IT’S TIME TO BURN SOME NITRO AT US 131 NORTHERN NATIONALS

 

MARTIN, Mich. – Okay, race fans, adrenaline junkies and curiosity seekers, it’s time again to wake up and smell the nitro. Eleven months since the last cackle of a fuel car reverberated through the grandstands at US 131 Motorsports Park, Gun Lake Casino Resort this week presents the annual Northern Nationals featuring PDRA.

 

The track’s annual summer celebration of sight, scent, sound and speed again will feature the Pro Mod stars of the PDRA (Professional Drag Racers Association) including past champions Tommy Franklin of Fredericksburg, VA, and Jason Harris of Pittsboro, NC. 

 

But, when the sun sets at “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” it’ll be time to burn some instant horsepower. Nitromethane.

 

Modern era, 320+ mile-an-hour Top Fuel dragsters, golden era front-motored dragsters, fuel Funny Cars of every description, and the outrageous fuel altereds from which they evolved all will be featured this year, along with a host of Top Fuel Harleys including those of World Champions Jay Turner of Julian, NC, and Ryan Peery of Milford, OH.

 

If it’s a vehicle that burns nitro, it’s represented at this year’s event.  Racing begins with PDRA qualifying at 9 a.m. Friday all day into the evening, continues with eliminations on Saturday, and concludes with nitro cars, including the 12,000-horsepower dragster of three-time Top Fuel World Champion Larry Dixon, at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

 

But that’s not all.  In addition to Pro Mods, Extreme Pro Stocks, Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, Top Fuel motorcycles, and fuel altereds, this year’s Northern Nationals will feature the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters, Jerry McCart’s “Homewrecker” triple-engine jet truck and Rick Ream’s one-of-a-kind, wheelstanding  bullet-nosed 1950 Studebaker firetruck.

 

Advance tickets are available at a substantial discount over gate price.  If purchased on the website at www.us131msp.com, adult tickets are $20 Friday and $37 Saturday while admission for children 6-12 is $7 daily.  Children five and under are always free when accompanied by a ticketed adult, and parking is also a no-charge perk.

 

The same tickets, purchased at the gate Friday or Saturday, will be $25, $45 and $10, respectively.  In addition to on-line discounts, deeply discounted coupons for admission are available at the Gun Lake Casino and Resort location in Wayland.

 

Dixon, the NHRA Top Fuel Champion in 2002, 2003 and 2010 and winner of 62 NHRA tour events, will duel with Scott Palmer of Cassville, MO, winner last month at of the opening event in the IHRA’s new Outlaw Nitro Series (at Columbus, OH) and driver of the outrageous, one-off, nitro-burning “Re-Ride” 1952 Chevrolet Pro Mod.

 

The fuel altered lineup includes the “War Wagon” driven by Joe Haas of Findlay, OH; “Night Train” driven by former drag boat World Champion and 2017 U.S. Nationals Top Fuel runner-up Kebin Kinsley of Arlington, TX; the “Rat Poison” 1923 Ford T-model driven by Robby Pettinato of Fountain Inn, SC; and the “Heat Seeker” 1934 Chevy of 2015 Bakersfield March Meet winner Dan Hix of Central Point, OR.

Defending champions in the PDRA portion of the two-day spectacle include Milan’s Jackie Slone Jr., who was an upset winner last year in Pro Nitrous; Johnny Camp of Cannonsburg, PA, in Pro Boost; Chris Powers of Carlisle, PA, in Extreme Pro Stock; Brian Weddle of Frederick, MD, in Pro Street; and Jeff Melnick of Hubbard, OH in Pro 632.

 

-www.us131msp.com-