While some racing series are just now hitting the track the action on the IHRA Nitro Jam Tour has been going strong for nearly two months.

Heading into next months’ Spring Nitro Jam at Rockingham Dragway the weekend of April 30-May 2 the IHRA has already held races in West Palm Beach and Baton Rouge and now heads to the heart of racing country, where winning an Ironman means beating many of the best drivers in the entire country.

“There is just something special about competing at and winning a race in the Carolinas, especially at one of our oldest and most prestigious facilities in Rockingham,” said Skooter Peaco, VP of Race Operations. “It means a lot to these drivers to have a national event in their backyard and we can’t wait to once again provide that venue for them.”

Spring Nitro Jam will feature a busy weekend full of championship racing and an incredible lineup of nitro cars and exhibition action.

Along with the headlining nitro classes in Top Fuel, Pro Fuel and Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car, the Rockingham weekend will also showcase the completion of the 2009 Tournament of Champions along with adding a new batch of racers to the ’10 championship tournament during the sportsman national event.

Cap it all off with the Summit All-Stars race, the Harland Sharp Elite 8 Top Dragster and Top Sportsman shootout and two of the most exciting exhibition acts in all of drag racing and Spring Nitro Jam promises to be one of the biggest races of the entire season.

“With the realignment of the Nitro Jam series the Spring Nitro Jam is the only opportunity Carolina fans will have to witness this incredible show,” said Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood. “Along with incredible sportsman racing one of the main attractions to our fans this year is the addition of two jet trucks running side-by-side. This, in addition to the nitro cars, is all offered at a very affordable price.”

The spring event at Rockingham Dragway is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the entire country with the first event being held in 1971. This year will mark the 39th year the IHRA has sanctioned a spring event giving the event a life all its own.

“This race certainly enjoys sustainability unlike any other event,” Earwood said. “The dogwoods and azaleas should still be blooming so it is a very special time in North Carolina for championship drag racing.”

Racing action will kick off on Friday, April 30 with the running of the 2009 Tournament of Champions followed by an awards ceremony for the ’09 champions later that night.

On Saturday racing action will get underway for the Spring Nitro Jam race with sportsman qualifying and eliminations during the morning and afternoon followed by the professional show at 6 p.m.

Sportsman eliminations will continue for the national event on Sunday followed by the second day of professional competition beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Despite a little different look this season the same incredible competition fans have come to expect from IHRA championship drag racing is still in place.

Sportsman racing remains the same as in years past with the only exception being an uninterrupted racing schedule that gives the drivers a chance to compete throughout the morning and afternoon without interruption.

Following the sportsman competition professional racing will begin with two rounds of eliminations on Saturday and Sunday in Top Fuel, Pro Fuel and Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car.

With a no qualifying format the racing becomes even more intense with every pass down the track determining payout, championship points and a chance to take home an Ironman.

The professional rounds will also feature the best Top Sportsman and Top Dragster competitors in elimination rounds both nights along with the “Cool Bus” wheelstanding school bus, fireworks and the first-ever side-by-side battle of jet trucks in North Carolina history – all to be run twice each night.

“I attended Baton Rouge with my daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Jason (operators of U.S. 131 Motorsports Park) and thought Saturday night’s back-to-back professional sessions were as entertaining as any pro show I have ever seen,” Earwood said.

“The show was compact, less than four hours and had constant action other than a short break between sessions.

“We actually got back to the hotel in time to enjoy a pleasant dinner and didn’t have to spend 14 hours at the track. The fans seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show as well as the pit activities.”

The pit activities are highlighted by FanFest, a designated time prior to the start of the professional rounds where fans can see the cars, meet the drivers and interact with the Nitro Jam series like never before.

Tickets start at $25 and gates open at 9 a.m. daily. For more information logon to www.nitrojam.com, www.rockinghamdragway.com or call 910-582-3400.