Nitro Jam continues turning heads and filling stands with new format
'Valley of people' has Massey, Capps excited to race IHRA
NORWALK, Ohio (March 11, 2010) – When the International Hot Rod Association announced in October that it would be restructuring its format in an attempt to increase fan attendance and create a more entertaining event, many didn't know what to expect.
With elimination only rounds for professional categories and a handful of new classes capping a full day of sportsman racing it was clear that the new Nitro Jam format had the potential to make a splash in the drag racing world.
And so far the new look has people talking.
"It is totally different than anything fans and racers are used to seeing, but in a good way. I don't know how many fans were here this weekend and in Florida, but I have never seen this many fans at a race before," said Spencer Massey, 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year. "It is unbelievable the fan turnout so hopefully that means this thing is working. Feld Motorsports seems to have hit on something with this one."
Massey, a former IHRA Top Fuel champion, spent the last year running on the NHRA tour before switching back to IHRA when his ride with Don Prudhomme went away. Now Massey is back with his championship winning team enjoying every minute of life on the new Nitro Jam tour.
"When the stands are packed like they were this weekend you just sit in the cockpit and look up at all the people. When you can't see an empty seat it makes the experience a whole lot better," Massey added. "This has been a lot of fun for me being back over here with IHRA."
Another driver making his return to IHRA racing this weekend is Jon Capps, brother of NHRA competitor Ron Capps. Capps has been around drag racing his entire life either competing or working with his brother and is thrilled to be back with the IHRA running the "Jungle Jim" Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car.
"The fan friendly format worked out really, really great. We had some people out this weekend and they were impressed with what they saw," Capps said. "Yesterday by noon we had a jam-packed crowd so from a driver standpoint that is great to have that interaction and crowd watching you compete.
"What makes it even better is that it is a new group of fans coming through. Older and younger fans were all out getting involved creating a brand new fan base. It is exciting."
Capps plans on competing on the Nitro Jam tour the rest of this season and hopes the new format will continue to draw fans and racers to IHRA drag racing.
"Everyone with the IHRA is heavily involved in making this work. Aaron and the whole staff are doing a great job," Capps said. "There are many people out there who don't know what they are missing. Hopefully those people will give this a try, they won't be disappointed."
Along with an action-packed professional show featuring two rounds of professional classes supplemented with jet vehicles, wheelstanders, fireworks and sportsman racing, the new FanFest has given fans a chance to experience drag racing like never before.
"It is fun to interact with the fans and help them experience drag racing up close and personal," Massey said. "And when we fire up all these cars at the same time it is a thrill for everyone."
Buddy Domingue is another driver who has been won over by the new look series. Driving in the brand new Pro Fuel class, Domingue traveled to Baton Rouge not knowing what to expect and walked away with an experience he won't soon forget.
"Naturally Baton Rouge always treats the racers well, but the new format is a lot more user friendly making the experience that much better. You have a great crowd here and you can see why," Domingue said. "The hype is a lot greater when you can pull to the line and you are in a valley of people."
Domingue had the experience pay off with a win Saturday night and to do it in front of what some are calling the largest crowd to ever witness a drag race in the state of Louisiana, made the weekend all that much more sweeter for the Texas native.
"You hope you do well with a crowd like this and give them what they paid their money to see," Domingue said. "This format gives fans exactly what they came for."
Nitro Jam returns to the track May 1-2 at Rockingham Dragway.
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