Words by Larry Crum and team press releases
Photos courtesy IHRA

What started out as a bit of a gloomy morning turned into a marvelous day of racing as Bruce Litton, Ray Commisso and Jason Collins claimed Ironman trophies during Belle of Baton Rouge Championship on March 8 at the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Mardi Gras Nationals at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge, La.

Litton (Indianapolis) topped Bobby Lagana Jr. in one of the best races of the weekend in the Top Fuel championship as Litton lit the win light with a 4.875 second pass at 284.93 mph to best Lagana’s 4.964 second time at 249.53 mph.

“This was a great, great weekend,” said the Top Fuel Champ. “We weren’t really sure what to expect, coming to a new race track where we didn’t have any data to build upon, but [crew chief] Richard Hartman did a great job of getting the car to go down the track consistently. This win was a total team effort. Everyone worked hard all weekend, and the crew deserved this win.”

It’s been many years since nitro cars have graced Baton Rouge’s State Capitol Raceway, and everyone at the facility was excited to have them back. “Lanny and Valerie Lewis [State Capitol Raceway owners] gave us a wonderful track,” Litton continued. “They are really awesome people and have worked hard to bring nitro back to their facility. I’m sure we’ll see this track continue to grow and do great things.”

Litton has interesting ties to the last time State Capitol Raceway crowned a nitro-fuel champion.

“I had some special incentive to win this race,” Litton tells. “The last time NHRA had an event here my crew chief Richard Hartman was racing in Nitro Funny Car. He made it to the final but lost by a few thousandths to John Force. I knew that was on his mind this weekend, and so I really wanted to give him a win here at this track. Next time he comes to this track, he can remember our win.”

Lagana reached the finals by knocking off No. 1 qualifier Del Cox Jr. (Downey, Calif.) in the semi-finals in a pedal fest at the far end of the track. Both cars started smoking the tires at the 1,000 ft. mark, but it was Lagana that was able to stay in it for the win light on a 5.085 run at 233.92 mph. The run ended a nice weekend for the rookie who took the pole in his first ever weekend of IHRA Top Fuel racing.

Litton knocked off Paul Lee (Anaheim Hill, Ca) in the semi-finals in a great drag race. Lee pushed Litton the length of the track, but it was Litton that lit the bulb on a 4.820 time at 299.66 mph.

In the quarters it was Cox over Tim Boychuk, Lagana over Terry McMillen, Litton over Mitch King and Lee over Terry Haddock.