Johnny Ahten

Johnny Ahten also had a big weekend behind the wheel of the “Stump Puller” Pro Fuel Dragster, putting his machine in victory lane for the second time in four career Nitro Jam start. Ahten had a tremendous first round run against Friday night winner, Cherissa Smallwood, to reach the final and then bested Bill Evans – who came up short both nights – in the final.

This was Kyle Hough’s first time at a Nitro Jam in the family’s “Super Nanook” altered.

Ahten, from Santa Clarita, Calif., didn’t have his best pass in the final but it mattered little as his 5.740/244.21 lap was good enough to drive around a struggling Evans machine. In the consolation round Smallwood had another hot lap to defeat Robin Samsel.

Fuel Altered provided plenty of excitement on the track, but little in the way of victory as defending class champion Ron Maroney began the 2012 season exactly the way he ended the last – hoisting an Ironman trophy.

Maroney backed into a victory on Friday when the original competitor couldn’t make the call, but earned every bit of his win on Saturday with an exciting race against Fuel Altered rookie and third generation racer Kyle Hough. Maroney ran a 6.719, 174.39 to Hough’s 7.400, 198.76.

Nitro Harley wrapped up competition in the professional categories as Devin Pelrine drove to his second consecutive victory. Pelrine had a blistering first pass to drive around Mike Scott and then benefitted from a solo pass in the final. In the consolation pairing Scott defeated Mike Pelrine.

Perhaps the biggest prize of the Arizona Nitro Jam season finale was a spot in the Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL going to the winner of the Top Dragster class. Cindy Hawk (right), of Tucson, Ariz., got the job done with a victory over Jim Berry in the final, running a 7.604, 173.12 to Berry’s 7.832, 172.08.