Saturday

Saturday’s Nitro Jam saw one of the biggest crowds in San Antonio Raceway history as fans filled every seat and were stacked four deep on the fence to witness a night of racing featuring just about every kind or race car that could be crammed into a night on the drag strip.

Jet Funny Cars battled Nitro Funny Cars, with Dale Pulde, in the War Eagle, getting a victory over the J/FC in a great race, as both cars ran 5.80s.

For the second night in a row, the Grave Digger supercharged monster truck overpowered the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle truck. 

Four Pro drivers drove away winners in the nitro classes, as Kristen Dennis (A/FD) and Mitch King (AA/FC) got their first wins of the weekend, while Ron Maroney and Jay Turner doubled up, getting their second wins and Ironman trophies of the weekend.

Texas native Kristen Dennis had Saturday’s biggest Pro Class win, wheeling her “Ladies First” Pro Fuel Dragster past Friday winner Bill Evans in the “Black Pearl” machine. Dennis recorded her career best pass in picking up her second career Ironman trophy as, with a capacity crowd on their feet cheering her on, Dennis ran a 5.385/276.92 in the win to best Evans’ 5.512/264.39

Another Texas native visiting victory lane on Saturday was Mitch King. Driving the “Brand X” 1971 Mustang, King advanced to the finals after a wild first round win and was matched up with Mike Savage in the “Candies & Hughes” Barracuda in the final. In another incredible final, King took a holeshot win over Savage with a 5.943/235.85 to Savage’s 5.852/239.11.

Fuel Altered action saw defending series champ Ron Maroney continue to dominate the class with his fourth Ironman win in as many races.

Wrapping up the pro categories was Jay Turner, who piloted his “Big Pig” Nitro Harley to a second consecutive win. The North Carolina native defeated Steve Dorn in round one and then bested Jake Stordeur in the final with a 6.834/161.00 to Stordeur’s 7.823/128.76.

Also grabbing wins Saturday night were a number of sportsman racers, of which seven earned their way into the year-end Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL at Memphis International Raceway. Those winners were Joseph Tinsley (Top Dragster), Pete Peery (Super Stock), Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. (Stock), Michael Pennington (Quick Rod), Joe Collier (Super Rod) and David Bills (Hot Rod). Junior Dragster winners were Chris Pearson (Master), J.D. Legg (Advanced) and Aaron Jordan (Beginner).