Record crowds, great racing for Rocky Mtn. Nats

IHRA at Edmonton

Words by Larry Crum/IHRA
Photos courtesy IHRA

Records fell by the wayside both on and off the track during a very busy weekend at the IHRA River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV Sunday at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

With six professional classes, nearly two dozen sportsman classes and a small handful of match races and exhibition vehicles sprinkled in for fun, it was an exciting three days of racing as fans came out to see the drivers go at it on the Canadian quarter mile.

Packing the stands as tightly as possible to make room for three straight sold out crowds, race fans watched Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Ed Hoover (Pro Modified), Roger Bateman (Alcohol Funny Car), Jason Arkinstall (Nitro Bikes), Gary Christopher (Pro Mod Bike) and Rod Elliott (Pro Nostalgia) take home Ironman trophies during Parts Source Championship Sunday at Castrol Raceway.

The IHRA also saw its record of four straight events without a repeat winner among its regular touring pros come to an end Sunday thanks to the win by Litton.

Also taking home wins during Sunday’s championship rounds were Scott Blake (Top Sportsman), Tom Koenen (Top Dragster), Jamie Fiesel (Quick Rod), Dennis White (Super Rod), Casey Plaizier (Hot Rod), Randy Hutchings (Stock) and Casey Plaizier (Super Stock) in sportsman competition.

Nitro Funny Car also returned to IHRA competition over the weekend as Dale Creasy Jr. (left) made his return to racing against Terry Haddock in a weekend long grudge match between the two Nitro Funny Car world champions.

While Creasy dominated the headlines, it was Bruce Litton who took the spoils.
Litton made quite a statement in his bid for a second championship Sunday while also breaking up the list of non-repeat winners with a victory in Top Fuel Sunday at the Rocky Mountain Nationals at Castrol Raceway.