3rd SummitRacing.com Nationals
Las Vegas, NV. (April 4-7th, 2002)
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
Larry Dixon keeps his unreal 2002 pace in Top Fuel intact with his fourth consecutive final round appearance and 3rd win of the season. Dixon is a tower of power at the Las Vegas event driving a special edition Elvis Presley 25th Anniversary Miller Lite dragster. Dixon and crew chief Dick LaHaie deliver both low ET and top speed of the meet in qualifying at 4.575 secs and 325.37 mph. In the final Dixon edges out comeback racer Cory McClenathan who has a strong finish driving the Henkleman and Baca dragster.
John Force is also behind the wheel of a special edition Elvis Presley car but despite qualifying on the pole at 4.831 secs he is denied his much anticipated 100th career national win. Force is edged out of competition by a quicker leaving Del Worsham in round two. As so often happens when Force is knocked out however -- one of his teamates steps up to take the title. This time it is Gary Densham, who wins for the 3rd time in his career. Densham has top speed of the meet again (319.29 mph). He has set top speed of the meet at all four NHRA events so far this season. Densham wins a tire-spinning final round over defending event Champion Tommy Johnson Jr.
Las Vegas Showtime event includes a gaggle of new Funny Cars. In addition to Force’s silver edition Elvis car, the event includes slick new looking machines for Canadian Todd Paton (Nitro Fish), Scotty Cannon (Time Bomb) and Whit Bazemore (Matco Tools Pontiac). Tony Pedregon and Bob Bode also have new paint schemes much to the delight of overflow paying public.
Jerry Toliver provides the events most shocking moment when he KO’s the guardwall during round one of eliminations. Toliver’s WWF Pontiac gets into it’s own oil just off the starting line and whacks the wall hard sending drag racing’s restricted area photographers scrambling. Toliver is shaken but thankfully not stirred.
Pro Stock racing sees Ron Krisher shake off a big monkey when he wins in dominating style driving his Eagle One Chevy Cavalier. Krisher who had been the top qualifier at each of the first three races this season before suffering stunning early round loses -- once again earns the pole at Vegas. This time however he drives like a demon on Sunday to power by the field. Krisher even takes out wily driver Darrell Alderman in the final round -- beating Alderman off the starting line and then out running him.
Top Fuel racing includes a stunning qualifying effort by Chris “Greek” Karamesines who thunders to a career best 4.811 secs at 312.13 mph. The sentimental favourite runs an even quicker 4.799 secs in round one but is edged out by Rhonda Hartman-Smith’s 4.787 secs.
Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car eliminations are run off at Las Vegas. TAFC category attracts a stout field in particular (26 cars entered). California-based drivers dominate both programs with Larry Miner wheeling his slick new 2002 Chevy Camaro to the TAFC title defeating Ron August in the final round. The TAD title goes to Darren Nicholson who handles Mark Hentges in a close final frame 5.544 secs to 5.556 secs. Bucky Austin has low ET and top speed in TAFC at 5.742 secs and 251.72 mph while Las Vegas home town favourite Duane Shields is the fastest in TAD at 5.492 secs and 261.62 mph.
Sportsman racing action is highlighted by a win in Competition eliminator by the unique 6-cylinder Jeep-powered E/EA of Brett Brown. Brown defeats the number one qualifier, the A/ND driven by Wayne Ramay in the final round. Brown had been the runner-up at Pomona’s season opener.
Top Fuel racing sees lady racer Melanie Troxel (from Colorado) return to action driving the Michaels Family Western Rock dragster. Troxel runs well her first event back qualifying 7th and beating a tire-smoking Doug Herbert in round one. TF class racing also includes the debut of former TAD racer Mike Strasburg. Strasburg (from Utah) just misses the field with a 4.986 secs best.
Frank Pedregon returns to the NHRA FC class as driver for Jim Dunn’s K&N Filters Firebird replacing Al Hofmann. It is Pedregon’s second stint as driver for “Big Jim”. Frankie goes 5.006 secs in qualifying to get into the field but loses a round one tire-smoker to eventual winner Gary Densham.
