SATURDAY: Rain cuts short the program

For 60 incredible minutes the capacity crowd at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam witnessed fast times and great racing. And then the rain came.

Just as the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam was set to kick into high gear Saturday evening a passing thundershower passed over State Capitol Raceway, postponing the remaining rounds to Sunday afternoon and giving Louisiana fans another full day of racing.

Prior to Saturday’s thundershower all of the nitro classes got in one round of competition and what a round it was.

Fuel Altered saw one of the more entertaining rounds of competition as Mike Hilsabeck and Ron Maroney – both from Arizona – set up a rematch of Friday’s final with a pair of quick passes. Hilsabeck, behind the wheel of the “Arizona Thunder” Fuel Altered, set low ET of round one with a 6.578, 181.52 to drive around Tom Padilla. Maroney (shown), behind the wheel of the “Blind Faith” entry, was just off the pace with a 6.521, 212.11 over Kyle Hough.

Saturday also saw a great show from the AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny car lineup as James Day in the “Candies & Hughes” Barracuda defeated Brad Thompson in the “Wheel Vintiques” Nova with a 6.053, 236.03 to Thompson’s 6.457, 188.24.

Pro Fuel Dragster will see a new matchup in the final as Bill Evans and the “Black Pearl” team set low ET of the round with a 5.510, 257.51 to square off with Robin Samsel in “Predator” who posted a 5.776, 246.71. Cherissa Smallwood and Kristen Dennis – both with wins already this season – will meet in the consolation round.

Wrapping up the nitro classes was Nitro Harley as Jay Turner advanced past 2011 class champion Steve Dorn and will meet Canadian Mike Scott in the final. Dorn and Randal Andras will meet in the consolation pairing.