Headlining the action will be the chase for the Championship and the $25,000 prize being fought by current leader Burton Auxier, Roger Burgess and Danny Rowe. Also on the weekend's play list is the Matco Tools $35,000 Pro Mod Clash, featuring the top eight drivers of the year. Add those to the regular show with a purse of $33,000 along with the $500 B&J Transmissions Bonus, and there's a total of more than $90,000 on the table for the weekend's events in Vegas.

Auxier comes into the weekend with a narrow 32-point lead over Burgess and Rowe is just five points behind that at -37. Auxier has won one race in two finals showings, Burgess two - including the U.S. Nationals - and Rowe one victory in three final-round appearances. With every round netting 20 points and extra points awarded for qualifying position, each lap down the track will be critical for the drivers and crews. For Burgess or Rowe to steal the championship, either will have to win two more rounds than Auxier.

Rowe said, "This is what we race for. This is it: the excitement of the chase and the thrill of winning. It's going to be a great weekend of Pro Mod racing."

In the Matco Clash, pairings were set in a conference call Tuesday by random draw. The race will be run during qualifying rounds for the main event, adding excitement for the fans and pressure to the participants. Commisso said, "We always focus on running the best we can, but with the extra incentive, we have to change our game a little, going for the win, and not just testing the track and preparing our setup for race day.

"It's going to be intense," Commisso added.

Off the track, Mike Knowles has had his Knowles enterprises/B&J Racing Transmissions-backed '63 "Blown Money" Corvette on display at the Challenge's host hotel, the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Tuesday thru Thursday. Knowles said, "We wanted to help bring some more exposure to our series, and bring some traffic to the Monte Carlo also. Since B&J is the featured sponsor at this weekend's race, it made sense for us to show our car. That, and the fact that there are legal $100 bills in our paint scheme, which fits with the whole 'Vegas' thing.

"We've had great response from fans and the guests at the hotel, and that's always encouraging. Now, we'll get the car back to the track and get focused on playing the spoiler for the event. It's been a great season, all of the races have been fun, and now it's time to let it all loose and go for it," Knowles said.

The first round of qualifying on Friday for all cars competing in the event is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., and the first round of the Matco Tools Clash is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., followed by the remaining cars in their second round of qualifying. Saturday's schedule begins with the semifinals of the clash scheduled at 11:00 a.m. followed by the final qualifying session for the remaining cars. The finals of the Clash will be contested at 1:15 p.m. following the third qualifying round of nitro Funny Car. Event eliminations will be run in their entirety on Sunday November 1.

NHRA Las Vegas Nationals Pro Mod Challenge racing schedule (subject to change) Friday, Oct. 30
12:00 Pro Mod Q-1
6:00 Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash R-1
Pro Mod Q-2
Saturday, Oct. 31
11 am Pro Mod Q-3
Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash R-2
1: 15 pm Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash Final Sunday, Nov. 1
9:15 am Pro Mod R-1
10:00 am Pre-Race Ceremonies
11:00 am Balance of eliminations
6-9 P.M. Pro Mod Awards Celebration - Monte Carlo (Tickets Required)

Eliminations Ladder for the Matco Tools $35,000 Pro Mod Clash Round One:
Joe Baker* vs Jay Payne
Burton Auxier* vs Raymond Commisso
Danny Rowe vs Roger Burgess*
Tim Tindle vs Mike Castellana*
* indicates lane choice

Courtesy of Matthew Brammer