Smallwood, Savage head Nitro Jam's top two classes
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 28, 2012)
– Nitro Jam may be a sport that is all about flash, excitement and
entertainment, but for the drivers it can get pretty intense on the
track.
Sure
putting on a good show is foremost in their minds, but beating the guy
in the other lane is really the driving force for their being. Just ask
the stars of Nitro Jam's top two classes.
After struggling through much of 2011, Smallwood has won two races in a row
Winning
races and ultimately a championship is what it is all about for the
drivers in the Pro Fuel Dragster and AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car
classes and for some that goal is not being met in the early part of the
Nitro Jam season. Defending Prostalgia World Champion Peter Gallen is
off to the worst start of his career, with three round losses already
after losing just four in the entirety of 2011, and the man who was
supposed to dominate in Pro Fuel – 2010 champ Bill Evans – left Tucson
without a trophy as well.
In
their place are a few new stars who have stepped up and are looking to
keep the momentum going entering one of the biggest races of the entire
2012 season at San Antonio Raceway this Friday and Saturday.
"It
has been an overwhelming start to the year. We ended last year on a
high note after struggling most of the season and now to start 2012 with
a win has given this team the confidence we need to go out there and do
our thing," said Cherissa Smallwood, Friday winner at last weekend's
Arizona Nitro Jam. "When you gain some momentum you start feeling like
you can win against anyone and that is the attitude we are going to need
if we are to contend for the championship this season."
Smallwood will be looking to make it three straight in San Antonio
Smallwood,
driver of the "Nitro and Lace" dragster, is currently enjoying one of
the most incredible turnarounds in recent motorsports history. Sitting
at 0-16 in round wins entering the final race of the 2011 season,
Smallwood found her groove at the season finale in Michigan and drove to
her first career victory at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
Seven
months later at the Nitro Jam season opener in Tucson, Ariz. last
weekend Smallwood repeated that feat with another victory and is
currently on pace for her best season ever entering this weekend's San
Antonio Nitro Jam. The reason for the turnaround? Attitude.
"We
have a new trailer and have totally stripped our dragster to the bare
chassis. We did some major adjustments to the driver's compartment and
the overall appearance of the car including new parts from front to
back, a new rear and we are also giving 100 percent nitro a shot this
year," Smallwood said. "But more than anything, it is all about the
confidence we gained at the end of last year that took us into 2012 with
our heads held high"
Savage won his first career Nitro Jam in Tucson last weekend
Smallwood
won three of four rounds in Arizona and ran her career best elapsed
time and speed under the hot desert sun and is gearing up for another
tall task this weekend. Smallwood will once again go toe-to-toe with
Bill Evans and the "Black Pearl" team and Robin Samsel in "Predator,"
but this weekend she will also face off against another strong female
competitor in Kristen Dennis from Magnolia, Texas.
Dennis,
driver of "Ladies First," has one career Nitro Jam start to her credit,
a victory at the Northern Nitro Jam at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park the
same weekend that Smallwood picked up her first career win. Will it be a
ladies weekend once again in Texas?
"I think so," Smallwood said. "There is just something to be said for a little girl power."
Another
driver enjoying a ton of early season success in 2012 is Mike Savage,
driver of the "Candies & Hughes" AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car.
Savage had three Nitro Jam starts in 2011 with one final round
appearance, but had never won a race until this past weekend at his home
track.
San Antonio will feature the biggest Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car race of the year
Savage
broke through for his first career Nitro Jam victory last Saturday at
the Arizona Nitro Jam over defending champion Peter Gallen. Gallen beat
Savage off the line, but in one of the closest drag races of the early
season Savage charged back on the top end and bested the driver of the
purple and gold "Poverty Stricken" machine.
Now
it is off to San Antonio for the Tucson native to face off in one of
the biggest nostalgia Funny Car races of the entire year for bragging
rights that will last an entire season.
"There
is a very tough field waiting for us Texas and we are certainly looking
forward to the challenge," Savage said. "I treat each and every one of
these guys I race against the same. They all have quality cars and great
drivers and I am proud to get an opportunity to show what I can do."
Savage
will square off with Gallen, 2010 Nitro Jam champion Steve Nichols in
the "Mill Road Boys" Camaro, James Day in "War Eagle," Tim Boychuk in
"Troy Lee Designs," John Hale in "Nitro Boss," "Jungle Jim" and more.
The San Antonio Nitro Jam is this Friday and Saturday at San Antonio Raceway. For ticket information visit www.nitrojam.com.
