking place all three days.
liy fur the biggest storyline
entering the 14th running of
the International Ilot Rod
Association's Mopar Nitro
lata Nationals presented by
Parts Canada is the return of
EVENT: Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Parts Canada
PRO -AM DIVISION: Division 3 North Stars
WHERE: Grand Bend Motorplex 170292
Bullock Line, Grand Bend, ON NOM 1TO
VOW: July 19-21
CONTACT (519) 238-7223 I www.grandbendmotorplex.com
1
ATTENTION READERS
Take advantage of our pricing for
HAPPY NOTES
Includes: Birthdays, Anniversaries
Weddings, Engagements, Graduations etc.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
(Name Person)
(Date)
Love
Mom & Dad
Actual Size: Pre -Payment is Required
Just bring In your photo & write-up and well do the rest.
Other Sizes & Prices available upon request.
kidab 58 Ontario St., N.
Grand Bend
(S 19) 238-5383
Mountain Motor Pro Stock.
CLASSIC IHRA
AT ITS BEST
By far the biggest storyline
entering the 14th running of
the International Ilot Rod
Association's Mopar Nitro
lam Nationals presented by
Parts Canada is the return of
Mountain Motor Pro Stock.
This four -car exhibition
featuring the curs of Pete
Berner, Bob Bertsch, John
Konigshofer and Toni Pon-
tieri will mark the first time
Mountain Motor Pro Stock
cars have competed at an
IIIRA event since 2009 and
one of the few times in the
past four years they will run
the full drag racing distance
of a quarter -mile.
The event will also feature
competition within the Pro
Modified Racing Association
pairing the two classes the
IIIRA Invented together for
the first time since the 2009
season.
"The secret is out, we're
going back to IIIRA," said
Berner, a two-time IHRA Pro
Stock World Champion. "I'm
really looking forward to rac-
ing again at what used to be
the home for Mountain
Motor Pro Stock. This four
car, Chicago -style shootout
is sponsored by Summit
Racing Equipment and 1
want to thank Jim [Green-
leaf J as well as Scooter
Kineto Theatre
Forest
" DESPICABLE ME 2 IBD) "
Rating: 0
Bit: Jv tl, t11, t1, t$
Starring: Stew Carell, Kristen Wllg,
Benjamin Brett
THE LONE RANGER
(Peacoj for their efforts in
making this a reality. 1 know
that Pro Stock Is a favorite
class of many drag racing
fans and 1 hope they are as
glad to see us back at 1IIRA
as we are to be back.
"The last time we ran
quarter -mile we set the
World Record. With the car
and power we have now,
we've surpassed our eighth -
mile time on that record set-
ting run, so depending on
the conditions, we might
have the opportunity to reset
it again"
The Pro Stock showdown
will be a welcomed addition
to the event as the four driv-
ers Join the stars of the
PMRA series headlined by
2012 Mopar Nitro Jam
Nationals winner Eric Lat-
ino. The eight -car qualified
field is always an exciting
addition to the Grand fiend
weekend.
JETS, JETS
AND MORE JETS
This year's Mopar Nitro
lam Nationals will be run in
conjunction with the Grand
Bend Motorplex's let Jam as
three different Jet -powered
classes will Join a
Jam-packed lineup of lti
nitro cars plats Pro Stock
and Pro Mod in one of the
biggest events in the 14 year
history of the 111RA's annual
Ontario event.
A HISTORICAL TRIPLE
One of the biggest
highlights of last year's
Grand Bend event was Har-
rod, Ohio native Jacob
Eilrod's three wins in one day
in sportsman competition.
Elrod won the Quick Rod,
I lot Rod and Top El' titles on
Sunday of last year and, In
the process, became the first
11 TRA racer to ever win three
major classes in a single
weekend in II IRA history.
Elrod went on to become
one of the most decorat• '
drivers of 2012 and earn.
IIIIlA's coveted Sportsman
Driver of the Year award in
October.
Elrod will be back this year
looking for similar success at
the third of four Division 3
North Stars races on the
Summit Racing Equipment
Pro -Am Tour presented by
AMSOII.. This year's event
will be the first time Grand
Bend will host a Pro -Am dou-
bleheader during the Nitro
Jam Nationals weekend.
Other 2012 sportsman
winners included Bob Bauer
(Top Sportsman), Willie
Tupper (Top Dragster), fury
Elliott (Super Stock),
Anthony Platanla (Stock)
and Joe Ferrari (Super Rod).