2nd AC Delco Las Vegas Nationals
(Oct. 24-27th, 2002) Las Vegas, NV
Notes |
Results | Photos
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK:
2002 POWERade points chase comes to an end in three of NHRA’s four Pro categories. In Pro Stock a streaking Jeg Coughlin Jr. wraps up his second career title while racking up his 8th win of the year. Coughlin is razor sharp in the final round unloading a stunning .401 RT and holeshot to beat Warren Johnson, 6.969 secs to 6.929 secs. Coughlin Jr. mathematically clinched the POWERade Championship when he won in round one. His nearest points rivals, Jim Yates and Greg Anderson, are surprising DNQs at the event.
Kurt Johnson paces the Pro Stock field with a 6.921 secs effort (low ET) which comes driving his special Kiss edition AC-Delco Chevy Cavalier. Rock band Kiss band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are event Grand Marshals at Las Vegas. Kurt’s Pro Stock car is not the only Kiss-themed machine at the event. Tony Pedregon also runs a Kiss themed Castrol Syntec Funny Car.
Angelle Savoie clinches her third straight NHRA Championship title in Pro Stock Bike. Savoie is assured the championship when she topples her only remaining points rival Craig Treble in the semi-final round. Angelle goes on to a final round holeshot win over Matt Hines -- winning a 7.247 secs to 7.218 secs pairing. Hines had set both low ET and top speed of the event during qualifying at 7.217 secs and 191.08 mph.
John Force wins in Funny Car eliminator for the 105th time in his career when he beats his teamate Tony Pedregon in the final round. Force wins an exciting 4.820 secs to 4.869 secs decision. If Pedregon would have prevailed he would have overtaken his boss in the overall POWERade points lead. Instead it is Force who leads Pedregon by 31 points as the tour heads for it’s finale at Pomona. Force is looking to secure his 12th NHRA FC World Championship.
FC show at Las Vegas is the second quickest of the season featuring a bump spot of 4.930 secs. 25 cars show for the eliminator, which is paced by Bruce Sarver who carves out low ET of the meet at 4.773 secs during qualifying driving for Alan Johnson and Toyota.
Larry Dixon clinches the POWERade Top Fuel world championship for team owner Don Prudhomme and sponsor Miller Lite. The World title is Dixon’s first. Dixon is guaranteed the title when he wins round two and Kenny Bernstein falls at the hands of Shirley Muldowney. Dixon goes on to win for the 9th time this season when he handles Tony Schumacher and the Army car in the final -- 4.613 secs to 4.674 secs.
Doug Herbert runs low ET of the meet during the final qualifying session at a career best 4.537 secs in the Snap-On Tools dragster. Super quick time comes up despite the fact Herbert’s engine explodes at the 1200’ mark!
Fan favorite racer Shirley Muldowney has a strong event driving a special Peanuts edition dragster. Shirley goes for the quickest ride of her illustrious career when she beats Bernstein in round one at 4.585 secs. Shirley then narrowly loses out to Tony Schumacher in a titanic round two dash -- 4.647 secs to 4.643 secs.
Top Fuel racing includes a couple of new faces with 2nd generation drivers David Baca and Steve Chrisman both making their Pro class debuts. Neither driver can however make the quick cut, which is a swift 4.719 secs.
NHRA’s 10-event AMS Pro Mod series wraps up at Las Vegas with Shannon Jenkins winning for the 5th time in NHRA this season to put an exclamation mark on the overall series championship. Jenkins, who also clinched the IHRA Pro Mod World title the weekend before at Rockingham NC., ran low ET of the meet in the final round to defeat Mitch Stott. Oregon’s Dennis Radford set top speed for the class driving his ultra-cool nitrous-injected Dodge Viper to a 227.73 mph terminal speed. 17 Pro Mod cars are entered at Las Vegas.
