McIntire, Goforth, Turner, Byrum, Larsen Win IHRA Opener

NORWALK, Ohio — The first race of the 2015 International Hot Rod Association’s Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series season now is in the record books. Fans at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., were treated to an exciting show as Mike McIntire (AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car), Cary Goforth U.S. Bounty Hunters Pro Stocks), Jay Turner (Nitro Harley-Davidsons), Lyle Byrum (CIFCA Funny Cars) and Elaine Larsen (Jet Dragsters) scored impressive wins at the Good Vibrations Nitro Jam Southwestern Nationals presented by Budweiser.

 

AMSOIL NITRO FUNNY CAR: McIntire, of Mentor, Ohio, set a new IHRA Nitro Funny Car world record when he made a blistering pass of 5.680 seconds (256 miles per hour) in his new “McAttack” second-generation Camaro during the third round of qualifying and backed it up with a run of 5.708 seconds (251.06 miles per hour) during the second round of eliminations.

 

McIntire defeated Jason Rupert of Yorba Linda, Calif., in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car final, when his opponent fouled (“red-lit”) on the starting line. McIntire caught a break as his car’s burst panel activated as broken parts scattered from the orange Chevrolet after leaving the starting line. For the record books, McIntire crossed the finish line at 13.555 seconds (62.89 miles per hour).

 

When asked if he thought he would set a new Nitro Jam Funny Car record at this event, McIntire simply replied, “No. We were just doing our normal deal and it just happened to happen. My crew, I couldn’t do it without them. My wife, it’s a family deal, friends, all volunteers. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

 

To face Rupert in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car final, McIntire defeated Will Martin in the first round and Kris Krabill in the second. Rupert defeated Mark Sanders in the opening round and took out Tim Boychuk in the second.

 

U.S. BOUNTY HUNTERS MOUNTAIN MOTOR PRO STOCKS: Goforth met John Deflorian of Arnold, Mo., in the final round of eliminations for the U.S. Bounty Hunters Pro Stock class. Goforth defeated Deflorian 6.348 sec./219.72 mph to 6.40 sec./217.98 mph.

 

Goforth earned his way into the final by defeating Canada’s John Konigshofer in the first round and Texan Scott Hintz in the second. Deflorian trailered J.R. Carr in the opening round of eliminations and waded into the final by defeating John Decalvo in the second.

 

NITRO HARLEY-DAVIDSON: Turner defeated Randal Andras of Amelia, La., 6.383 sec./221.02 mph to 6.402 sec./228.04 mph.

 

Andras defeated Tracy Kile of North Carolina in the first round and topped Brian Jernigan in the second. Turner beat Rickey House in the first round and Ron Gledhill of Arizona in the second.

 

JET DRAGSTER: Elaine Larsen of West Welborne, Fla., defeated 19-year-old Katarina “Kat” Moller of Port Orange, Fla., on a hole shot, 5.73 sec./281.77 mph to 5.85 sec./273.50 mph.

 

“Kat was reeling me in (after the hole shot). My son was tuning Kat’s car and in the middle of the night he said, ‘I think we’re gonna win, we’re not gonna mess with Kat’s tune-up, so you better watch out.’ It’s girl power, baby. We brought it home for the Miller (Welding) boys in blue.”

IHRA NITRO JAM GOOD VIBRATIONS SOUTHWESTERN NATIONAL

PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER RESULTS

 

AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars

Winner:Mike McIntire (Mentor, Ohio) Camaro 13.555 sec./62.89 mph.

Runner-up:Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, Calif.) Camaro 13.394 sec./56.77 mph.

 

Nitro Harley-Davidson

Winner:Jay Turner (Julian, N.C.) 6.383 sec./221.02 mph.

Runner-up:Randal Andras (Amelia, La.) 6.402 sec./228.04 mph.

 

U.S. Bounty Hunters Mountain Motor Pro Stock

Winner:Cary Goforth (Holdenville, Okla.) Camaro 6.348 sec./219.72 mph.

Runner-up:John Deflorian Jr. (Arnold, Mo.) Camaro 6.40 sec./217.98 mph.

 

Jet Dragster

Winner:Elaine Larsen (W. Welborne, Fla.) 5.73 sec./281.77 mph.

Runner-up:Katarina Moller (Sarasota, Fla.) 5.85 sec./273.50 mph.

 

CIFCA Funny Cars

Winner:Lyle Byrum (El Paso, Tex.) Daytona 7.57 sec./174.89 mph.

Runner-up:Andy Mears (Lubbock, Tex.) 1957 Bel Air 7.53 sec./167.68 mph.

 

Next event: IHRA Nitro Jam Mardi Gras Nationals, March 13-14, at State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen, Louisiana (near Baton Rouge). Show features will include AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars, U.S. Bounty Hunters Pro Stocks, Nitro Harley-Davidsons, Jet Dragsters and the Jet Fire Truck. For more information on State Capitol Raceway, please visit http://www.statecapitolraceway.com.

For more information, please contact the IHRA at (419) 663-6666 or visit www.IHRA.com. Follow IHRA and Nitro Jam on Twitter and Facebook.