Jay Turner raced to his third victory of the season at the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations while Shawn Bowen captured the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car title at Castrol Raceway; due to a five-and-a-half-hour rain delay, the Pro Mod and Pro 695 category races will be completed later in the year at Castrol Raceway.

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.

"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. 

"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."

Bruce Litton ran a 5.111-second lap at 238.98 mph to take top honors in the IHRA Top Fuel exhibition.  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. Due to the significant race day rain delays, the entire Pro Mod competition was moved to a previously scheduled Castrol Raceway event in September. 

The 2016 IHRA Drag Racing Series season continues August 12-13 with the final points event of the 2016 season: the IHRA Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.  Season championships will be determined in AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Nitro Motorcycle.  Summit Pro-Am Sportsman racing will also be featured.  
 

SATURDAY - RUPERT, TURNER LEAD IHRA EDMONTON QUALIFYING 

With just two points races remaining in the 2016 IHRA Drag Racing season, Jason Rupert increased his points lead with his third-consecutive No. 1 qualifier at this weekend's International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations at Castrol Raceway.  Jay Turner (Parts Canada Nitro Motorcycle), Gary Urlacher (Pro Mod) and Allen Weich (6.95 Funny Car) will also start eliminations atop their respective classes.   

Rupert was the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car No. 1 qualifier at both the IHRA Presidents Cup Nationals fueled by Sonoco and the IHRA Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Williams Racing.  In Edmonton, although qualifying was reduced to three sessions due to persistent Friday rains, Rupert resumed his qualifying proficiency.  He set the mark in the Friday night session with a 5.553-second effort at 269.30 mph.  He posted a 5.68-second pass in the Saturday afternoon session and felt comfortable enough with his time to skip the final qualifying attempt.  Mike McIntire posted the quickest pass of the final session, a 5.662-second effort, but remained third, and Rupert took top-qualifier honors for the fourth time this season. 

Turner set the track record for both elapsed time and speed in Parts Canada Nitro Motorcycle.  In the third and final qualifying session Saturday night, Turner needed just 6.308 seconds to cover the quarter mile and reach the finish line at 217.81 mph and claim the No. 1 qualifier.  Defending race winner Kevin Boyer did not qualify for eliminations.

Urlacher, who entered the final round of qualifying with the lead, held onto the No. 1 spot in Pro Mod on the strength of his 6.003-second effort at 235.48 mph.   Bruce Litton remains low in the IHRA Top Fuel exhibition. 

In Pro 6.90 Funny Car, a class in which the goal is to run as close as possible to a 6.95-second pass without going quicker, Weich made a 6.958-second run at 204.82 mph to claim the No. 1 qualifier and will lead the 16-car field into eliminations. 

Racing action continues Sunday with IHRA Drag Racing Series professional eliminations and additional Summit Pro-Am Tour Sportsman action.   For more information, please visit IHRADRS.com, CastrolRaceway.com  or call (780) 461-5801.  

Final Qualifying Results: 
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. - - Final qualifying results from the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations are below; for round-by-round qualifying results, please visit  http://www.ihradrs.com/results-stats/2016-results/.  

AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car: 1. Jason Rupert, 5.553 secs., 269.30 mph; 2. Tim Boychuk, 5.623 secs., 251.54 mph; 3. Mike McIntire, Jr., 5.662 secs., 255.97 mph; 4. Mark Sanders, 5.749 secs., 246.71 mph; 5. Ryan Hodgson, 5.810 secs., 250.70 mph; 6. Nathan Sitko, 5.863 secs., 249.58 mph; 7. Shawn Bowen, 5.945 secs., 200.27 mph; 8. Jason Bussey, 6.023 secs., 234.50 mph.  Did not qualify: 9. Clint Thompson, 6.092 secs., 234.86 mph; 10. Jay Mageau, 7.182 secs., 165.50 mph.

Parts Canada Nitro Motorcycle: 1. Jay Turner, 6.308 secs., 217.81 mph. 2. Bob Malloy, 6.319 secs., 215.11 mph; 3. Tracy Kile, 6.607 secs., 246.98 mph; 4. Andy Beauchemin, 6.608 secs., 208.53 mph; 5. Nate Gagnon, 6.652 secs., 215.72 mph; 6. Jake Stordeur, 6.664 secs., 213.47 mph; 7. Mike Scott, 6.699 secs., 228.77 mph; 8. Frank Capone, 6.810 secs., 214.90 mph.  Did not qualify: 9. Kevin Boyer, 7.213 secs., 156.47 mph; 10. Lyle Newton, 8.170 secs., 152.54 mph. 

Pro Modified:1. Gary Urlacher, 6.003 secs., 235.48 mph; 2. Paul Glandon, 6.049 secs., 241.16 mph; 3. Joe Delehay, 6.116 secs., 239.87 mph; 4. Garrett Richards, 6.166 secs., 218.55 mph; 5. Dale Pedersen, 6.204 secs., 230.41 mph;  6. Glen Kerunsky, 6.207 secs., 232.20 mph; 
7. Jeff Doyle, 6.227 secs., 243.37 mph; 8. Dan Vogt, 6.405 secs., 227.73 mph; 9. David Kowalski, 6.424 secs., 214.90 mph; 10. Wade Sjostrom, 6.489 secs., 220.48 mph; 11. Mike Gondziola, 6.665 secs., 163.58 mph.
 
Top Fuel Exhibition: 1. Bruce Litton, 5.236 secs., 232.32 mph; 2. David Fedorowich, 5.773 secs., 177.73 mph.
 
Pro 6.90 Funny Car: 1. Allan Weich, 6.958 secs., 204.82 mph; 2. Cory Kincaid, 6.970 secs., 201.07 mph. 3. Cal Tebb, 6.972 secs., 200.18 mph; 4. Cody Anstead, 6.9824 secs., 196.25 mph; 5. Mark Venance, 6.9825 secs., 196.08 mph; 6. Troy Stiko, 6.985 secs., 199.65 mph; 7. Joey Steckler, 6.992 secs., 208.53 mph; 8. Jim Fersch, 7.004 secs., 199.56 mph; 9. Darrell Webb, 7.011 secs., 199.65 mph; 10. Ron Stennes 7.068 secs., 193.47 mph; 11. Scott Bourdin, 7.070 secs., 194.89 mph; 12. David Brant, 7.072 secs., 189.55 mph; 13. Shane Reykdal, 7.172 secs., 190.60 mph; 14. Darrell Pelrine, 7.174 secs., 193.55 mph; 15. Norm Kolwich, 7.218 secs., 191.16 mph; 16. Courtney Mageau, 7.909 secs., 134.33 mph. Did not qualify: 17. Reg Deforest, 8.882 secs., 154.22 mph.