The NHRA POWERade series touchdown at the fabulous “Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway proved to be a demanding one for tuners, both Pro and Sportsman. Atmospheric conditions grew progressively hotter as the event moved forward resulting in very tricky track conditions.

Funny Car class racing featured another “near miss” by talented female racer Ashley Force who placed second in the category for the second race in a row. Ashley’s bid to become the first ever female winner in the demanding FC category fell just short in the final round when her 4.993 secs at 313.95 mph could not run down the Levi-Ray-Shoup Chevy Impala driven by Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson recorded his first circuit title since 2004 with a winning time of 4.962 secs at 292.58 mph.

Wilkerson’s 6th career victory also included round wins over Jim Head, Tony Pedregon and Ron Capps.

JFR member Robert Hight shined during FC class qualifying when he sped to a 4.849 secs at 321.27 mph driving his AAA Auto Club Ford Mustang, numbers which were both low ET and top speed of the event. Hight was however upset in round two by Bob Bode, who had an unexpected “final four” finish driving his Allard-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo.

The DNQ list at Las Vegas featured some notable names including John Force whose best run of 5.020 secs missed the 4.995 secs bump.

Top Fuel racing saw Cory McClenathan earn his first circuit win since Richmond in 2006 when he piloted the Fram-sponsored dragster to a final round victory over Antron Brown. Cory’s come-from-behind victory came based on a run of 4.654 secs at 313.86 mph. Antron Brown, who won at Houston two weeks earlier driving the Matco Tools dragster, ran a close 4.703 secs at 315.93 mph.

Cory beat JR Todd, Morgan Lucas and Brandon Bernstein in earlier competition.

For the 3rd time this season, female TF racer Hillary Will established top speed of the meet – this time at 331.85 mph.

Tony Schumacher set the pace for the category when he ran a 4.510 secs to take the pole in the US Army dragster. That low ET of the meet effort was however not the major newsmaker his team was hoping for. Instead there was a media frenzy surrounding the Don Schumacher Racing camp after they were caught with illegal nitromethane within their pit area on Sunday. NHRA, citing a direct violation to page 68 of it’s rulebook, fined Schumacher a numbing amount of $100,000 (!) for the apparent miscue. Schumacher does plan to launch an appeal to the ruling.

Pro Stock class racing produced a big win for 2006 NHRA POWERade champion Jason Line who pleased the event sponsors with his victory driving the Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP. Line denied Greg Stanfield his first career Pro Stock class win when he beat that similar Pontiac GXP in the final; 6.782 secs to 6.816 secs.

Pennsylvania’s Kenny Koretsky earned his first career NHRA pole position in the PS class when (also driving a Pontiac GXP) he recorded a 6.724 secs (low ET). Koretsky was however beat out on a holeshot by Stanfield in round two; 6.839 secs to a quicker 6.813 secs.

Warren Johnson bounced back strong from his contact with the guardwall at Houston two weeks before by setting top speed for the meet at 206.07 mph.

Lucas Oil Sportsman action featured the NHRA desired pairing in the Top Alcohol Dragster final round when the injected nitro car of Jeff Isbell faced off against the supercharged alcohol burner of Jim Whiteley. Isbell, who is from Salt Lake City, earned his first career NHRA title with an effort of 5.540 secs at 255.53 mph while Whiteley fell off his earlier very rapid pace to a tire spinning 6.048 secs.

Shawn Langdon, driver of the Lucas Oil dragster normally piloted by Morgan Lucas set low ET of the meet at 5.289 secs while Canadian Shawn Cowie had an outstanding semi-final round finish and set top speed for the breed at 269.24 mph.

The TAFC title went to California’s Jay Payne who piloted his potent Valvoline-sponsored Mustang to an easy win over Von Smith in the final round. Payne ran a winning 5.744 secs at 253.61 mph while Smith too battled serious tire spin problems driving his new Mustang.

Payne’s march to victory lane in TAFC included low ET and top speed – 5.597 secs at 257.33 mph – which flashed up during qualifying.

Post race activities on Saturday included a special feature race at the nearby “Bullring” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That included 6 NHRA Pro drivers in “Thunder Roadsters”. Dubbed the “NHRA Stars in Short Track Cars”, that special attraction featured a win by former USAC Champion turned Top Fuel driver; Doug Kalitta. The other participants were Morgan Lucas, Gary Scelzi, Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin and JR Todd.