SUNDAY: Evans, Hilsabeck and Turner get weekend sweeps

Mike Hilsabeck and Ron Maroney met in the Fuel Altered final.

While Saturday’s sold out Mardi Gras Nitro Jam was marred with weather, Sunday’s finale more than made up for it.

The nitro racers and sportsman racers alike went to work under the hot Louisiana sun and over a dozen winners were crowned on the final day of the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino’s Pizza at State Capitol Raceway.

In professional competition three drivers swept the weekend as Bill Evans (Pro Fuel), Mike Hilsabeck (Fuel Altered) and Jay Turner (Nitro Harley) took home a pair of Ironman trophies while James Day (AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car) and Al Suggs Jr. (Outlaw Pro Mod) added their name to the list with wins as well on Sunday.

Hilsabeck had perhaps the biggest weekend sweep of the professional categories as the Phoenix, Ariz. driver swept the Nostalgia Fuel Altered category in his first weekend out with Nitro Jam. Hilsabeck, behind the wheel of the “Arizona Thunder” Altered, beat defending class champion Ron Maroney on Friday and followed that up with a big win over young Kyle Hough in “Nanook” on Sunday.

Hilsabeck had the second best elapsed time of the opening round on Saturday to advance to the final and kept that speed on Sunday with a 6.597, 196.54 pass to drive around a tire-spinning Hough for his second career Nitro Jam victory.

“We had a great time in our first weekend out with Nitro Jam and we look forward to doing this again in the future,” Hilsabeck said. “It was great to be able to bring back the history and excitement of this class to a whole new generation of fans and Nitro Jam gives us that opportunity to put on this incredible show.”