Complete Guide to the IHRA Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Pa

[rebelracewriter]

For Immediate Release

Complete Guide to the IHRA Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 10, 2016) -The countdown is on as the Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan is only a few days away. The track was awarded the championship finale last month when Dragway 42 was eliminated from the schedule due to construction delays. Fans will witness champions being determined in AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Motorcycle, Pro Stock and Pro Modified August 12 - 13, 2016.

The action kicks off Friday, August 12 with Summit Pro-Am Tour race number one of the weekend and two professional qualifying sessions. The pre-race ceremonies begin at 6:50 p.m. ET with round one of qualifying at 7 p.m. On Saturday, August 13, champions will be crowned following one more round of qualifying and three elimination rounds. Pre-race ceremony is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. with round one of eliminations at 5 p.m.The Summit Pro-Am Tour will continue on Saturday in conjunction with the pro's and will be a stand-alone event on Sunday, August 14.

Did you know?:
The 2015 winners of the Northern Nationals include:
AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car - Jason Rupert
Nitro Motorcycle - Jay Turner
Pro Modified - Bill Lutz
Pro Stock - Matt Bertsch
The 2015 IHRA World Champions include:
AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car - Jason Rupert
Nitro Motorcycle - Jay Turner
Pro Stock - Cary Goforth
Pro Modified - Dina Parise
The Northern Nationals marks the last IHRA Drag Racing Series event on the 2016 schedule. The Summit sportsman programs will continue until the World Finals in Memphis, Tennessee October 21 - 23, 2016.
Each ticket includes free access to the pit area. Fans have an opportunity to see their favorite driver and team in-person for autographs and to watch them work on their vehicles. Tickets are available at US131MSP.com
AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car Quote Board:

Jason Rupert (first-place in the points), "We feel pretty good about this weekend at the Northern Nationals. Our new car is responding well. Unfortunately we don't have the amount of runs on this one compared to the old one so we're still learning. With everyone bunched up in points this should be pretty exciting."

Shawn Bowen (second-place in the points), "The season so far has been great. We have won two races and one runner-up finish. We have ran our best speed at 264 mph and we've had a blast racing the IHRA series this year. If we do pull off the championship it would be the highlight of my career. I've won divisional championships in Top Alcohol Dragster and three championships in the DRO series in funny car but this would be outstanding to win a world championship."

Mike McIntire Jr. (third-place in the points), "This season has been the tightest battle ever. We have been just trying to stay consistent and go rounds all year. Martin is going to be an all out war in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car class. It's going to be a high stress, high stakes weekend for all! Winning the championship would mean the world to us. Our team has worked so hard that finishing in front of the best cars in the country would be the ultimate reward. We are really looking forward to Martin!"

Mark Sanders (fourth-place in the points), "A short battle this year but a battle to the very end. Looking back on the season, every time these AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars started the weekend it was huge for points. You had to be on your "A game" and do the best you can. We dropped the ball a few times this season (broken rod, red light, smoked the tires) and going into the last race of the season at Martin, Michigan sitting number four will be the wildest one yet. Winning the points championship would be huge for our entire team."

Pro Stock Quote Board:

Trevor Eman (second-place in the points), "We can't wait to get to Michigan. Being a contender in a points chase is certainly exciting.Our year started somewhat troublesome in Orlando but after that we were able to make three finals in a row and that was very motivating. We are carrying that motivation and determination right into the Northern Nationals and will be giving it everything we have. We'll be doing our best to make everybody proud, especially everyone back home in Aruba and our partners, Aruba Tourism Authority and Aruba Airport Authority. We want to show everybody that the small island of Aruba, out of the Caribbean, can do this!"

Pro Modified Quote Board:

Billy Harper (first-place in the points), "Wow, What a year! It's exciting to be back racing a full schedule and with the IHRA. We've had a couple of challenges this year but thanks to Crew Chief, Dennis Radford and a hard working crew, consisting of Andy Keeling, Jim "Skid" Rowe, Ryan Bendick, Judy Radford and Mary Harper, we overcame to win a few races and set some records in the process. I don't think that anyone could have asked for a better year. We are excited that the IHRA is rebuilding and we want to be a part of their program. Pro Mod is a great professional class and the IHRA has given us the respect that the class deserves."

Nitro Motorcycle Quote Board:

Jay Turner (first-place in the points), "2016 has been a great year so far! The competition has been the toughest yet and we have been fortunate enough to be leading in the points going into the last race of the season. There has been 19 teams to take part in this years IHRA Nitro Motorcycle class and we haven't taken it easy on each other, the level of competition has definitely been raised this season. Take the President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway for example, 11 bikes competing for eight positions where the No. 1 qualifier (Tracy Kile) runs a 6.253 and the No. 8 qualifier (Jason Pridemore) runs a 6.508 and a 6.372 pass puts you in the middle of the field...we are a tight knit group but that weekend, once we rolled into the water...it was on! We are going to do our best to hold off the rest of the field and hopefully leave the Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan with the Championship."

Northern Nationals Entry List:

AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car
Jason Rupert
Mike McIntire Jr.
Mark Sanders
Steve Nichols
Bruce Litton
Jim Maroney - Candies & Hughes car
Shawn Bowen
Richard Hartman
Fred Farndon
Greg Jacobsmeyer
Marc White
John Hale
Nitro Motorcycle
Jay Turner
Randal Andras
Frank Capone
Rickey House
Tracy Kile
Bob Malloy
Jake Stordeur
Tii Tharpe
Jason Pridemore
Pro Stock
Cary Goforth
Dean Goforth
Trevor Eman
JR Carr
John Deflorian
Larry O'Brien
John Konigshofer
Matt Bertsch
Brad Waddle
Dwayne Rice
Pro Modified
Billy Harper
Ruben Tetshovili
Billy Glidden
Jason Hamstra
Harold Martin
Von Smith
Dan Stevenson
Don Klooster

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