NHRA drag racers get their first taste of racing in the heat so far in 2005 as a truly exciting version of the SummitRacing.com Nationals in America’s Sin City sees daily temperatures near 90 degrees.

Whit Bazemore extended his overall POWERade Funny Car lead by winning his second event of the season. After having issues during qualifying, his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus team settles down nicely on Sunday to allow Whit his 19th career win. Bazemore is able to edge out New York’s Tony Bartone, who has his best outing yet in the class. The former TAD and TAFC pilot drives the “Got CMKX?” Chevy Monte Carlo, owned by Jim Dunn and sponsored by Canada’s Urban Casavant, to the final only to loose out narrowly, 4.976 secs 315.12 mph to 4.983 secs 303.23 mph.

FC racing saw Gary Scelzi grab the pole away from John Force following a dramatic final round qualifying effort. Scelzi, who also drove in TAFC at the event, ran the Oakley/Mopar Dodge Stratus to low ET of the meet at 4.797 secs. John Force team driver Robert Hight set top speed of the meet for the 3rd time this year – this time at 325.77 mph, driving the AAA Auto Club Ford Mustang.

FC qualifying has some very exciting moments not the least of which is a spectacular explosion by Phil Burkhart’s CSK Toyota Celica on Friday night. Burkhart shreds that unique body in the incident which comes along side Eric Medlen who had his own problems in his lane experiencing a fire driving the Castrol Syntec Mustang. The dueling FC incident made many a prime time television highlight reel.

Top Fuel racing saw Larry Dixon continue his rather remarkable winning ways at Las Vegas as he took Don Prudhomme’s Miller Lite dragster to victory lane. The win marked Dixon’s 4th straight final round at the event and his third win. Dixon is able to overcome top qualifier Doug Kalitta in the championship final round when he leaves first and is never headed during a 4.591 secs 326.40 mph to 4.648 secs 319.52 mph decision.

Top Fuel class racing includes some inspiring qualifying efforts by newcomers Jack Beckman and Ben Marshall. Both drivers qualify in their first ever TF outings. Beckman, the defending NHRA World Champion in Super Comp, runs 4.610 secs for the 8th slot compared to Marshall’s 4.619 secs good for 9th. Marshall is driving a 4th car (!) from the Connie Kalitta camp which was sponsored by cosmetic industry leader StriVectin-SD. Ironically the two rookies face off in round one with Beckman taking that win light. Beckman’s machine, which is sponsored by Menards, breaks in round two however.

Pro Stock racing sees David Connolly vault into first place in POWERade points following his second win of the season. The “Bullet Motorsports” Chevy Cavalier recorded low ET during each and every round of eliminations on Sunday. Connolly is able to upset 2X defending World Champion Greg Anderson in the final round as his quick leaving 6.879 secs at 201.46 mph is far more then Anderson’s Summit Racing team can handle this time.

Warren Johnson was in serious running for a 2nd consecutive tour win as the veteran driver of the GM Performance Parts Pontiac set low ET of the meet at 6.824 secs during qualifying. “WJ” was gunned down however by an Anderson holeshot in the third frame, 6.915 secs to Warren’s 6.880 secs.

Round one of Pro Stock included some rather amazing RTs by Dodge Stratus racers Jeg Coughlin and Richie Stevens. Coughlin had a perfect .000 light while taking out Jim Yates and Stevens served up a .001 RT but still lost out to Greg Anderson. Chevy pilot Greg Stanfield had an equally impressive .004 RT in the semis but fell in a virtual dead heat to David Connolly.

Canadian Ron Houniet won the event’s special Nitro Harley feature sponsored by Screamin’ Eagle. The win for the multi-time Motorcycle circuit champion was his first at the NHRA national event level. Houniet won the final when his opponent Greg Grove had a red-light start. Ron won the 8-bike feature from the #4 qualified position after hitting a 6.610 secs at 213.06 mph during qualifying. Runner-up Grove had low ET overall at 6.465 secs while Mike Romine rode to top speed at 216.93 mph.

Mike Ashley won the AMS Staff Leasing/TLR Pro Mod Challenge. The New Yorker drove his Torco-sponsored Ford Mustang to a close final round win over Jay Payne’s Valvoline-sponsored Dodge Stratus.

Pro Mod racing was paced by Calgary’s Glen Kerunsky who ran his cool ’57 Chevy to 6.223 secs during time trials. Kerunsky won his first round over Mike Moran’s Turbo-Chevy before shaking the tires while racing Zack Barklage in round two.

The Las Vegas event also featured for the first time ever points eliminator action for NHRA’s Summit sponsored Sport Compact series. While the overall participation in the Nitto presented 5 eliminators was somewhat thin, victories went to Ara Arslanian (Pro RWD), Marty Lagwig (Pro FWD), Paul Efantis (Modified), Mike Crawford (Hot Rod) and Shawn Hillier (All Motor).

Pro RWD action included a dazzling performance by Brad Personnett who driving his twin-turbo Toyota Celica, recorded both low ET (6.524 secs) and top mph (217.04). Personnett’s speed was reportedly the fastest ever in the Pro RWD class.

The event’s Top Alcohol Dragster category featured a first time winner as up-and-coming lady racer Hillary Will, from California, earned an enormous victory. Hillary was dominating throughout the event. She set low ET during qualifying at 5.404 secs and top speed at 267.75 mph during eliminations. Will won an all supercharged final round over Washington’s Joey Severance, 5.440 secs 266.37 mph to 5.494 secs 260.81 mph.

Steve Gasparrelli, son to Lou Gasparrelli, won the TAFC program. Gasparrelli beat New Mexico’s Tate Branch in the final when Branch had a heart-wrenching -.001 red light driving the Bars Leaks Chevy Camaro. Steve took the title at 5.732 secs 251.81 mph compared to Branch’s 5.750 secs 253.61 mph.

The 25-car TAFC program was paced by Jay Payne who ran a quick 5.682 secs during qualifying however Ron August wrestled away low ET from him during eliminations with a 5.678 secs driving his all new Camaro.

Sportsman racing was highlighted by the first national event career win for Northern Californian Steve Wann. Wann wheeled the fan favorite Rettig Brothers C/SA ’70 GTX to victory in Stock eliminator.