LVMS GETS SECOND NHRA DIV. 7 LODRS EVENT; REPLACES FONTANA

Officials for The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., and the National Hot Rod Association’s Pacific Division announced a major schedule change today for the NHRA’s 2009 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.  The Auto Club Dragway event, originally scheduled for April 24-26, now will be hosted by The Strip at LVMS and has been rescheduled for April 10-12.

“This schedule change will benefit not only The Strip at LVMS and Auto Club Dragway, but it also will be a tremendous economical savings for the sportsman racers who support this series," said Chris Blair, LVMS’ vice president of racing operations.  "Racers will now be able to compete in back-to-back events at LVMS – the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals on April 2-5 and the Lucas Oil Series event on April 10-12 – before towing to Auto Club Dragway on April 17-19 for the NHRA Sports Nationals.”

Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events at The Strip at LVMS have attracted as many as 992 sportsman racing entries and are the largest races on the series’ 43-race divisional schedule.  The Strip at LVMS also will also host a second Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event on Nov. 5-8. Officials for The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, Calif., and the National Hot Rod Association’s Pacific Division announced a major schedule change today for the NHRA’s 2009 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.  The Auto Club Dragway event, originally scheduled for April 24-26, now will be hosted by The Strip at LVMS and has been rescheduled for April 10-12.

“This schedule change will benefit not only The Strip at LVMS and Auto Club Dragway, but it also will be a tremendous economical savings for the sportsman racers who support this series," said Chris Blair, LVMS’ vice president of racing operations.  "Racers will now be able to compete in back-to-back events at LVMS – the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals on April 2-5 and the Lucas Oil Series event on April 10-12 – before towing to Auto Club Dragway on April 17-19 for the NHRA Sports Nationals.”

Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events at The Strip at LVMS have attracted as many as 992 sportsman racing entries and are the largest races on the series’ 43-race divisional schedule.  The Strip at LVMS also will also host a second Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event on Nov. 5-8.

“This agreement between LVMS, Auto Club Dragway and NHRA's Pacific Division applies only to the 2009 season,” Blair explained.  “We have always worked closely with the management of the Auto Club Dragway and welcomed the opportunity to host their Lucas Oil Series event.  This schedule change does not affect Auto Club Dragway's NHRA Sports Nationals which will be contested, as scheduled, on April 17-19.”

The Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car segment of the event will be contested as a 2-day show with three rounds of qualifying on Friday with runs scheduled at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car eliminations will take place on Saturday evening with elimination rounds at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and the alcohol finals at 9 p.m.  On Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 LVMS will offer a special $15 per carload general admission (no pit area access) spectator promotion. 

The Strip at LVMS will release a revised 2009 schedule on Monday, March 2, as many dates for the E.T. Bracket Championship and Jr. Drag Racing Series have been adjusted to accommodate this event and other facility activities.

Wednesday, April 8
8 a.m.: Credential sales begin for NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals participants (already parked inside the facility).
Noon: Credential sales and pit parking begins for new arrivals.
7 p.m.: Credential sales and pit parking concludes.

Thursday, April 9
7 a.m.:         Credential sales, pit parking, tech inspection.
10 a.m.: Test 'n' Tune (two-run punch card, $60 per car).
4 p.m.: Las Vegas Super Comp/Super Gas Shootout (one qualifying run per class; top 8 ladder for eliminations; $1,000 to win).

6 p.m.: Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car Test 'n' Tune run (1 scheduled run).
7 p.m.: Credential sales and pit parking concludes.

Friday, April 10
7 a.m.:         Credential sales, pit parking, tech inspection.
8 a.m.:  Lucas Oil Drag Racing Sereis time trials, qualifying, record runs (two scheduled runs).
Noon: $15-per-carload entry gates open on general admission side.
3 p.m.: First Top Alcohol qualifying session.
6 p.m.: Second Top Alcohol qualifying session.
7 p.m.: Credential sales and pit parking concludes.
9 p.m.: Third Top Alcohol qualifying session.
10 p.m.: Track closed.

Saturday, April 11
7 a.m.: Credential sales, pit parking, tech inspection.
8 a.m.:         Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series final time trial and qualifying run.
Noon: First round of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations.
Noon: $15-per-carload entry gates open on general admission side.
3 p.m.: First round of Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car eliminations (8 cars).
6 p.m.: Second round of Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car eliminations (4 cars).
9 p.m.: Final round of Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car eliminations.
10 p.m.: Track closed.

Sunday, April 12
7 a.m.:         Gates open.
8 a.m.: RFC Easter chapel service.
9 a.m.:         Sportsman eliminations resume.
3 p.m.: Track closed.
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