Mother nature played havoc with the 14th edition IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals at Castrol Raceway last weekend…

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The highly anticipated annual event was unfortunately weather affected abbreviating scheduled action for both Friday and Sunday.

But while the weather delays did test the resolve for racers, officials and spectators alike – the event will be most remembered for a couple things.  That being it’s enormous and enthuisastic record setting crowd that attended Saturday and also for the amazing persistence shown by all which was cumulated by the event’s final rounds concluding at near 2 AM Monday morning (Yikes!)

The event was highlighted by Pro wins in the nitro categories by North Carolina’s Jay Turner and Michigan’s Shawn Bowen who prevailed in Nitro Motorcycle and Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car.

Jay Turner raced to his third victory of the season when he captured the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car title at Castrol Raceway despite the 5 1/2 hour delay to start of eliminations.

Nitro Motorcycle winner - Jay Turner

Nitro Motorcycle winner – Jay Turner

Turner raced to his second-straight win taking the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals title in Parts Canada Nitro Motorcycle. He defeated Frank Capone, Nate Gagnon and Tracy Kile on the way to the winner’s circle.  Turner entered the race with a 70-point lead over Jake Stordeur in the Nitro Motorcycle point standings; Stordeur was eliminated in the first round.  With Turner’s No. 1 qualifier, his victory and just one race remaining in the season, the four-time IHRA Nitro Motorcycle Champion’s points lead could now be insurmountable.IHRA-EDM-Mopar

“We started out slow; I underestimated the track significantly based on previous times here,” Turner said.  “This weekend, the track was phenomenal; the grip was awesome. Hats off to the IHRA crew for giving us a great racing surface here in Edmonton.  I think (the win) probably wrapped it (IHRA Nitro Motorcycle World Championship) up as long as the truck doesn’t break down going to Michigan.”

Bowen raced to his second win of the season; he defeated Tim Boychuk, Mike McIntire and No. 1 qualifier Jason Rupert on his way to the winner’s circle.  The top-five drivers in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car point standings, Rupert, McIntire, Mark Sanders, Bowen and Boychuk, entered the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations separated by just 60 points. After Boychuk went out in the first round, the top-four drivers did battle in the semifinals with Rupert and Bowen advancing to the final round.  Rupert retained the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car points lead, but with his win, Bowen jumped from fourth to second in the standings with one race remaining.  McIntire is now third while Sanders is fourth.

Driving his Dodge-bodied Funny Car - Shawn Bowen scored a win

Driving his Dodge-bodied Funny Car – Shawn Bowen scored a win

“We moved up to second in points, and it all comes down to Martin (Mich.),” Bowen said.  “It’s gonna be a battle between us, Rupert, McIntire and Sanders. It’s anybody’s game now.  Whoever doesn’t make a mistake is gonna win the deal. I live two and a half hours from Martin so I like racing there.”

Indiana’s Bruce Litton and Calgary’s David Fedorowich was featured in Top Fuel with Litton’s 5.111 secs being the best time recorded between those two racers.

Bruce Litton made exhibition runs in his Indiana-based dragster

Bruce Litton made exhibition runs in his Indiana-based dragster

Due to the weather issues, the event’s other two scheduled Pro categories – WDRL-sanctioned Pro Mod and the Pro 6.95 index will be completed later in the year at Castrol Raceway.

The Pro 6.95 class completed two rounds at the Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations, but the remaining four drivers, Darrell Webb, Mark Venance, Troy Sitko and Joey Steckler, will complete their race at a previously-scheduled event Aug. 13-14 at Castrol Raceway.

An excellent field of Pro 6.95 index cars was on hand including David Brandt's Reaper Firebird

An excellent field of Pro 6.95 index cars was on hand including David Brandt’s Reaper Firebird

The entire Pro Mod competition completed qualifying but a decision was then made to move the eliminations portion to the next previously scheduled Castrol Raceway event – coming over the Labour Day weekend in September.  That class (which drew 11 entries) was paced by Gary Urlacher’s Southern Alberta based nitrous injected Corvette which ran low ET so far at 6.003 secs.

Alberta's own Gary Urlacher paced the Pro Mod program which has had it's eliminations deferred to Sept.

Alberta’s own Gary Urlacher paced the Pro Mod program which has had it’s eliminations deferred to Sept.

The 2016 Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals featured two separate IHRA Pro-Am event for Sportsman competitors – one each on Saturday and Sunday.

Travis Ringguth (from Edmonton) defeated a 30+ car field in Top Dragster in Saturday's Pro-Am event

Travis Ringguth (from Edmonton) defeated a 30+ car field in Top Dragster in Saturday’s Pro-Am event

Canadian drivers won all the Saturday IHRA titles — Travis Ringurth (Top Dragster), Robin DeRose (Top Sportsman) Darrell Dietz (Super Stock), Darcy Clarke (Stock), James Pahl (Hot Rod), Mike Pople (Quick Rod) and Jeff Crooks (Super Rod).

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Event sponsor Mopar saw two of it's brand drivers win on Saturday - James Pahl (top) in Hot Rod and Darcy Clarke in Stock

Event sponsor Mopar saw two of it’s brand drivers win on Saturday – James Pahl (top) in Hot Rod and Darcy Clarke in Stock

Saturday’s ET winners were John Melnyk (Box & ET Final) & Raymond Peck (No Box). The three Junior Dragster class title wins went to Landon Scott, Connor Scott and Ethan Ochitwa.

Canadian drivers also dominated Sunday’s Sportsman racing.  IHRA Pro-Am Tournament wins went to recent NHRA Jegs All Stars participant Trevor Ritchie (Top Dragster) and James Bast’s Camaro in Top Sportsman.  Also scoring wins were Don Thomas (Super Stock), Ed Matiejewski (Stock), Eddy Plaizier (Super Rod), Eric Goulden (Quick Rod) and Warren Neitsch (Hot Rod).

Veteran racer Don Thomas scored in Super Stock on Sunday.

Veteran racer Don Thomas scored in Super Stock on Sunday.

Warren Neitsch "cruised" to victory in his unique PT Cruiser Super Rod machine

Warren Neitsch “cruised” to victory in his unique PT Cruiser Hot Rod machine

Just back from racing in Chicago - Trevor Ritchie won in TD in the Sunday Pro-Am Tournament race

Just back from racing in Chicago – Trevor Ritchie won in TD in the Sunday Pro-Am Tournament race

The ET title winners on Sunday were Kalim Menzel (No Box) and Mark Simmons (Box).  Junior Dragster wins went to Karson Connelly, Rhiannon Allisont and McKenna Bold.

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The event also featured some excellent exhibition runs by the formidable injected nitro cars from Canada owned by Doug Doucette (top) and Don St. Arnaud.

The event also featured some excellent exhibition runs by the formidable injected nitro cars from Canada owned by Doug Doucette (top) and Don St. Arnaud.

  • Note: DragRaceCanada will also post a Canadian event photo extra — coming soon!

Posted with files by Rob Goodman & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bruce Biegler and Don Meleshko