Words and photos by Larry Crum

The IHRA Nitro Jam had its first appearance at Pittsburgh Raceway Park in New Alexandria, PA, on May 20 and 21.

FRIDAY

For the fifth time this season Peter Gallen and Mike McIntire met in the finals of a Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car race. And for the fifth time this season Gallen walked away the victor.

In front of a rambunctious Pittsburgh crowd in Gallen’s home state, the driver of the “Poverty Stricken” Vega cruised to his fifth win of the season and seventh consecutive victory over McIntire in a thrilling race at the inaugural Pittsburgh Nitro Jam Friday night at Pittsburgh Raceway Park.

Gallen was joined in the winner’s circle by Robin Samsel in Pro Fuel who upset new points leader Bill Evans and Jay Turner picked up his series-tying third win of the year in Nitro Harley over Steve Dorn.

“We were looking forward to this event being so close to our home and we made it count with another win over Mac tonight,” Gallen said. “This was our first time at Pittsburgh and I feel like it went pretty well. We have some more work to do for tomorrow, but we are certainly enjoying ourselves and look forward to another big night on Saturday.”

Gallen, who lives just a few hours east in Broomall, Pa., spent Thursday traveling across the state to attend his daughter’s graduation before arriving at Pittsburgh Raceway Park Friday morning. Once at the track Gallen unloaded his well-known purple and gold nostalgia machine and went to work preparing for a big night at the closest Nitro Jam of the year to Gallen and his team.

After picking up four wins over the last four events at races spread across the southwest, Gallen picked right up where he left off Friday evening with a round one victory over Greg Jacobsmeyer with a solid 4.929 elapsed time at 228.08 miles per hour in the event-shortened 1,000 foot distance.