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Westward Ho! Nitro Jam heads to Edmonton!
Bruce Biegler - June 22, 2009
Fans in Western Canada will get to experience the spectacle that is IHRA Nitro Jam drag racing when the rolling extravaganza descends upon Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway the weekend of July 3-5, 2009.
Bigger and better than ever, this year’s IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by River Cree Resort and Casino will feature competition in seven professional categories (Pro Nostalgia, Pro Modified, Alcohol Funny Car, Pro Stock Bike, Nitro Harley, Top Fuel, and Nitro Funny Car).
The Nitro Funny Car segment will feature a match race between former IHRA champions Dale Creasy Jr., and Terry Haddock as they go head-to-head for champion’s bragging rights. Creasy has another score to settle as well, as it was at this race one year ago that he suffered career-threatening injuries. He wants to show Castrol Raceway who the real boss is!
In addition, there will be 11 classes in sportsman competition (Mod ET, Bikes, Top ET, Hot Rod, Stock, Super Rod, Super Stock, Quick Rod, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, and Junior Dragster).
And that’s not all. There will also be competition in Box, No Box, Stock/Super Stock Combo as well as Box and No Box Gambler’s Races.
 If that weren’t enough to blow the minds of even the most jaded thrill-junkies, hang on to your hats because there’s even more. Friday and Saturday night fans will be treated to the sight and sound of Canada’s only wheelstander, the Alberta-based ’37 Chevy pick-up truck known as Full Tilt Boogie. Capping the Night of Fire shows each night will be the X-Treme Machine, the Florida-based mega-horsepower Jet-powered Freightliner. This one is guaranteed to light your fire!
“We are thrilled to have River Cree on board as presenting sponsor,” said Castrol Raceway owner Kimberly Reeves. “Just like Castrol Raceway, the River Cree Resort and Casino has much to offer its customers, and we hope this partnership will continue to grow into the future. July will be here before you know it and I can’t wait to see all the racers and fans back here for the Rocky Mountain Nationals.”
Reeves’ sentiments were echoed by Michael Heeb, Vice-President and General Manager of River Cree Resort and Casino.
“This is a terrific partnership between River Cree, the IHRA, and Castrol Raceway. Race fans want excitement and they will find it at both the Rocky Mountain Nationals and at the River Cree Resort and Casino – it is a dynamic matchup between three successful brand names,” said Heeb. “We are proud to support such a great event, especially one that is recognized as widely as the Rocky Mountain Nationals.”
“We are thrilled to have the River Cree Resort and Casino join the IHRA and Castrol Raceway for one of the biggest events of the year,” added IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “We look forward to a unique and valued partnership with the River Cree now and into the future.”
 The Rocky Mountain Nationals mark the mid-way point of the IHRA season, and the final results at Castrol Raceway will have a significant impact on the championship aspirations of many drivers and teams.
This is one of the largest and most popular events on the IHRA schedule, so get out there and see for yourself just what the excitement is all about. To buy tickets online, go to www.ihra.com.
Paradise RV and SMS Equipment join growing list of Rocky Mountain Nationals sponsors
IHRA has announced that Paradise RV and SMS Equipment have teamed up with Castrol Raceway as partners for the upcoming River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Paradise RV will serve as the presenting sponsor for the upcoming Nitro Jam race at Castrol Raceway while SMS Equipment will sponsor Saturday’s “Night of Fire” show. The River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV will be held July 3-5 at Castrol Raceway.
“We are excited to have Paradise RV and SMS Equipment come onboard for the Rocky Mountain Nationals. It is always one of the biggest drag racing events of the year and we look forward to working together to put on a great show for the Edmonton race fans,” said Castrol Raceway owner Kimberly Reeves.
Paradise RV is a longtime supporter of Castrol Raceway and racing in general and was one of the first companies to be involved with the Rocky Mountain Nationals when the IHRA first traveled to Edmonton in 2003.
“We are glad to be a part of this event. We do a great deal of business with people who are using our products for camping and spending time with their families as well as at the race track,” said Craig Anstead, President of Paradise RV. “We are proud to be a part of Castrol Raceway and to support drag racing in Edmonton.”
Paradise RV is very active in its support of drag racing including working very closely with the junior dragster program. Paradise RV is also a major sponsor of IHRA Top Fuel driver Terry McMillen.
Anstead is also a very close family friend of the Reeves family and enjoys working with them both on and off the track.
“We have a long relationship with Paradise RV. They are a great supporter and sponsor and personal friends of ours,” Reeves said. “They have also developed a great relationship with the River Cree and are working on a variety of promotions. We are excited to once again have them be a part of this event.”
SMS Equipment will serve as sponsor for the thrilling “Night of Fire” at the Rocky Mountain Nationals.
SMS Equipment, headquartered in Acheson, Alberta, is one of the largest Komatsu Dealers in the world. SMS operates out of 45 locations across Canada and services the mining, construction, forestry and utility markets with Komatsu and other products.
“SMS is pleased to participate in the Rocky Mountain Nationals and the Night of Fire at Castrol Raceway,” said Harvey Erickson, Manager of Marketing for SMS Equipment. “This is a major event for the Edmonton region and we fully support the races and we look forward to a continuing association in the future.”
The SMS Equipment “Night of Fire” will include qualifying under the lights for the three IHRA professional classes along with several extras including Nitro Funny Cars, Alcohol Funny Cars, Nitro Harleys, Pro Stock Motorcycles, Pro Nostalgia, a wheelstander and the 20,000 horsepower “X-Treme Machine” jet semi.
Racing action will get underway Friday, July 3 and run through Sunday, July 5 at Castrol Raceway.
(Photos by: Bruce Biegler)
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