PennGrade1 AMRA Cajun Nitro Nationals
No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, Louisiana, USA
March 21-23, 2025
Coverage by Tom McCarthy
Eliminations
Congratulations to the winners of the PennGrade 1 High Performance Oil AMRA Cajun Nitro Nationals, presented by K&K Marine & AB Steel, from No Problem Raceway!
Sunday’s eliminations delivered non-stop action and edge-of-your-seat excitement that had the crowd fully engaged from start to finish.
Stay tuned — a full event report is coming soon!
Top Fuel sponsored by Circle M Ranch
Winner – Ryan Peery
Runner-up – Tim Kerrigan
#1 Qualifier – Sharkey House
Nitro Funny Bike
Winner – Jordan Peterson
Runner-up – Cameron Gunter
Pro Fuel sponsored by Hawaya Racing
Winner – Mary Dangrow
Runner-up – Kenneth Hultman
Pro Outlaw
Winner – Billy Doherty
Runner-up – Dwayne Gee
#1 Qualifier – Billy Doherty
Modified sponsored by Zipper’s Performance Products
Winner – Kimberly Deshields
Runner-up – Brian Harris
#1 Qualifier – Kimberly Deshields
Hot Street sponsored by Axtell
Winner – Jason Crisp
Runner-up – Clayton Danford
#1 Qualifier – Jason Crisp
Pro Bagger
Winner – Dwayne Gee
Runner-up – Jeremy Justice
Street Bagger sponsored by ThunderMax
Winner – Jimmy Maikranz
Runner-up – Nick Boey
#1 Qualifier – Jimmy Maikranz
Top Eliminator 9.30
Winner – Chris Martin
Runner-up – Chris Lanktree
#1 Qualifier – Chris Lanktree
Super Gas 9.90
Winner – Kimberly Deshields
Runner-up – Joe Petersen
#1 Qualifier – Heather Jendruch
Super Pro 10.30 sponsored by BK Electric
Winner – John Shotts
Runner-up – Olen Miller
#1 Qualifier – Robert Mallory
Pro Eliminator 10.90 sponsored by Benchmark Excavating
Winner – Jim Clarke
Runner-up – Chris Ussery
#1 Qualifier – R Sitz
Street Eliminator 11.50 sponsored by ThunderMax
Winner – Bryce Creek
Runner-up – Hammerhead Hughes
#1 Qualifier – Aiden Pollworth
Eliminator Dial-In sponsored by Baker Drivetrain
Winner – Michael Ogden
Runner-up – Jim Clarke
#1 Qualifier – D Wilson
WINNER CIRCLE PHOTOS
Saturday Qualifying
On Saturday, 22 March, 2025, the AMRA competition season officially kicked off at No Problem Raceway, in Belle Rose, LA. The morning start time was delayed about 40 minutes for an off-track medical situation that was promptly and professionally addressed by EMS.
After the initial customary AMRA open time trials, the driver’s meeting began, led by the AMRA frontman, Greg Baugh. All of the necessary pre race information was put out with an additional twist from Sam White of “White Lightening” racing.
Sam announced season-ending bonus checks of 1,000$ for the first 6 aggregate points racers @ season’s end in the Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel class. All six must have attended all six AMRA 2025 season races to qualify for this bonus program.
As kind and generous as Sam is, he also announced, “If the number 6 position is a tie in class points, I will issue an additional check.” The applause for Sam by all present, was well deserved.
Qualifying for three rounds began just after the high-noon mark and continued on until 9:36PM when the last qualifying motorcycle roared down the Belle Rose racing surface.
Available qualifying sheets for this weekend’s race have been posted and vetted by the AMRA and its racers.
Sunday’s racing schedule is set to begin eliminations at 12 noon, Central Time, subject to change.
Friday Test & Tune
On Friday, March 21, 2025, the AMRA racers were invited to participate in the Friday Test & Tune at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana.
As well over 100 motorcycles began filling the pits at No Problem, there was no problems at all, incorporating the American Motorcycle Racing Association racers into the Friday night racing at NPR.
The 14 competition classes of AMRA competition were strongly represented, from the dozens of nitro-powered fuel bikes to the weekend bracket racers, and the Sportsman ranks, too, were fully involved in the racing.
It’s become part and parcel to most all AMRA racing events. Whenever possible, a Friday T/T is naturally incorporated into the regular weekend competition series hosted by the AMRA. This gives all class racers an equal opportunity to learn the track and different racing facilities.
The racers blasted down the 1320 of NPR from 3 PM to 8 PM. Racing begins in earnest tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, 202,5, with morning time trials from 10 am to 11:15. A drivers meeting will take place at the AMRA trailer promptly at 11:30 AM Central time.
Sportsman classes qualifying begins at 12 Noon, followed closely by professional class racing. Fuel classes are slated to run at 1:30, 4 PM and 6 Pm, subject to change to accommodate the racing tempo.
Track live broadcast can be heard at the track via FM Radio tuned to 89.9 FM. Our live feed from Motor Mania TV can be located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kayu30nXYgY
Once a Spectator
On 21 March 2025, the trackside at No Problem Raceway stood a lone spectator during the early sunrise chill. It was close to 38 out, at the time, so no problem seeing one’s breath at a glance. There he stood, alone with his thoughts, gazing out at the water box and starting line area, perhaps wondering, “How do I get out there? How do I become part of this?”
For the many racers who will read this story, it’s important to note that once, not long ago, that was you, the fan, the wanna-be racer, who was impressed by your day at a drag strip, and you decided to find your place in the racing community. We were all fans once, and we will all do well to remember this while we are at the race track. They are watching, all of them: the fans, the casual spectators, the kids with wild eyes, open hearts, and impressionable minds.
As members of the racing community, each of us is not only responsible for our behavior, but we owe a debt of honor to the sport’s big names, who paved the way to make the sport larger than life for many. One day, all of them, they too, were once a spectator.
People are, by nature, curious creatures. Different things attract different people or repel them, as the case may be. That’s different for all of us. The common thread of the need for speed and the endorphin rush that accompanies it is the one thing that draws all racers. Something all racers know that spectators never will is what adrenalin does to the human body and spirit. Oh, how that changes us!
It’s later in life during a racer’s career that they discover, the rush is not the critical part. It’s the people, the extended family, the racing family, that keeps us coming back. Fellowship and the ties that go with it, bind us. It’s not the empty beer cans and broken parts, it’s the way we go out of our way, to help and encourage each other to strive for better.
The single most important thing a racer can do to grow the sport is to be as kind and professional to spectators and fans as humanly possible. Ask if they are having fun, which racing class they like best and why – listen to them. To be heard is to be recognized; to be seen is validation of being human. When people feel like they are caught and of value, they feel like they belong.
People will seldom remember what you said but never forget how you make them feel.
If you, as a racer or member of the racing community, are reading this, collectively, we have a responsibility to each other to help grow this sport if we want it to survive and thrive. There is a sign that I first read at South Georgia Motorsports Park, over a decade ago that read’s “Somewhere at this track, there is a little kid that wants to be just like you someday, you owe it to them to be the best you can be.”
I have noticed this sign has migrated to No Problem Raceway, in Belle Rose, Louisiana. In as much as Nelson and Marla Hoyos have successfully managed both facilities, I’m sure this is not a coincidence. It’s good management. Dusty Brazel and his crew at What A Graphic ‘s work on signage speaks for itself.
It’s interesting to note that for 99% of us reading this: We, too, were once a spectator. I vividly remember a 17-year-old kid preparing to graduate high school in 1971. His buddy in Auto Repair took his best friend from the Metal Fab shop to his first drag race.
The kid from Metal Fab arrived, not knowing what a drag race was, let alone fuel cars, but he stood along the fence line one day, leaning on the sharp, pointy, chain, link fence, wide-eyed. A 1970 Dodge Challenger pulled into the bleach box, engaged the new “Hurst Line Lock,” locked up the front wheels, and annihilated the big rear drag slicks.
The wide-eyed spectator was instantly smitten and had an epiphany on the spot, “How do I get out there? How do I get to race?” His whole world forever changed that day.
We know not whose lives we touch, when we interact with people. It’s the people who make racing great, not the racing.
We were all once a spectator.
– Tom McCarthy
THURSDAY
AMRA Top Fuel Stars Shining March 21-23 at No Problem Raceway
Top Fuel motorcycle stars will shine this weekend at the AMRA Cajun Nationals, held at No Problem Raceway, March 21-23, 2025. Test & tune, Friday 3-8 PM, Sat qualifying begins at Noon, Sunday eliminations will also start at 12 PM.
One highlight of the weekend is Nitro Harley royalty in attendance, with Johnny Mancuso dropping by to view his Circle M Ranch-sponsored Top Fuel Harley class in action, in person. Top Fuel Harley is a class Johnny raced in for over three decades until he decided to step back from driving duties in 2005, when he hired Jay Turner to drive for him.
With close to forty years of drag racing involvement, Johnny still has a hand in the sport by being the class sponsor of Top Fuel for the AMRA. The way Johnny sees it “I’m still involved with Harley Drag Racing. After my retirement, I have supported Jay Turner, and now my wife Jane and I at Circle M Ranch are supporting AMRA in their Top Fuel Class. I have been to a few events in the past couple of years and plan to attend more this year. It’s hard to leave Colorado in the summertime but it’s great to see old friends and to make new ones. We will be at No Problem Raceway this weekend, and we hope to see you there!”
On display throughout the weekend will be Johnny’s beautiful Top Fuel Harley, double engine Shovelhead bike he built in the early 1980’s. It features two 118 CID Shovelhead motors. During its competition years, the bike had a best elapsed time of 7.62 and a top speed of close to 181 MPH, one of the three quickest doubles in the history of Top Fuel Harley. This bike was run in the “DRAGBIKE!” sanction in the early 1980’s run by Tom Laughlin. It was a class winner in both Nitro Harley and Top Fuel motorcycle. Back then, the class winners of both classes would face off in a handicapped start based on class winning times and yes, this bike had its winning days over Jap bikes, side-by-side!
Fellow Texan Ricky House, was nice enough to stop by Johnny’s on the way to the Belle Rose race this weekend and bring Johnny’s old treasured fuel bike out to remind fans what old-time Top Fuel Harley was once like in all its double engine glory.
In contrast to this, his former Top Fuel pilot and good friend, Jay Turner will be in attendance with a full complement of the latest in Top Fuel Harley motorcycles out of the Jay Turner Racing stable. Jay not only has some of the quickest and fastest bikes in the class today at this race, but he is simultaneously developing tomorrow’s next generation of Top Fuel Harley’s at his home shop as seen in these photos (future story and photos soon to follow).
In other, Top Fuel class action this weekend: Johnny Toth will be on his newest build from Jay Turner Racing. Paul Anderson will begin his first full season of Top Fuel motorcycle competition on his mount; the former Doug Vancil Top Fuel bike created by Mike Romine Racing.
Jordan Peterson will be on his newest Top Fuel bike mount, formerly of the folks from the “Windy City.” That bike sat for the last 12 years and was purchased by Chris Stewart Racing in 2024. It went to Mike Romine’s shop for a complete tear-down and 2025 upgrades. This will be Jordan’s first time on the newly rebuilt bike. Jordan will also be racing in NFB owned by Phil Lower, built and tuned by Mike Romine.
Brian Conley Jr. will debut on the Chris Stewart Racing Pro Fuel bike this weekend. He is pitted alongside Chris and does all the maintenance on the bike with his dad, who assists. Ryan Peery and Buddy Johnson mentored Brian frequently during the last two seasons, and he’s definitely ready to step up. he’s visibly chomping at the bit, eager to get seat time in. Being an experienced racer, he knows there is no substitute for seat time.
Speaking of Chris Stewart Racing (CSR), Brian will be on the Pro Fuel bike, Sammu will be on one Top Fuel bike and Jordan Peterson on the other.
Another Nitro Rookie; Loren Potter has purchased the awesome bike formerly owned and raced by John McConnell of Maryland. Johnny rode that bike well during his time with it. Loren has acquired a proven mid-seven bike that can qualify well in Pro Fuel. 2025 will be his initiation to The Dark Side.
The overall amount of fuel bikes at Belle Rose already on the property, on Thursday, 20 March 2025, for early private test & tune, is impressive. The early lineup includes:
Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile – (Top Fuel), Mary “Bam” Dangrow (Pro Fuel), Camron Gunter (Nitro Funnybike), Jimmy Mac (Top Fuel). Universal Fleet & Tire: Ray Robinson (Nitro Funnybike), Jason Leeper, (Pro Fuel) and (Nitro Funnybike).
Tim Kerrigan Racing is ready to rumble. His Top Fuel bike, tuned by Steve Vickers, is cocked and loaded, ready for 2025 action. Other fuel bikes on the property on Thursday include Ricky “Sharky” House, Michael Balch & Craig Caulk Racing,
 | Coverage by – Tom McCarthy |
For more info visit www.amralive.com / info@amralive.com / Facebook / Facebook Racers Group / Instagram
2025 Schedule
- March 21-23 / No Problem Raceway / Bella Rose, LA
- May 17-18 / National Trail Raceway / Hebron, OH
- June 28-29 / US131 Motorsports Park / Martin, MI
- August 8-10 / Byron Drgway / Byron, IL
- September 19-21 / Beech Bend Raceway Park / Bowling Green, KY
- October 25-26 / Rockingham Dragway / Rockingham, NC
ABOUT AMRA
The American Motorcycle Racing Association was formed 40 years ago and is the only officially sanctioned association that is exclusively dedicated to American made, V-Twin based motorcycle drag racing in the world. Whether you’re interested in E.T. based racing, set index racing, heads-up or Top Fuel Nitro Bikes, we have a class for you. Membership is easy and the events are carried out in a way that makes it easy for beginners and veterans alike. All class designations and rules for each can be found here as well as the membership application. We are happy to welcome new racers and offer help to get you started. Join today and we’ll see ya at the track.
