LIVE from Martin, MI Nitro Jam

[Michael Beard]

After a thankfully uneventful 14 hour drive from central NC to US131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., we're all settled in for the IHRA Northern Nitro Jam (aka Nat'l event, Tournament of Champions qualifying race). Myron said there was no barometer, so it should be "nice" and slow depsite cool morning temps. There's a lot on tap this weekend with the Moser Axle Mania Shootout, where 32 of IHRA's best sportsman racers vie for their share of $50,000+, including $22,500 to the winner. Moser really goes all out for the racers. Early start tomorrow: 8am

[danny waters sr]

Keep us up to date Michael . I left with my stocker and made it as far as Charleston W V . Had short in trailer and kept popping fuses in the motorhome and 1 trailer flat .At this point i figured someone was trying to tell me something .At midnite i decided to turn around and try to make it back home since i was closer to home than Mi. On the way home 2 more flats on trailer. Before anyone says i should have good tires on trailer ,well they were only one year old .They started seperating between the sidewall and tread(6 ply trailer tires) Goodyear or now in my book" Badyear" .Anyway a 750 mile round trip and finally made it home .Trying to find tires in Mt Airy was a little tough ,Thanks Wal-Mart for a 2 size under tire, but it did make me home eventually. Stockers gets a break this weekend without the trusty ole chevy II being there. However Jr is there with his Q/R whip and i wish him GOOD LUCK. I think i brought all the bad luck back with me as he went on from Charleston to Mi. Sorry for the long post (boy do i miss Drooze RIP )

[Chris1529]

sorry to hear about your luck with the trailer Danny. At least you were able to make it home.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by danny waters sr

Keep us up to date Michael . I left with my stocker and made it as far as Charleston W V . Had short in trailer and kept popping fuses in the motorhome and 1 trailer flat .At this point i figured someone was trying to tell me something .At midnite i decided to turn around and try to make it back home since i was closer to home than Mi. On the way home 2 more flats on trailer. Before anyone says i should have good tires on trailer ,well they were only one year old .They started seperating between the sidewall and tread(6 ply trailer tires) Goodyear or now in my book" Badyear" .Anyway a 750 mile round trip and finally made it home .Trying to find tires in Mt Airy was a little tough ,Thanks Wal-Mart for a 2 size under tire, but it did make me home eventually. Stockers gets a break this weekend without the trusty ole chevy II being there. However Jr is there with his Q/R whip and i wish him GOOD LUCK. I think i brought all the bad luck back with me as he went on from Charleston to Mi. Sorry for the long post (boy do i miss Drooze RIP )

Look at the bright side......At least you didnt loose your entry fee as when racing in the other association. Glad you made it home OK.

[Michael Beard]

Got started a little later than they wanted as it was very dewy this morning, so they were out working the track an extra hour. They did group pictures for the Moser Axle Mania qualifiers behind the tower. It's not hot (yet), but it's coming. HUMID. Doesn't feel too bad with a little cross tail, but the car doesn't like the numbers: 70.3 deg, 80%, 28.96, 3078' DA. Already about through with TD as I type... Things are moving right along!

[Michael Beard]

1st Rnd Q, Mike Leopold missed the run due to a bad starter, but they got it fixed for Q2. Burlin Taylor was on the bottom of the sheet originally just from pushing through the beams. Didn't see who broke (#55)

Q2... It never ceases to amaze me just how slow this place can be. It's almost as bad as Bristol. Converter's flashing at least 200 rpm less, and barely turning 6500 in the traps. Anecdotal evidence of anywhere from .07 to .10 slow. 60' was identical... A number of us lost a full mph... In what seems to be a tailwind!!

1:15 PM, 88.3deg, 62%, 28.96, 3840'

[Mike Fuller]

Does anyone know why Dan Collville was disqualfied?

[Michael Beard]

Re: the DQ... Don't know, but it sure shuffled the ladder!

I made wholesale changes to the car every run, dialed down .08 and ran dead-on. Had Hardy by just .001 on the tree as we were both um... conservative this morning. He parked it to take .001 stripe, also dead-on. Pretty awesome job.

Check out DRC, as it was a pretty remarkable round of Stock. Lots of guys running the number, while the Hot Rod guys were all over the place. Great job for the class as a whole.

[mjacquesjr]

Great coverage Michael, almost like I was there.

[Brandon Peterson]

great pics mike...wish that was me and myron in the finals....i had a blast up there even with the crazy weather...congrats myron on the r/u and Bo on the win