MARTIN, Mich. (August 9, 2011) – In addition to all the pageantry, all the fire and all the nitro that goes into making the Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park one of the biggest motorsports events of the year is a collection of 32 of the best sportsman racers in the country waiting their turn to hoist the prestigious axle trophy and claim their portion of the $51,000 prize that comes with winning the Moser Axle-Mania Sportsman Showdown.
A grand total of 32 drivers, four from each regular IHRA Summit Pro-am class and one wild card group, will do battle Friday and Saturday night at the Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park this weekend to take their piece of the $51,000 pie – a cool $22,500 – and bragging rights for the entire year. The runner-up collects $7,500.
The final 32 is determined by Summit Pro-Am points among all eligible racers, with the top four in each class and four "wild card" entries earning their way into the field. The bracket is determined by random draw, with drivers first competing within their own class and then branching out to face drivers in other classes.
The competition will be contested in the eighth-mile with a special set of rules to help level the playing field. And when all is said and done only one driver will remain and that person will take home the $22,500 grand prize and the title of Moser Axle-Mania champion.
In 2010 it was Quick Rod racer Bo Upton surviving the grueling two-day competition, defeating Stock racer Myron Piatek in the final. This year's competition also features some heavy hitters vying for the top prize with multiple divisional and national champions among the group.
As always, the first two rounds of competition will narrow the field down to the best in each Summit Pro-Am class and the one wild card group. From there the competition will pit the Top Sportsman champion against the Super Rod winner and the Wild Card winner versus the Top Dragster champion on the left side of the bracket, while the right side will feature Super Stock versus Hot Rod in round three and Quick Rod versus Stock.
Time trials and the first two rounds of eliminations will take place on Friday, while the final three rounds of competition will take place Saturday night under the lights in front of the huge Martin crowd during the Northern Nitro Jam "Night of Fire."
The complete list of drivers competing in this year's competition and their first round matchups can be found below:
LEFT BRACKET
TOP SPORTSMAN
1. Norm Williams vs. 3. Dave Dins
2. Bob Gulitti vs. 4. Mike Sowards
SUPER ROD
1. Billy Smith vs. 3. Jon Jablonski
2. Cameron Manuel vs. 4. John Taylor
WILD CARD
1. Jeffrey Gardiner (STK) vs. 3. Steve Furr (SR)
2. Kevin McLamb (HR) vs. 4. Jacob Elrod (QR)
TOP DRAGSTER
1. Steve Furr vs. 3. Joe Gary
2. Dave Elrod vs. 4. Mike Kalin
RIGHT BRACKET
SUPER STOCK
1. Larry Cummings vs. 3. Clay Bullard
2. Brandon Peterson vs. 4. Gil Carty Jr.
HOT ROD
1. John Dustin vs. 3. Donald Webb
2. Chris Dean vs. 4. Nick Karas
QUICK ROD
1. Anthony Elrod vs. 3. Greg Slack
2. Michael Pennington vs. 4. Richard Preiser
STOCK
1. Michael Beard vs. 3. Nick Folk
2. Lisa Bolton vs. 4. Brian Rowe
