Bobby Lagana Jr. to challenge Andy Kelley in a Top Fuel/Funny Car ShowdownFor the first time in O’Reilly Thunder Jam history, Carolina Dragway, presents heads up racing between a Nitro Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster at the fabled “House of Hook”.

Bobby Lagana and the “Twilight Zone” Top Fuel car will challenge South Carolina’s Andy Kelley and his Holbrook Performance Parts Funny Car at this year’s edition of the O’Reilly Thunder Jam presented by Safe Auto and Toyota Tundra Trucks, Saturday, September 20th at 7 p.m.

“Carolina fans are special; they love the nitro cars and we’ve always wanted to do this special race. It’s only fitting we race a Top Fuel car and a nitro funny car for the first time at the legendary Carolina Dragway,” stated Thunder Jam Operations Director Jim Marchyshyn. “Jeff and Angel Miles and the entire Carolina team wanted this year to be the biggest “Thunder Jam” ever and we think we’ve got the show to back that up. To be able to showcase these 16,000 horsepower, nitro machines at Carolina is what makes this track so special.”

Scarsdale, New York based Lagana is a multiple IHRA Top Fuel event winner; his most recent victory came in June at the Presidents Cup Nationals at Budds Creek, Maryland.  Kelley hails from Piedmont, South Carolina and is an up and coming driver in the Nitro Funny Car class, scoring his first victory at the IHRA Northern Nationals at Martin, Michigan in August.  

“We can’t wait to get to Carolina and “smell the nitro” with Bobby,” stated an excited Kelley by phone from the Amalie Oil North American Nationals.  “The best thing is meeting all of our fans face to face and showing them how our car works.  We invite all the fans to come out early and hang out because every ticket includes a free pit pass.”

In addition to the Lagana/Kelley “Nitro War”, the O’Reilly Thunder Jam stars the earth-pounding 20,000 horsepower, flamethrowin’ “X-Treme Machine” Jet Semi truck driven by Joe “Pepi” Urban, a side by side jet dragster battle pitting Lou “The Terminator” Perriera against Dick Rosberg’s “Thriller” and the wheelstanding “Chevy Rebellion truck.

Saturday afternoon, the stars of the IHRA Summit Pro Am Series will compete featuring the “Baby Pro Mods”, the crowd-pleasing IHRA Top Sportsman doorslammers.  The Pro Am eliminations and finals will also be part of the “Thunder Jam” show

Families matter: Tickets for the O’Reilly Thunder Jam are specially priced at $20.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under, with parking and pit pass FREE and included in the price of your ticket.

“We know our fans work hard for their money and we’ve got several great discounts for Thunder Jam fans to be able to bring their families out for a great show,” adds Marchyshyn. “Visit any participating O’Reilly Auto Parts store in South Carolina and Georgia and get a free child’s ticket when you buy your adult ticket in advance.

“Stop by your local Toyota Tundra truck store and pick up an adult discount coupon that will get you into the Thunder Jam for just $15 when you redeem at the gate.”  Of course, parking and all access pit pass, so you can meet the drivers up close are always FREE.  Our “locker room” is always open to the public.”

Carolina Dragway is located on 302 Dragstrip Road, off Rt. 125 just west of Jackson, South Carolina.  For ticket and race information, call (877) 471-7223