Challenge racers get chance to go 200 mph on highway

The speed limit along parts of state Route 318 will be around 200 mph next weekend for competitors in the Nevada Open Road Challenge.

The event begins just south of Lund in White Pine County and concludes in Lincoln County on a 90-mile stretch of highway that will be closed. Classes range from vehicles capable of averaging around 95 mph to the Unlimited Division in which speeds will reach 200 mph.

The event begins at 8 a.m. Thursday at Sam's Town with race registration. Racers will form a caravan that leaves for Ely at 1:30 p.m. Racing will take place Friday through May 18.

More information is available at SilverStateClassic.com and OpenRoadRacing.com.

• LVMS BULLRING -- Super Late Models driver Jim Petrie is being honored by the Southern Nevada Hispanic Employment Program for his involvement with the "Race to Success" reading programs at Roundy and C.T Sewell elementary schools in Henderson.

About 300 fifth-graders who participated in the program received free tickets for Saturday's NASCAR All-American Series event at the Bullring. ...

Bullring winners last Saturday were: Larry Dittman (Bombers), Jimmy Hansen (Legends Cars Pro/Master), Zach Zimmerly (Legends Semi-Pro), Jacob Gomes (Baby Grands), Josh Gross (Thunder Roadsters), Alex Bowman (Ford Focus Midgets), Jacob Tilton (Bandolero Bandits) and Ashlee Ambriz (Bandolero Young Guns).

• LVMS DRAGSTRIP -- Nathan Bugg of Orange, Calif., won the nostalgia Funny Car title Sunday in the inaugural Las Vegas Speed Spectacular at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Other winners were: Ronnie Lennon (Nostalgia Eliminator I), Cecil Molina Jr. (Nostalgia Eliminator II), Lindsey Lister (Nostalgia Eliminator III), Dave Matson (A/Gas), Randy Armstrong (B/Gas), Mike Wortman (C/Gas), Alan Ross (D/Gas) and Josh Conrad (Hot Rod).

• DEATH VALLEY -- Pole winner Jon Jensen of Pahrump held off Las Vegan Dan Fitzgerald to win Saturday's IMCA Modifieds feature race at Death Valley Raceway in Amargosa Valley.

Other winners were: Dan Snowden (Super Stocks), Steve Summer (Classic Coupes), Mike Lynsinger (Mini Stocks), Mark Dillie (Dwarf Cars) and Anthony Sharron (Micro Sprints).

The next race in the series is scheduled for May 17.

• DESERT RACING -- C.J. Hutchings will carry the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE) overall points lead into Saturday's Caliente 250. The race, which begins at 9 a.m., is about 170 miles north of Las Vegas off U.S. Highway 93.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.