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| Moroso hosts Truck and Trailer USA's 2005 Pepsi Jet and Truck Naitonals | by Joanna Montante
JUPITER, Fla. -- It’s evident that, especially down here in South Florida, “the truck” is one of the most popular auto choices for business as well as personal travel. Moroso will once again host the truck event of the year and tip their hats to, the Truck & Trailer USA/Jammin’ Grafix Pepsi Jet & Truck Nationals on April 23-24th, presented by Miller’s Ale House Restaurants and the GATER 98.7fm. A special editorial presence will be made by TEN TRUCKS magazine. This truck festival is the most powerful racing exhibition of raw horsepower, including not only Jet Trucks and cars, but Truck drag racing, a Jammin Grafix Truck Show n Shine, a marketplace, swap meet and a Truck corral to buy and sell used products.
The Moroso drag strip will host four different bracket classes: Super Pro, Pro, SUV/Pickup and Diesels. Saturday night racing will also feature the Auto Craft Collision Quick 16 Series, presented by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The class is made up of the 16 fastest bikes, dragsters and doorslammers after two rounds of qualifying and guarantees a whopping $3,000 to the winner alone.
Once again Moroso’s crowd favorite Kent Shockley will pilot his truck "Shockwave" with three J-34-48 Pratt & Whitney jet engines, down the South Florida track. Each engine alone puts out about 12,000 in horsepower. Do the math and we’re dealing with a truck that has over 36,000hp and capable of burning down the Drag Tower, not that Shockley didn’t try before! Want more truck action? Neal Darnell will also take to the track with his powerful Chevy. “Flash Fire”, is a custom fiberglass S-10 Extended Cab Pick-up truck that is capable of reaching speeds of over 300 mph. A Westinghouse Electric built, single Pratt & Whitney J-34—48 jet engine, which is the same engine mounted on “Shockwave” powers this compact truck. “Flash Fire” runs in the 6 second range down the quarter-mile drag strip making it the “World’s fastest quarter-mile Chevy S-10 Pickup”.
Jet Dragsters will head to the lanes piloted by Elaine Larsen with “Miss-ta’Fire” and Paul Miller’s “US1 Next Generation”. The petite Ms. Larsen sits right in front of a Pratt & Whitney J-60 jet engine that propels her with 5 G’s off the starting line to take her down the track at about 300mph. It’ll be no station wagon for this mom as she goes head-to-head against her rival, Miller from Watkinsville, GA.
Tony Caprio will also return with his famous wheelstanding “Texas Bandit” along with Jon Oswell in the “Ladder Truck #33” wheelstander. The “Bandit” is a one-of-a-kind 2002 PT Cruiser has a super-charged 500cid with 1500hp. In 2004, the “Texas Bandit was featured on the Travel Channel as part of their Truck series. The 1933 fire truck known as the “Ladder Truck #33” wouldn’t be complete with just stacks shooting pyro, strobe lights and sirens, this wheelstander truck is always a crowd favorite with its patriotic vintage inspired style. Jon Oswell, a veteran of drag racing has dedicated #33 to the fallen members of FDNY on 9-11-01.
The Truck ONLY Show-n-Shine on Saturday and Sunday has classes for every make and model and will bring the Best in each and every category from low rider to 4x4. Best Paint, Best Engine and Best of Show are just a few of the specialty awards up for grabs. Don’t miss the Manufactures Marketplace with a huge variety of new products in the paddock displaying trendy accessories perfect for your ride. The Swap Meet and flea market is where to go to get the hard to find used items and Car Corral where trucks are for sale. While browsing, look for Alex over at Truck & Trailer USA and Jammin Grafix for their fine truck accessories and arts production. Jammin Grafix has a signature style all their own that promises to complete that special vehicle. Don’t forget to add a little fuel to your own engine and check out the Zingers over at Miller’s Ale House stand.
Gates open at 10am on Saturday, April 23rd with Time runs beginning at 11am. Qualifying for the Quick 16 will be at 4:30pm and 6:30pm, with eliminations at 8pm. The Saturday Truck Show awards will be at 5:00pm. The wheelstanders and jets will take flight at 7pm and again at 9pm. On Sunday, April 24th, gates open at 9am, time trials are at 10am and eliminations kick off at noon. Truck Show awards will be at 3:00pm, and Exhibition runs will take place at 1pm and 4pm. It’s a weekend of horsepower, explosive excitement, and fast competition. For additional information, please call (561) 622-1400 or visit our website at www.morosomotorsportspark.com
Tickets for the Truck and Trailer USA/Jammin’ Grafix Pepsi Jet & Truck Nationals are $20 per day, two-day tickets are $35 with children 11 and under free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A two-day truck Show-n-Shine is $30. A $3 discount is available on one-day spectator tickets purchased in advance at any Bud's Chicken & Seafood stores as well as Truck & Trailer USA. Each Bud's discount ticket also comes with a free 2-liter bottle of Pepsi. Truck & Trailer USA / Jammin Grafix has a huge brand new location that is sure to have everything a truck lover needs. Check them out over at the Turnpike and Southern Blvd. (561) 683-1100.
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