Shockwave takes on Super Shockwave in battle of 60,000 horsepower machines

It is an event that has taken place only once in the history of drag racing – two jet trucks racing side-by-side.

In January, and throughout the entire 2010 Nitro Jam season, that history is going to change.

For the first time in Nitro Jam history and for only the second time ever two jet trucks will go head-to-head in a showdown of jet-powered machines that produce a combined 60,000 horsepower, side-by-side “burn outs” spewing 40 foot flames and a race that will rumble the earth and literally bring down the house.

Super Shockwave

“Dueling jet trucks is an event that has only been witnessed once and thankfully I was one of the lucky ones who got to see that very first run. To be honest it was one of the most exciting and terrifying things I have ever seen. It was like watching Armageddon happen right in front of you,” said Aaron Polburn, President of Nitro Jam. “The ground was shaking, all you could hear was the screaming of jet engines and there was fire and smoke everywhere.

“From that moment on I knew I had to have that be a part of every Nitro Jam show. Now I am proud to say we will have the single most exciting act in all of motorsports at all of our events in 2010.”

Headlining the jet powered showdown is Les Shockley’s “Duo of Destruction” – the Shockwave and Super Shockwave jet trucks.

Shockley and his jet vehicles have toured the country for the past 32 years, but until now neither of Shockley’s trucks have ever raced one another.

Shockwave

That is all going to change the weekend of January 29-30 at Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach as the two jet vehicles will clash for the very first time at the inaugural Nitro Jam at Palm Beach.

“After all these years we are finally going to line these two machines up and put on a show unlike anything these fans have ever seen before,” said Kent Shockley, driver of Shockwave and son of Les Shockley. “Typically one jet truck is enough to headline an event and draw a massive crowd, so having two going head-to-head at every event is going to be amazing.”

Despite having never raced one another, the Shockley trucks are no strangers to Nitro Jam competition. Shockwave spent years wowing fans at Nitro Jam events until a crash put the machine out of service for the past year.

The Super Shockwave has also made numerous appearances at Nitro Jam events including last year where he took part in another drag racing first – going head to head against Monster Jam’s® very own Grave Digger®.

Super Shockwave

Now, two of the most impressive jet vehicles in the world will go head-to-head in a battle of the baddest trucks in the land nearly two dozen times in 2010.

“Last year we were part of another drag racing first racing Grave Digger and now I get to take part in another first which is really pretty cool,” said Jeremy Fields, driver of Super Shockwave. “The horsepower, flames and raw power these two machines produce is incredible. I am so used to going out there and doing it all alone; I can’t wait to hit the throttle against another truck.”

Without a doubt the Shockwave is one of the most exciting jet trucks in existence today. A replacement for the original Shockwave which crashed at an air show two years ago, the new and improved Shockwave produces over 36,000 horsepower thanks to three Pratt and Whitney J-34-48 engines.

Run on diesel at over 120 gallons per run and weighing in at nearly 10,000 pounds, there are few machines that compare to the power and speed of the Shockwave.

Battle of Jet Trucks

In the other lane is the Super Shockwave, easily the word’s fastest Chevy. Built around a 1957 Chevy body the Super Shockwave features two Pratt & Whitney J-34-48s producing over 25,000 horsepower and weighing in at roughly 5,000 pounds.

The Super Shockwave has been clocked at over 330 miles per hour at the half mile while the older bodied Shockwave holds the world record for full size jet trucks at 376 mph. Early word from the Shockley camp promises that the new and improved Shockwave will be even better than before.

“We made sure to take the time to tweak a few things this time around and I guarantee you that the new truck will make people do a double take,” Shockley said.

Combined the two machines produce roughly 60,000 horsepower and eat almost 200 gallons of diesel per run. With everything on the table the two machines represent well over $1 million in investment.

And all that power and speed will be on display at every Nitro Jam event in 2010 beginning with the Palm Beach Nitro Jam January 29-30 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

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Last season Super Shockwave took on Grave Digger