IHRA: Bowen, Rupert favorites for President's Cup

It's still early in the IHRA Drag Racing Series season, but the points battle will heat up this weekend at the IHRA President's Cup Nationals Fueled By Sunoco at Maryland International Raceway, when all four of the Pro classes – AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Nitro Motorcycle – take to the newly paved track.

During the offseason, the track was repaved, and so far, reviews have been excellent from drivers. What will the Pros do in Maryland? Expect some record-setting runs.

So far, the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Cars have put on a superb show. Jason Rupert will defend his title at Maryland. He already has one win this year, powering his way past Shawn Bowen and his car, The Violator, at the Good Vibrations Motorsports Texas Nationals at San Antonio Raceway.

Bowen's reaction time of .0532 was far better than Rupert's .1052, but he was no match for Rupert's quarter-mile time of 5.6495 at 255.68mph, to Bowen's 5.792 at 244.03mph.

For Rupert, that had to have been a bit of a payback for the season-opening IHRA AMSOIL Nitro Nationals at Orlando Speed World, where Rupert, of Yorba Linda, California, held the No. 1 qualifying spot, as well as low ET and a sizzling 261.93mph top speed in his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

But it was the 1971 Dodge Challenger of Grand Blanc, Michigan's Bowen who got the trophy, with a solid run in the finals over Tim McIntire Jr.

Of course, if Bowen and Rupert plan to dominate in Maryland, they'll have to do it over a strong field of competitors, including veterans like Paul Romine and Bruce Litton's U.S. Male.

The top five in points standings going into Maryland are: Shawn Bowen, 206; Jason Rupert, 190; Mike McIntire Jr., 169; Mark Sanders, 127 and Tim Boychuk, 118. All are entered this weekend.

The President's Cup Nationals Fueled by Sunoco is June 17-19, this Friday through Sunday. The professional classes run Friday and Saturday, and the Summit Pro-Am Tour runs all three days.