Records fell by the wayside both on and off the track during a very busy weekend at the River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV Sunday at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

With six professional classes, nearly two dozen sportsman classes and
small handful of match races and exhibition vehicles sprinkled in for
fun it was an exciting three days of racing as fans came out in droves
to see the world’s greatest drivers go at it on the Canadian quarter
mile.

Packing the stands as tightly as possible to make room for three
straight sold out crowds, race fans watched Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Ed
Hoover (Pro Modified), Roger Bateman (Alcohol Funny Car), Jason
Arkinstall (Nitro Bikes), Gary Christopher (Pro Mod Bike) and Rod
Elliott (Pro Nostalgia) take home Ironman trophies during Parts Source
Championship Sunday at Castrol Raceway.

Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the
River Cree Resort & Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by
Paradise RV at Castrol Raceway, the fifth of 10 events in the 2009
Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series -

Final round-by-round results from the River Cree Resort & Casino
Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV at Castrol Raceway,
the fifth of 10 events in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

Sunday's final results from the River Cree Resort & Casino Rocky
Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV at Castrol Raceway. The
race is the fifth of 10 in the 2009 Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

Mike Janis has won world championships and more national event titles than he can count on his hands but Saturday evening, the Pro Modified veteran enjoyed a new victory. He finally won an ADRL Pro Extreme national event title.

Janis stopped Cody Barklage to win the ADRL Independence Drags trophy in Topeka, Kan.

“It finally feels good to win a race after going winless last season,”
Janis said. “I wondered if I was ever going to get another one.”

Crazy, psychotic, suicidal – all are words that have been used to describe the riders of the 200 mile per hour nitro powered

Jason Arkinstall hangs on to his Nitro Harley during qualifying in Edmonton.

motorcycles of Nitro Bike.

But while those terms seem to fit perfectly anyone who consciously
decides to hop on a two-wheeled bomb going speeds in excess of 200
miles per hour, the drivers of the Nitro Bike class will be quick to
tell you that, while it is as dangerous as it looks, it is all about
the adrenaline and putting on a great show for the fans that keeps
these guys glued to the seats week in and week out.

The ADRL had only 30 days to put together a national event at Heartland Park Topeka and many in the racing community questioned how the event would turn out with a limited time to promote.

Steve Matusek considers Heartland Park Topeka to be a home track.

The President of Aeromotive, who campaigns one of the more innovative
Competition eliminator cars on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series,
used his knowledge of the track’s administration and the ADRL’s
management staff to establish a baseline of standards for the inaugural
Topeka-hosted ADRL event.

Alcohol eliminations are complete at Lebanon Valley Dragway with the
prestigious Wally trophies going to Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Darren
Nicholson from Mission Viejo, Calif., and Top Alcohol Funny Car driver
Frank Manzo, of Morganville, N.J. Parings are also set for the
remaining classes of Sunday’s eliminations at the fourth NHRA Northeast
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event.

Nicholson, who made his third divisional appearance, picked up his
first win of the season. He defeated the divisional points leader to
reach the finals in which he posted a 5.600 second, 256.45 mph pass to
defeat Rich McPhillips of Phoenixville, Pa., to pick up the hardware.

Top Alcohol Funny Car legend Frank Manzo once again staked his claim by
posting back to back wins and Lebanon.  His final pass of 5.647 seconds
at 254.76 mph was more than enough to pick up his third divisional win
of the year and cement his place at the top of the Northeast.

First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the
River Cree Resort & Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by
Paradise RV at Castrol Raceway, the fifth of 10 events in the 2009
Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying,
which ended Saturday.

Despite a sudden downpour during the afternoon session and chilly
temperatures throughout the day, the IHRA still saw record crowds
during the SMS Equipment Night of Fire at the River Cree Resort and
Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV Saturday night
at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

It was standing room only before the showers and more of the same once
the rains subsided as fans in attendance stayed to see a collection of
nearly ever form of drag racing on the planet earth.

Top qualifiers during Saturday’s SMS Equipment Night of Fire were Terry
McMillen (Top Fuel), Ed Hoover (Pro Modified), Roger Bateman (Alcohol
Funny Car), Jason Arkinstall (Nitro Bikes), Gary Christopher (Pro
Modified Bikes) and Eddy Plaizier (Pro Nostalgia).