In the Nitro racing world there are two camps…those who favor Top Fuel Dragsters and those who prefer to get their cackle fix from the floppers…Nitro Funny Cars. Those two worlds will collide Sept. 20 when Bobby Lagana Jr. will take on Andy Kelley in a Top Fuel – Funny Car war with bragging rights on the line.

Lagana and Kelley are from different sides of the fence. Scarsdale, N.Y., where Lagana grew up and calls home, is a few minutes across the George Washington Bridge from mid-town Manhattan. He is a proud Italian who loves the Yankees, the Jets, his grandma’s pasta sauce and the lights of the big city. Kelley is a good old boy from Piedmont, S.C. who is most comfortable kicking back on a lazy Sunday, throwing a hook in the pond and seeing what he can catch. Unlike most New Yorkers, he does not view New York City as the center of the universe. He laughs at the Yankees with their bloated payroll, chuckling at the fact that they aren’t even going to make it to the 2008 post season despite spending over $200 million on player salaries.

When they square off at Carolina Dragway, Lagana and Kelley will be going for the throat. Many times in match races the drivers involved will not push things like they would at a national event. Rest assured, this will not be the case Sept. 20. Kelley and Lagana are fierce competitors who hate to lose…and neither plans on finishing second.

“This redneck is coming out to kick that city boy’s butt,” Kelley said. “Top Fuel cars are usually a little quicker down the track than the funny cars, but driving ability can be a great equalizer. And when you take everything into consideration I think you would have to think we’re the favorites in this whole thing.”

“The only think Andy Kelly is kicking is some rods out of his motor because he’s trying too hard,” Lagana answered with a chuckle. “I’m not worried about his car at all. I want to run a really nice number and put on a show for the fans. Hey, I’m a fan as well. Maybe after I finish I can turn around and watch Andy finish his run.”

When it was pointed out that statement could come off as a bit “cocky,” Lagana refused to back down. In fact, he turned up the heat.

“He’s running a Nitro Funny Car against a Top Fueler, thinks he can win, and you think I’m being cocky?” he asked incredulously. “I think it’s pretty cocky of him to think this is even a race. I know this is near his hometown and he’s going to have a ton of friends and family there…but I’m not going to take it easy on him. Business is business.”

“Take it easy on me? What, is he kidding?” Kelley asked. “I know he’s been racing for a long time and has a good team and all, but he’s coming to my backyard. He’s not just going to be going against me; he’s going to be going against about 10,000 screaming South Carolinians. I have all the confidence in the world we’re going to get this done.”

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Thunder Jam presented by 1-800-SAFE AUTO and Toyota Tundra Trucks will take place Sept. 20 at Carolina Dragway. The show kicks off at 7pm. In addition to the Lagana/Kelley “Nitro War” Pepi Urban will be on hand with his 20,000hp X-Treme Machine jet semi truck. The Thunder Jam will also feature side-by-side jet dragsters and the wheel-standing Chevy Rebellion truck.

Event: 2008 Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by Mr. Gasket Heat Wave double race weekend

Where: Carolina Dragway

When: Sept. 12-14

2007 Event Winners: Top Sportsman: Mike Koontz and Stacy Hall; Top Dragster: JJ Brock and Joe Gary; Super Stock: Glen Mace and Jimbo Fields; Stock: Michael Beard and Michael Beard; Quick Rod: Steve Corker and Jason Harris; Super Rod: Jimmy Fountain and Steve Furr; Hot Rod: Matt Caheely and Ken Buckner.

Defending Division Champions:
Top Sportsman- James Carlton Jr. (Bradenton, Florida), Top Dragster- Claude DeBonis (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), Super Stock- Anthony Bertozzi (Ashland, Virginia),  Stock- Michael Beard (Seagrove, North Carolina), Quick Rod- Steve Muller (Pinellas Park, Florida), Super Rod- Jason McCandless (Naples, Florida), Hot Rod- John Furr (Oakboro, North Carolina).

What to expect:
The third and final stop for Division 2’s Heat Wave competitors will be at Carolina Dragway’s “House of Hook”. It is one of the more premier facilities on the Summit Pro Am Tour. Jeff and Angel Miles being racers their selves know the type of facility that competitors crave and create an atmosphere that is fun for the whole family for racers and spectators alike. Friday the gates and tech will open at noon and the track will hold a test n tune session from noon to 6 pm for $20 for all Summit Pro Am competitors wishing to make some laps down the track. Tech will close at 10 pm but the gates will remain open all night for those coming in late. Saturday, tech will open at 8 am and competitors will be given 2 time trial/ qualifying sessions and go straight in to eliminations. There will be a Thunder Jam at 7pm, definitely a show no one will want to miss. Sunday, the gate and tech will open at 8 am, God Speed church services at 8 am and at 9 am 1 time trial/ qualifying session will be given and go straight into Summit Pro Am eliminations.

Special Programs:
Moser Engineering Axle Mania—To be eligible a racer must run a set of Moser axles and have the proper Moser Engineering decals and complete the registration form. All IHRA sportsman racers who meet the eligibility requirements will have the opportunity to qualify for a $51,000 purse, including a top prize of $22,500. The seventh edition of Moser Axle Mania will be run at the Torco Northern Nationals at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in August of 2008.

American Race Cars Free Ride—At each 2008 Summit Pro-Am a random driver will be selected from the tech cards at that event. If the Pro-Am is a double two drivers will be selected. The American Race Cars Free Ride winner will be pulled at random from those tech cards at the 2008 IHRA Summit Pro-Am Banquet. Two tech cards will be pulled, the first winning a Silver Card good for a free car and driver entry at each of that driver’s 2009 in-division Divisional races. The second card pulled will determine the winner of a $10,000 gift certificate good towards the purchase of a new American Race Car.

2008 Heat Wave Division Summit Pro-Am Schedule (all events are double race weekends): Feb. 8-9 at Immokalee Regional Raceway; Aug. 29-31 at Darlington Dragway; Sept. 12-14 at Carolina Dragway.