Mardi Gras Nitro Jam set next weekend

The Mardi Gras Nitro Jam, an event loaded with nitro-powered drag racing, jet trucks, wheelstanders and all sorts of will be capped off with the “biggest” drag race in motorsports — a battle between monster trucks.

The Grave Digger monster truck, celebrating its 30th season of motorsports entertainment, will square off against the fan-favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles machine on the quarter-mile at State Capitol Raceway.

It’s part of the fourth annual IHRA event, which happens Friday and Saturday in Erwinville.

“We go to a lot of great venues and great cities, but perhaps none is as unique as the race in Baton Rouge,” IHRA President Aaron Polburn said. “With the atmosphere, the food and the fun all combined with an exciting race, it makes for an event unlike any other.”

A full nitro show will accompany a sportsman race. Also, seven more drivers will earn their way into the Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions.

In the sportsman competition, drivers from all seven IHRA classes — top sportsman, top dragster, super stock, stock, quick rod, hot rod and super rod — will attempt to qualify for the end-of-the-year Tournament of Champions.

The exhibition portion of the event will feature the return of the 30,000-horsepower Shockwave — a jet-powered semi-truck — along with the side-by-side, 300-mph race between jet dragsters.

This year’s event will include a revamped “FanFest Pit Party” at 6:30 p.m. both days.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.