Wrapping up the professional action on Friday was Nitro Harley as Jay Turner drove to his sixth win of the season over Jake Stordeur. Stordeur left first, but his engine sputtered and flamed out early while Turner powered his way to the quickest run of the day, a 6.410 at 216.13 mph. In the consolation round 2011 Nitro Harley champ Steve Dorn drove past Mike Pelrine. 

In the $51,000 Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown, the field of 32 was narrowed to the Elite 8 on Friday, with the best from all seven IHRA classes and one wild card group remaining to duke it out for the grand prize of $22,500 Saturday night. 

The drivers remaining in competition include Davy Dins (Top Sportsman), Dave Elrod (Top Dragster), Nick Karas (Hot Rod), Gil Carty Jr. (Super Stock), Jeff Gardiner (Wild Card), Cameron Manuel (Super Rod), Tony Elrod (Quick Rod) and Lisa Bolton (Stock). The final three rounds of the Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown will be contested during Saturday’s “Night of Fire” at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. 

In regular Nitro Jam competition top qualifiers from Friday’s action included Don Klooster (Kalamazoo, Mich.) in Top Sportsman, Chris Smith (Bangor, Mich.) in Top Dragster, Mark Nowicki (Gaylord, Mich.) in Super Stock, Andrew Hill (Louisville, Ky.) in Stock, Leo Zynda (Clinton Township, Mich.) in Quick Rod, Rich Pica (Coshocton, Ohio) in Super Rod and Chrissy Bayus (Warren, Ohio) in Hot Rod.