Thu, 2 Nov 2006, 09:51 AM NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Closes Out 2006 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing Photo copyright 2006 Bob Johnson Photography

LAS VEGAS --

Sean O'Bannon

As hundreds of competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series converge on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the final event in the 43-race series November 3-5, drivers in the Pacific Division's Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes will fight down to the wire for the 2006 division titles. In Top Alcohol Dragster there are three racers, including Boulder City's Duane Shields, in contention for the crown. The chase in Top Alcohol Funny Car is down to two competitors. However, with well over 20 cars in each class expected to vie for the eight qualifying spots this weekend, the Pacific division racers may have their hands full.

Alta Loma, Calif., resident Sean O'Bannon is holding off Top Alcohol Dragster opponents Shields and reigning division champ Chris Demke of Sunland, Calif. Shields and Demke are tied in the standings, just 21 points behind O'Bannon. All three racers must advance to the final round in Las Vegas to improve their points totals. If O'Bannon wins the race, he claims the crown. If he is runner-up to either Shields or Demke, they will tie for first place. If either Shields or Demke take the win over anyone but O'Bannon, they will earn the title. If O'Bannon fails to reach the final and either Shields or Demke is runner-up, they will be tied for first place with O'Bannon. In the event of a tie, NHRA's system of tie-breakers will determine the championship.

John Weaver

In a slightly less complicated chase for the championship, Top Alcohol Funny Car drivers John Weaver and Doug Gordon come into Vegas tied for first place in the points. Weaver, a resident of Orting, Wash., has already competed in the maximum number of races in which to earn points toward the title and cannot improve his standing. Gordon can claim the points from this event, however, the Paso Robles, Calif., racer must advance to the final round in order to gain points.

The event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is traditionally the largest on the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule. Racers from across the country attend in hopes of earning last-minute points toward divisional and national titles. NHRA and track officials expect to see about 900 cars take to The Strip.

National championships in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp and Super Gas are still up for grabs. Frank Manzo of Morganville, N.J., has clinched his 10th national championship in Top Alcohol Funny Car (the racer with the next highest number of national titles has five). In Top Alcohol Dragster Bill Reichert of Owosso, Mich., has wrapped up his first national championship.

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, November 3-5. The race is the last of the season in the 43-race Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the final opportunity for racers to earn divisional points toward divisional and national championships. Officials expect more than 900 entries from across the country, including the 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes.

Gates at Las Vegas Motor Speedway open at 8 a.m. each day. Friday's qualifying and time trials kick off at 8 a.m. Competitors in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Super Eliminator, Top Comp and Sportsman Motorcycle will run first round of eliminations on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. Eliminations will continue on Sunday. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car competitors will have one qualifying pass on Friday, at 6 p.m., and two on Saturday, at noon and 4 p.m. They will run first round of eliminations Sunday at noon.

Tickets for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout are $20 each day. Children 6 to 12 years old are $6 each day and kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Short Line Express Markets will have Saturday tickets available free in the stores.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located on Speedway Blvd., exit 54 off Interstate 15. For more information call the track, (800) 644-4444, or visit http://www.lvms.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES FACT SHEET

WHAT: Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the last of seven in Pacific Division competition. The division's Korbel Super Eliminator class, the Team Superstores Top Comp category and Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley Davidson will also run in conjunction with the event.

WHERE: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas. Track is located on Speedway Blvd, exit 54 off of Interstate 15.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, November 3-5, 2006

SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout:

FRIDAY, Nov. 3 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 8 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, Nov. 4 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Competitors in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Super Eliminator, Top Comp and Sportsman Motorcycle will run first round of eliminations starting at 8 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are scheduled at noon and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, Nov. 5 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations continue at 9 a.m. First round of eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car are scheduled at noon.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $20 Friday, $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday. Children, 6 to 12 years old are $6 each day. Kids 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. Short Line Express Markets will have Saturday tickets available for free in the stores. For more information please call The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (800) 644-4444.

PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $154,400, as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $560,000.

2005 EVENT WINNERS: Aaron Olivarez, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jay Payne, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Dean Carter, Comp Eliminator; Jody Lang, Super Stock; Fred Henson, Stock Eliminator; Mitch Mustard, Super Comp; Greg Ventura, Super Gas; Brian Griffey, Super Street

BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND: a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2006 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2007 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2007 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event.

Event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, is offering a "double up" bonus to Jeg's Allstars participants. Any 2007 Jeg's Allstars champion who also wins the national event will have his/her Allstars prize doubled.

NHRA SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE SERIES presented by HARLEY DAVIDSON: The NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA's Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $14,000 champions' purse posted by Harley Davidson will be paid to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.