Las Vegas hometown racer “Hot Rod” Fuller enjoyed an absolute career weekend during the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. The 36-year old racer came away with by far his most lucrative event ever -- winning two major Top Fuel titles while propelling himself to the cusp of a potential 1st NHRA POWERade Championship title.

During Saturday’s scheduled action Fuller took the prestigious $100,000 first place payout for the Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout winning a spectacular final round pairing over lady driver Melanie Troxel on a slight holeshot; 4.527 secs 329.99 mph to 4.526 secs 326.40 mph. Fuller had beat Larry Dixon and J.R. Todd in earlier Technicoat round action.

Fuller then “doubled up” on Sunday winning an equally impressive final round over Doug Kalitta. Fuller’s CAT-sponsored dragster won over Kalitta’s Mac Tools machine; 4.531 secs 327.82 mph to 4.537 secs 331.36 mph.

Fuller, whose David Powers owned team is tuned by Canadian Rob Flynn, beat David Grubnic, David Baca and Morgan Lucas in earlier action and with that carries a 52-point lead into the season finale at Pomona next weekend.

Tony Schumacher was credited with low ET of the event at Las Vegas, running 4.482 secs while earning the pole. After that Schumacher was involved in a couple of stingers. He suffered an upset 2nd round defeat on Sunday, losing out to Morgan Lucas which all but ended his POWERade championship title defense hopes. He was also involved in a controversial disqualification. That came after his apparent 2nd round win on Saturday during the Technicoat Shootout when he team bypassed the required NHRA scales after beating Melanie Troxel.

Funny Car eliminator saw the planets align perfectly for Tony Pedregon who by earning his 4th circuit win of the season driving his Q-Racing Chevy Monte Carlo has also moved into an ideal position for the 2007 POWERade Championship title next weekend.

Pedregon denied a history making bid by John Force’s daughter Ashley in the final round when he used a holeshot for victory; 4.871 secs 318.47 mph to 4.829 secs 298.93 mph. If Ashley had won, it would have marked the first time that a lady racer had won a national event FC title.

Pedregon combined his ACDelco Nationals victory with a shocking first round exit by all three of his “Countdown to One” competitors, Gary Scelzi, Robert Hight and Ron Capps. That allowed him to leave the event with a 91 points margin. Only a DNQ at Pomona by Pedregon combined with a national record setting event victory by Scelzi could deny him a 2nd career POWERade Championship.

John Force’s team fielded 4 race cars at the event. In addition to the superb runner-up finish by Ashley Force, team highlights included a low ET of the meet effort by Robert Hight (4.763 secs) and a strong qualifying effort by team newcomer Mike Neff who ran 4.784 secs for the 7th slot in his driving debut.

Greg Anderson beat Jeg Coughlin for the event’s Pro Stock title. Driving his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, Anderson overcame a slight holeshot by Coughlin to win a 6.731 secs to 6.771 secs decision.

Anderson’s victory, which also included round wins over Jim Yates, Richie Stevens and V. Gaines, gives him a 34 points margin over Coughlin heading to the Pomona Finals.

Connolly had his bid for a 6-straight NHRA event win end in round two when he lost a razor thin decision to his teammate Coughlin; 6.773 secs to 6.775 secs. Dave did set both low ET and top speed during Pro Stock qualifying: 6.725 secs 205.57 mph.

Andrew Hines earned his 5th win of the season in Pro Stock Bike wheeling the Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle past the Drag Specialties S&S Buell of Chip Ellis in the Championship final. Both riders had similar reaction times however Hines won convincingly at the stripe; 7.073 secs 187.34 mph to 7.144 secs 185.41 mph.

Ellis had been dominant up to that point, qualifying on the pole (7.023 secs – low ET) and setting top speed at 189.60 mph.

Hines holds a 39 point lead over Ellis heading into Pomona.

NHRA’s 2007 AMS Pro Mod Challenge series concluded its schedule at Las Vegas. On Saturday, Ford Mustang driver Tim Tindle prevailed in the $25,000 to win annual Pro Mod Clash which was presented by ProCare RX. Tindle won that title with a 6.691 secs ET at 229.98 mph while opponent Jay Payne went into violent tire shake.

Sunday’s AMS Pro Mod title featured a much overdue victory by Toronto’s Tony Pontieri, regarded as one of Canada’s most skilled drivers.

Pontieri combined some very sharp driving with great race day consistency, to score his first NHRA national event win. Tony drove Rob Sporring's Quality Plus Compressors-sponsored '57 Chevy past the '63 Corvette of Steve Engel in the Championship final round; using a superior .027 RT with a run of 6.159 secs 230.57 mph be beat Engel's quicker and faster 6.119 secs at 237.50 mph.

Pontieri also used a holeshot in round one as his 6.145 secs held back the quicker 6.131 secs from opponent and fellow Canadian Glen Kerunsky. Tony beat California-based drivers Kurt Kuhns and Jay Payne during other elimination rounds.

The Las Vegas AMS Pro Mod event attracted 23 entries and featured a swift bump spot of 6.235 secs. Tim Tindle’s pole qualifying 6.023 secs held up for low ET of the event.