IHRA: Motorcycle championship goes down to the wire

The performance by Jay Turner at the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was so dominating that you'd think Turner had won every IHRA Drag Racing Series Nitro Motorcycle event.

He hasn't. And even when he has, such as his win at Grand Bend in the IHRA Mopar Canadian Nationals, he was victorious despite what was happening to his Harley-Davidson, not because if it. That weekend, "I think we just willed it to the finish line."

Turner was not optimistic about going to the other half of the Canadian tour – "I've never had any luck at Edmondton, but we'll see if I can break the curse." He did with a victory in the finals over Tracy Kile, giving Turner a still-bigger lead in the points, with one race remaining.

The question is, then? Can anybody catch Turner?

The closest is Bob Malloy, who, with 358 points, is second to Turner's 472. Malloy unfortunately missed a race, otherwise he might be right there with Turner, as when Malloy did catch on fire – in the good way – he has been a constant thorn in Turner's side since.

Malloy raced in the season opener in Orlando, but skipped the second race, in San Antonio, Texas, before rejoining the tour closer to his Ohio home, at Maryland International Raceway, where he essentially owned the President's Cup.

This would be Turner's third straight championship – he finished fourth in points in 2014, but has ruled the class since. Will he take home the trophy again this year? There is a maximum of 146 points up for grabs, and Malloy is 114 behind Turner, so it's possible

As Turner says, "It isn't over 'til it's over."