Cary Goforth (near lane) 2014 IHRA Pro Stock champion with John Konigshofer. (Jim Kelso photo)

IHRA Nitro Jam at Tucson

IHRA begins season with full house

Words by Brian Losness and Jeff Burk
Photos by Jim Kelso and Rene Aguilar

The “new” International Hot Rod Association celebrated its first anniversary once again opening its season Feb. 6-7 at one of the sanctioning body’s own tracks, Tucson International Raceway.

The lineup for IHRA’s Nitro Jam has been tweaked for the 2015 season with the elimination of the Fuel Altered class and the return of Pro Mod, although the class wasn’t part of the Tucson lineup. The classes contested were Nitro Funny Cars, Pro Stocks, Nitro Harleys, and for this event the California Independent Funny Car Association.

The event was a huge success by any measure as the track literally had the largest two-day crowd in its history.

AA/FUNNY CAR

Tim McIntire (near lane) and Jason Rupert. (Jim Kelso photo)

At IHRA Nitro Jams the professional categories qualify twice on Friday with another qualifying session Saturday followed by three rounds of racing for the IHRA Iron Man on Saturday. Ten AA/FC teams were in the lanes for the first round of qualifying and many of them were either new cars or had new paint schemes.

Series regular Mike McIntire Jr. and his gorgeous orange “McAttack” ‘70 Chevy Camaro was joined by Tim Boychuk, who brought his Pontiac flopper with a new “Hawaiian” tribute paint job with permission of his crew chief and the original Hawaiian, Roland Leong.