Local speedway hosts another drag racing event
Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host another big drag racing weekend beginning today, with nearly 600 teams competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
The Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout features competition for all NHRA Sportsman categories, including Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car.
Among those competing is Dan Fletcher of Churchville, N.Y., who won the Competition Eliminator title and was runner-up in Super Stock on Sunday in the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals.
Duane Shields of Boulder City can move up to second in Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster standings, in which Jim Whitely of Grand Junction, Colo., has clinched the regional title.
The event runs through Sunday with racing scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. each day.
• NASCAR BANQUET-- Championship drivers and teams from throughout the country and Canada who competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be feted tonight at the Rio.
Two-time reigning NASCAR Late Model national champion Philip Morris of Ruckersville, Va., will be honored along with track champions from 25 states, including Scott Gafforini, who won this year's title at the Bullring at LVMS.
• MEL LARSON HONOR -- Carroll Shelby will be honored April 1 at the fourth annual Mel Larson Night of Champions banquet at the Bellagio.
Shelby is best known worldwide for his design of the Ford Shelby Cobra and designing and building specialty cars for Oldsmobile and Dodge.
All proceeds from the dinner will go to the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. For reservations or more information, call 632-8242.
