SUMMER SALUTE TO NITRO AT US 131 NORTHERN NATIONALS

 

MARTIN, Mich. – For those tired of staid, predictable, unimaginative “cookie cutter” drag racing, the kind in which all the cars and drivers seem interchangeable, US 131 Motorsports Park offers up an alternative this week with its annual summer salute to the sport’s biggest innovators.

 

The 23rd US 131 Northern Nationals presented by Gun Lake Casino and Resort features all those 1960s era Top Fuel dragsters, fuel altereds and Funny Cars that made the sport so unique along with a smattering of one-off vehicles like Jerry McCart’s “Homewrecker” triple-engine jet truck and, for the first time, the outrageous, 1,500 horsepower, 250 mile-an-hour Nitro Harley motorcycles.

 

Former NHRA and IHRA World Champion Jay Turner of Julian, NC, and former NHRA series champ and 2021 U.S. Nationals winner Ryan Peery of Milford, OH will be the favorites in a field that also includes veteran Chris Smith of Murfreesboro, TN, and John Toth of Charleroi, PA.

 

Not that there won’t be a nod or two to modern technology.  After all, three-time World Champion Larry Dixon will be back with both his race-ready 330 mile-an-hour rear-engine dragster and the only two-seat Top Fueler on the planet, one in which he will give Grand Marshall John Bandimere Jr. the ride of his life on Friday night.

 

In addition to Dixon and Top Fuel rival Scott Palmer of Cassville, MO, winner last month at Columbus, OH, in the first race in the IHRA’s new Outlaw Nitro Series, the list of nitro-burners includes the legendary “Chi-Town Hustler” originally campaigned by John Farconas, Austin Coil and Pat Minick, now driven by Mike Minick.

 

Minick’s Funny Car foes will include veteran John Lawson of Joliet, IL, Joey Haas of Pleasant View, TN, and former NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster standout Dave Hirata of Lowell, IN, at the wheel of Tom Motry’s “Drastic Plastic.”

 

The nostalgia Top Fuel dragster field, nostalgia indicating front-motored, 1960s- era vehicles, includes Michiganders Larry Gocha of Flushing and Shawn Bowen of Goodrich along with former Bakersfield March Meet champion Jimmy Young of Salem, WI, Mike Taylor of Berwyn, IL, Dave Belock of Parma, OH and Jim Orband of Garrettsville, OH.

 

If that’s not enough nitro anyone’s appetite, consider that the fuel altered lineup includes the “War Wagon” driven by Joe Haas of Findlay, IL, the “Night Train” now driven by former U.S. Nationals Top Fuel runner-up (2021) and former drag boat World Champion Kebin Kinsley of Arlington, TX.

 

Also, the “Rat Poison” 1923 Ford T-model driven by Robby Pettinato of Fountain Inn., SC, and the “Heat Seeker” 1934 Chevy roadster of former 2015 March Meet winner Dan Hix of Central Point, OR.

 

Throw in the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters driven by Michigan native and two-time IHRA jet car champion Elaine Larsen of Palm Bay, FL, and Josette Roach of St. Augustine FL, and the one-of-a-kind wheelstanding 1950 Studebaker firetruck of Rick Ream and then add the Pro Mod and Pro Stock stars of the PDRA and the result is one of the most diverse events on anyone’s calendar.

 

Advance tickets are available at a substantial discount over gate price.  If purchased on the website at www.us131msp.com, adult tickets are $20 on Friday and $37 on 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 also is 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, and free children’s are available at the Gun Lake Casino and Resort location in Wayland.

 

Racing begins with PDRA qualifying at 12 p.m. Friday, continues with eliminations Saturday and concludes with nitro cars and jets at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

 

-www.us131msp.com-