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West Valley City, Utah- The National Hot Rod Association's (NHRA) Hot Rod Heritage Series will make their Utah debut at Rocky Mountain Raceways' Summer Send-Off on Friday, August 23-Sunday, August 25.
"Fans will love our inaugural Summer Send-off featuring the NHRA Heritage Series. With 15 Nostalgia Nitro-burning Funny Cars trying to get into an eight-car field, you know that all of those cars are going to hold nothing back. I would be shocked if both ends of the track record aren't crushed," says Mike Eames, Rocky Mountain Raceways General Manager.
Tim Boychuk currently holds the Nostalgia Funny Car record at Rocky Mountain Raceways with an elapsed time of 5.874 at 249.28 miles per hour, set on August 18, 2012.
"We're extremely excited to be bringing the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series to Rocky Mountain Raceway and adding the Salt Lake City market to the series," says Eric Lotz, NHRA Director of Field Marketing.
"It will be great to have the Nitro Funny Cars here again along with the Group 1 racers: Jr. Fuel, A/Fuel and the 7.0 Class," says Ron Craft, Rocky Mountain Raceways Drag Strip Manager.
The nostalgia Funny Cars are 1965-1979 replicas. The Jr. Fuel, A/Fuel and 7.0 Class will feature pre-1979 drag vehicles.
"The A/Fuel and Jr. Fuel classes are front-engine nitro-powered dragsters without blowers. The A-fuel cars should run some six-second elapsed times at over 200 miles per hour," says Eames. Bill Wayne currently sits stop the A/Fuel point standings. Wayne Ramay is leading the Jr. Fuel class in points.
"The 7.0 Pro class brings so much variety and some unbelievable race cars. They run heads-up on an index, but can be pretty much any type of vehicle. You will see front-engine dragsters, altereds and even funny cars," says Eames. Michael Peck leads the 7.0 Pro season points campaign.
Rocky Mountain Raceways' Summer Send-Off will be the season-ending event for the Hot Rod Heritage Series Group 1 Racers, which means the 2013 Champions will be crowned in A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel and 7.0 Pro.
"The 2013 season has seen some great racing action and the Summer Send-Off in Salt Lake looks to be no different with all the big-name Funny Car drivers on the pre-entry list," says Lotz.
Local sportsman drag racers will be competing for the guaranteed $30,000 purse over the three days. Classes will include Electronics, Non-Electronics and Junior Dragsters. "This event will be one our best of the year and a can't miss for any race fan," says Eames.
The three-day race weekend will start on Friday, August 23 with a full slate of sportsman racing and a nighttime qualifying session for the Nitro Funny Cars, A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel and 7.0 Pro classes.
Saturday, August 24 will feature day number two of the NHRA Summer Send-Off with two qualifying sessions for the Heritage Series Competitors. After qualifying is completed, competition ladders will be created with final eliminations to follow.
On Sunday, August 25 the final day of sportsman competition will culminate the weekend. Throughout the three-day weekend the sportsman competitors will compete for the share of a $30,000 guaranteed purse. The racing schedule is subject to change.
Rocky Mountain Raceways will crown the King/Queen of the NHRA Summer Send-Off on Sunday, August 25. This sportsman racer who wins the most rounds over the three-day event will take home the prestigious title, bragging rights and a bevy of additional prizes.
To register for the 2013 Summer Send-Off, racers can call Rocky Mountain Raceways' Main Office at (801) 252-9557. For questions about the race, racers can contact Rocky Mountain Raceways General Manager Mike Eames at meames@rmrracing.com.
NHRA SUMMER SEND-OFF SPECTATOR INFORMATION Friday August 23 Spectator Gates Open at 4 pm Adults $10, Youth (5-12) $5. Spectator tickets will give guests access to the pits and all of the drivers.
Saturday, August 24 Spectator Gates open at Noon with Time Trials and Local Eliminations. Feature Cars are scheduled to run at 6:30 pm, 8:00pm and again at 9:30 pm. Adults $20/ Youth (5-12) $10-. Spectator tickets will give guests access to the pits and all of the drivers.
Sunday, August 25 Spectator Gates open at 9:00am. Adults $10, Youth (5-12) $5. Spectator tickets will give guests access to the pits and all of the drivers.
