EDMONTON, Alberta (June 22, 2010) – In addition to a huge assortment of nitro machines, bikes, funny cars and exhibitions at this weekend’s River Cree Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals, one of Nitro Jam’s oldest and most prestigious classes will return to competition for the first time in 2010 as the stars of the West Coast Pro Modified Association give quarter-mile doorslammer fans something extra to look forward to at Castrol Raceway.
Formed one year after the IHRA invented the class in 1990, the West Coast Pro Modified Association is one of the oldest Pro Mod groups in the nation. It features the quickest Pro Modified doorslammers in the Western half of North America and has a very strong following in Canada.
2009 WCPMA champ Joe Delehay will look to continue his dominance
“We are very much looking forward to this event at Castrol Raceway. We all enjoy having an event there and this year it will be even more exciting with the new Nitro Jam race,” said WCPMA competitor Tommy Johanns. “This, along with a race held at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, is one of the biggest events of the year. It is always a good time to have the stands full of spectators. It makes you feel better as a driver to see the facility full of great drag racing fans.”
Like their counterparts in the east, there is a unique mix of car types and power adders that makes this series one of the most exciting in the nation. Johanns, who finished runner-up to Joe Delehay in the 2009 championship standings, drives a ’53 Corvette with a blown 526 inch Brad Anderson engine and says there is quite a bit of diversity in the class that makes it fun to watch and be a part of.
The WCPMA features two dozen drivers and teams
“Members of the WCPMA extend from Canada to California to Colorado and the races stretch from Edmonton to Arizona. Along with the diverse racers and tracks the WCPMA also has great diversity with the blown cars versus the nitrous cars,” Johanns said. “It is a real family experience for all the teams and many friendships are built within the association. It seems that any team is willing to help any of the other teams out. Basically we are all friends until we get to the starting line, then it is war.”
Another member of the Pro Mod group, Ross Hogenson, is on the other side of the Pro Mod power battle and competed at this event one year ago. He drives a ’63 Corvette with an 801 cubic inch nitrous motor and set his personal best time and speed at Castrol Raceway last year. After qualifying fifth in 2009 Hogenson went one round before being eliminated by ’09 IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang and has high hopes of going even farther this season.
Ross Hogenson is looking forward to competing in front of the huge Edmonton crowds
“This group has a little bit of everything thrown in and we love racing at the events that continue to draw large crowds such as Castrol Raceway, Salt Lake City and Spokane,” Hogenson said. “We are greatly looking forward to the competition this year among this close group of racers. I can’t wait.”
Currently there are 24 members of the WCPMA and many of those drivers will be making the haul to Edmonton this weekend for Canada’s biggest drag race at Castrol Raceway.
