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​NHRA and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials announced a sellout for Saturday’s racing at the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals. This is the fifth sell out of the 2016 season and marks the first time in a decade the NHRA has enjoyed sellout crowds at events across the country.

Facing an 88-point deficit to Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, Matt Hagan cannot afford a mistake in this weekend’s NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hagan delivered an impressive opening statement Friday and he did it the old-fashioned way. He blasted the competition.

It’s been an adventurous season for Leah Pritchett, but the California native is not lacking for confidence in this weekend’s NHRA Toyota Nationals.

Just consider her performance in Friday’s opening round of qualifying at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Michael Biehle II powered to the qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Toyota Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is presented by Aeromotive Inc. This is the final NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series race of the 2016 season.

Biehle posted a run of 5.848 seconds at 251.86 mph in his ’67 Mustang during the first of two qualifying attempts. He was able to retain the No. 1 qualifying position through the end of the second session. Biehle has yet to record a No. 1 qualifying position this season.

Matt Hagan powered to the Funny Car provisional No. 1 qualifier Friday at the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.

Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the 23rd race of 24 on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. The NHRA Toyota Nationals is the fifth race of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

There's no coincidence James Butner III's racing name is Bo. 

Butner, a former NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series standout, who recently graduated into the Pro Stock ranks with the KB Racing team, earned his name because of two situations, an abundance of Jims in the family and his love of the 1970s television series the Dukes of Hazzard. 

"There was Dad and then my Grandpa," Butner explained. "And I have a son actually, the fourth. But, as a kid, there was too many Jim’s. I have a step-brother named Jim."

Travis Gusso didn't have time to think, only react. 

Gusso, who races Comp Eliminator, was in the opposite lane when Ray Skillman lost control of his E/Altered Automatic Mustang and crashed.

Skillman's Mustang ran a 7.732 only to make a hard move to the left, impacted the wall and rolled while airborne. The car landed on the tires with a stuck throttle and eventually came to a stop. 

Gusso, in an evasive manuever, drove declined to deploy the parachute and ran his Cobalt into the sand. 

Sunnen Products Company and PRI continue their 28-year partnership to present the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes at PRI 2016, December 8-10 in Indianapolis. Sunnen sponsors the Sweepstakes, which to date has donated over $500,000 to various charities around the country.  

This year’s proceeds will go to Victory Junction, a year-round camp in Randleman, NC founded by NASCAR’s Petty family for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.  

Travis Gusso, Sioux Falls, SD., and Ray Skillman, Greenwood, Ind., were involved in an incident during the second qualifying session for Competition Eliminator during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Toyota Nationals.

Gusso and Skillman’s cars went out of control past the finish line and both came to a stop in the sand trap. Gusso exited the car under his own power. Skillman was extracted from his car by Safety Safari and was alert and responding to commands. Skillman was transported to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada for further evaluation.

Veteran nitro Funny Car driver Ron Capps’ chase to catch an elusive NHRA world championship is down to two races – Las Vegas (Oct. 27-30) and Pomona, Calif., (Nov. 11-14). Capps is leading the points standings – 64 points in front of Tommy Johnson Jr. and 88 points ahead of Matt Hagan, both are his Don Schumacher Racing teammates.

There’s no question Capps wants the coveted crown and his younger brother, Jon, is hoping to help lend a hand in his brother’s title quest.
Jon has an opportunity to play a role since he will driving Steve Plueger’s Funny Car at Las Vegas and Pomona.