Salt Lake City, Nitro-Jam - Way Cool Event!!

Paul Plummer · 06-19-2011, 02:06 AM

I am sitting in a hotel room in Pocatello, ID this evening enroute back to my home in Coeur D Alene, ID reflecting on the events of the past two days at the Nitro-Jam event in Salt Lake City, UT.

My hat is off to Rocky Mountain Raceways track management for coming up with a killer stock/ss program and fronting an extremely generous purse despite the fact that the Stock/SS event was not a money making venture this year. In the track management's words the event went from 5 competitors last year to 17 this year and it is going to take some investment to build the program in the future. Ron Craft stated that based on the interest level this year, they will have the separate stock and superstock classes back next year - mission accomplished racers!!!

Brian Sanderson, one of Salt Lake's local (killer) stock eliminator racers solicited some additional sponsorship and placed $200 and a beautiful plaque in the hands of the #1 qualifier, $200 to the racer with the best first round package & $75 in the hands of the slowest qualifier. Brian spent the entire week-end helping the RMR staff keep the run sheets, ladder etc. in order since this all had to be done manually. He did this with his arm in a huge bandage affair as a few days before the Nitro-Jam, he tried to cut three of his fingers off in an electric fan while working on a friends race car. His son Jesse took over the driving duties in Brian's A/SA Mopar and made it to the final.

Everyone made a good friend in Gary Hampton. Gary would best be described as IHRA's biggest advocate for building the programs out west. If you ever meet Gary in person you will find a salt of the earth character that loves the sport of drag racing. What I found most interesting about Gary is that he us a mountain of man and I am not sure how the heck he fits into that little front wheel drive stocker?? I am thinking someone has to grease him up and throw a twinkie in the driver's seat!!

Personally, I would like to thank Rich Scrivner, his great family and also Jim Hughes. If it were not for this group of people, there is no way I would have even had a chance to run my car past 2nd round let alone have a shot at #1 qualifier.

Rich helped to get me that shot by helping salvage a rocker arm that had been damaged during the first two qualifying runs ( I did not have a spare) . He also may have saved my life as I had one rear coil spring collapse during the 12 hour tow down to Salt Lake. After running the car on Friday I decided to swap the rear coil driver to passenger side. My car slid off of a dual set of jack stands - fortunately I saw what was about to happen and was well clear when the car came down. Rich got me a third set of jack stands and an extra floor jack to make everything much safer. My son Jace thanks you!

Jim Hughes has been a legend of mine since I was a pup living in Denver in the early 90's. I used to watch Jim run his stocker at Bandimere speedway. Being just out of college & poor I could not afford a car so would go to the division races and national events to watch two classes - stock and superstock period!

Jim was one of three characters that left an impression on me and made me want to run a stocker one day. The other two were Ron Gary and a very young man named Jason Line circa 1992 in his bid to win the stock championship. Now Ron and Jason were no brainer's for me as I am Buick to the bone!! Jim and his stick car - just plain awesome! It was great to meet and race with one of my personal heroes!!!

Lastly, thanks to all of the participants who showed-up to the event and who despite some challenges throughout the week-end avoided dialing 911 and calling for the "waa...mbulance". As racers we all seem to piss and moan about something or other. At this event it was non-existent...........As far as I am concerned, this is a group of racers working hard to give themselves a choice out west regardless of the sanctioning body and I am glad to see IHRA supporting us!!!

Thanks again and I look forward to racing with each and everyone of you in the future!

Paul "Jody" Plummer

06-19-2011, 02:06 AM	#1
Paul Plummer Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coeur D Alene, Idaho Posts: 67 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Salt Lake City, Nitro-Jam - Way Cool Event!! I am sitting in a hotel room in Pocatello, ID this evening enroute back to my home in Coeur D Alene, ID reflecting on the events of the past two days at the Nitro-Jam event in Salt Lake City, UT. My hat is off to Rocky Mountain Raceways track management for coming up with a killer stock/ss program and fronting an extremely generous purse despite the fact that the Stock/SS event was not a money making venture this year. In the track management's words the event went from 5 competitors last year to 17 this year and it is going to take some investment to build the program in the future. Ron Craft stated that based on the interest level this year, they will have the separate stock and superstock classes back next year - mission accomplished racers!!! Brian Sanderson, one of Salt Lake's local (killer) stock eliminator racers solicited some additional sponsorship and placed $200 and a beautiful plaque in the hands of the #1 qualifier, $200 to the racer with the best first round package & $75 in the hands of the slowest qualifier. Brian spent the entire week-end helping the RMR staff keep the run sheets, ladder etc. in order since this all had to be done manually. He did this with his arm in a huge bandage affair as a few days before the Nitro-Jam, he tried to cut three of his fingers off in an electric fan while working on a friends race car. His son Jesse took over the driving duties in Brian's A/SA Mopar and made it to the final. Everyone made a good friend in Gary Hampton. Gary would best be described as IHRA's biggest advocate for building the programs out west. If you ever meet Gary in person you will find a salt of the earth character that loves the sport of drag racing. What I found most interesting about Gary is that he us a mountain of man and I am not sure how the heck he fits into that little front wheel drive stocker?? I am thinking someone has to grease him up and throw a twinkie in the driver's seat!! Personally, I would like to thank Rich Scrivner, his great family and also Jim Hughes. If it were not for this group of people, there is no way I would have even had a chance to run my car past 2nd round let alone have a shot at #1 qualifier. Rich helped to get me that shot by helping salvage a rocker arm that had been damaged during the first two qualifying runs ( I did not have a spare) . He also may have saved my life as I had one rear coil spring collapse during the 12 hour tow down to Salt Lake. After running the car on Friday I decided to swap the rear coil driver to passenger side. My car slid off of a dual set of jack stands - fortunately I saw what was about to happen and was well clear when the car came down. Rich got me a third set of jack stands and an extra floor jack to make everything much safer. My son Jace thanks you! Jim Hughes has been a legend of mine since I was a pup living in Denver in the early 90's. I used to watch Jim run his stocker at Bandimere speedway. Being just out of college & poor I could not afford a car so would go to the division races and national events to watch two classes - stock and superstock period! Jim was one of three characters that left an impression on me and made me want to run a stocker one day. The other two were Ron Gary and a very young man named Jason Line circa 1992 in his bid to win the stock championship. Now Ron and Jason were no brainer's for me as I am Buick to the bone!! Jim and his stick car - just plain awesome! It was great to meet and race with one of my personal heroes!!! Lastly, thanks to all of the participants who showed-up to the event and who despite some challenges throughout the week-end avoided dialing 911 and calling for the "waa...mbulance". As racers we all seem to piss and moan about something or other. At this event it was non-existent...........As far as I am concerned, this is a group of racers working hard to give themselves a choice out west regardless of the sanctioning body and I am glad to see IHRA supporting us!!! Thanks again and I look forward to racing with each and everyone of you in the future! Paul "Jody" Plummer __________________ Paul (Jody) Plummer 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 C-D/SA, F-G/CM