THE STRIP at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nitro Blast-Off January 20, 21, 22, 2006
All images copyright © Larry Pfister BACK TO HH

Our trip to THE STRIP @ LVMS was a mixed one. A great field of cars on hand including some locals, a brand new Nikon D200 courtesy of Rich Carlson, our weapon of choice over the trusted Panasonic AGDVC30 camcorder. We were unable to be there to shoot Monday...the day all the cool stuff went down, but still got to see the Force cars looking kinda cool (anything's better than the 'real' paint jobs) and JF hammering out a massive 4.67. We quickly learned the Nikon was a battery hog of ridiculous proportions leaving us maybe 50 shots a day before the juice ran out, and with our newly purchased charger taking eight hours...well let's just say we tried to learn this beast as best we could with what little time we had. Unfortunately we did not have the correct battery just some double ehs to go into the big ad-on pack. Trust me, this thing needs the supplied priority battery....that we didn't receive. Got some ok stuff, but could have been much better with practice. We may have some video to show you later, but for now here's our little photo feature in sorta glorious high resolution. Many thanks to Carlson, Chris Blair and the always great LVMS staff who treated us like gold.

Results below these thumbnails

01-06vegasblastoffashley1 02-06vegasblastoffbike 03-06vegasblastoffhart1 04-06vegasblastoffpit1 05-06vegasblastoffslicks 06-06vegasblastofflowepit
07-06vegasblastofflowebo 08-06vegasblastoffpanella 09-06vegasblastoffafc 10-06vegasblastoffobannon 11-06vegasblastoffgallio 12-06vegasblastoffafd1
13-06vegasblastoffmatter1 14-06vegasblastoffmatterbo 15-06vegasblastoffhonda 16-06vegasblastoffmuzzi 17-06vegasblastoffmedlinbo 1806vegasblastoffmedlinrun2
19-06vegasblastoffworshambo 20-06vegasblastoffselzibo 21-06vegasblastoffselzirun1 22-06vegasblastoffdensham1 23-06vegasblastoffdensham2 24-06vegasblastoffcapps
25-06vegasblastoffstrasbo 26-06vegasblastoffgrubnic 27-06vegasblastoffdougzilla 28-06vegasblastoffbartone 29-06vegasblastoffburkhart 30-06vegasblastoffforcebo
31-06vegasblastoffforce1a 32-06vegasblastoffforce2 33-06vegasblastoffhight1 34-06vegasblastoffhight2 35-06vegasblastoffmedlin1 36-06vegasblastoffmedlin2

Friday, Jan. 20, 2006

Scelzi fastest in first day of testing at The Strip at LVMS

LAS VEGAS - Defending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car
Champion Gary Scelzi posted the fastest time during the first day of the
NHRA Nitro Blast-off Preseason Test session Friday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Scelzi posted a time of 4.86 sec. at 246.57 mph under chilly conditions.
But as Gary would tell you, it's better health -- not bigger improvements on the car -- which will give him that advantage this year.

"In the off season I hired a personal trainer," said Scelzi. "I work out with the trainer four days a week and then do cardio two days a week."
Seclzi says that though winning the championship last year was great, the season brought on a lot of added stress he wasn't expecting.

"I wasn't sleeping well last year during the season," said Scelzi. "My nerves were bad and I was eating badly."
Scelzi says that testing at The Strip will give them and idea of what to expect from the upcoming season.

"We're going to try some new things today," said Scelzi. "That's why we test. To see what works good and what works bad and then to take
that and make it work this year."

Times posted by other drivers include: Whit Bazemore (5.187 sec./212mph), Ron Capps (4.866 sec.) and John Force (5.205 sec./204 mph).

Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006

Top Fuel Dragster:
J.R. Todd -- 4.631 sec./277.94 mph.
Mike Strasburg -- 5.709 sec./163.79 mph
Clay Millican, Hillary Will, David Baca, David Grubnic
Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta, Larry Dixon


Funny Car:
John Force -- 4.733 sec./278.06 mph (Best run on Friday: 5.205
sec./204.48 mph)
Robert Hight -- 4.747 sec./283.97 mph
Ron Capps -- 4.901 sec./249.35 mph
Gary Densham -- 5.403 sec./185.74 mph
Adam Sorokin -- 6.134 sec./177.77 mph
Tommy Johnson Jr., Del Worsham, Mike Ashley, Allen Middendorf
Gary Scelzi, Tony Bartone, Whit Bazemore, Phil Burkart


Pro Stock:
Bob Panella -- 6.814 sec./202.03 mph
Jim Cunningham - crashed, not injured.
Ben Watson


Pro Stock Motorcycle:
Ryan Schnitz -- 7.115 sec./186.28 mph
Matt Guidera -- 7.663 sec./136.57 mph


Top Alcohol Dragster:
Ashley Force -- 5.483 sec./249.21 mph
Duane Shields -- 6.362 sec./189.95 mph
Randy Johnson -- 8.224 sec./105.56 mph
Sean O'Bannon
Marshall Topping


Top Alcohol Funny Car:
John Geyer Runs 8.747 sec./97.98 mph (hit timing cone)
Jay Payne -- 8.905 sec./99.35 mph (hit timing cone)
Jeff Carroll -- 6.493 sec./219.01 mph
Nancy Matter
Paul Crifasi
Bill Gallio
Mert Littlefield
Brett Williamson
Sean Bellemeur

Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006

Vegas deja vu: Force fastest again during third day of testing at The
Strip at LVMS

LAS VEGAS - John Force is on a roll again in Las Vegas. The 13-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion from Yorba
Linda, Calif., was the fastest during the NHRA Nitro Blast-off Preseason Test Session Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, then
wowed the young NHRA Jr. Dragster drivers at The Strip's annual awards banquet that evening. Force and his blazing red "test vehicle" Ford
flopper repeated the feat on Sunday - the third of four days of pro testing - to record the second-fastest-ever Funny Car pass: 4.673 sec.
at 327.51 mph.

Doug Kalitta piloted the quickest Top Fuel Dragster and Bob Panella did likewise in the Pro Stock category.
Testing for the NHRA teams concludes Monday. Gates open to the public at 9 a.m., with testing scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m.

Adult spectator admission (includes pit pass) is $22. For more information, please call The Strip at LVMS at (702) 632-8213 or visit www.LVMS.com.

Sunday test results compiled by Rick Green, www.dragracecentral.com:
TOP FUEL
Doug Kalitta -- 4.553 sec./319.98 mph.
Larry Dixon -- 4.593 sec./273.44 mph.
Brandon Bernstein -- 4.626 sec./317.27 mph.
J.R. Todd -- 4.631 sec./277.94 mph.
Hillary Will -- 4.634 sec./255.58 mph.
David Grubnic -- 4.802 sec./217.07 mph.
David Baca -- 4.941 sec./217.60 mph.
Clay Millican -- 4.945 sec./200.71 mph.
Mike Strasburg -- 5.709 sec./163.79 mph.
Arley Langlo -- 7.681 sec./109.17 mph.
Morgan Lucas -- 8.486 sec./101.96 mph.
Doug Foley -- 13.540 sec./60.00 mph.


FUNNY CAR
John Force -- 4.673 sec./327.51 mph.
Gary Scelzi -- 4.701 sec./325.77 mph.
Ron Capps -- 4.724 sec./317.12 mph.
Robert Hight -- 4.747 sec./283.97 mph.
Eric Medlen -- 4.868 sec./266.21 mph.
Whit Bazemore -- 4.933 sec./263.26 mph.
Tommy Johnson Jr. -- 5.167 sec./208.52 mph.
Gary Densham -- 5.168 sec./212.16 mph.
Tony Bartone -- 5.199 sec./209.72 mph.
Allan Middendorf -- 5.288 sec./260.51 mph.
Del Worsham -- 5.392 sec./193.77 mph.
Mike Ashley -- 5.501 sec./186.00 mph.
Adam Sorokin -- 5.562 sec./277.26 mph.
Phil Burkart -- 10.596 sec./84.46 mph.
Scott Kalitta -- 13.162 sec./67.78 mph.


PRO STOCK
Bob Panella -- 6.805 sec./202.52 mph.
Jim Cunningham -- 7.071 sec./193.43 mph.
Ben Watson -- 8.065 sec./118.78 mph.

Monday, Jan. 2, 2006

Will, Hight fastest on final day of NHRA testing at The Strip at LVMS;
Overall: Will fastest Top Fuel Dragster, Force fastest Funny Car

LAS VEGAS - John Force and Hillary Will established themselves as the fastest Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster drivers, respectively,
during the four-day NHRA Nitro Blast-Off at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which concluded today. Will also posted the fastest Top Fuel
Dragster time today and Robert Hight was the quickest Funny Car driver on the property under breezy conditions.

The NHRA professional teams will return to The Strip at LVMS Feb. 2-5 for the Last Chance Test Session, which will include the Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Thursday, Feb. 2 - Last Chance Test Session - 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3 - Last Chance Professional Test Session - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4 - Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown qualifying and eliminations -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5 - Last Chance Professional Test Session, Top Comp Series - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.


RESULTS FROM TODAY'S TEST, COMPLIED BY RICK GREEN
www.DRAGRACECENTRAL.COM:

TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Hillary Will -- 4.483 sec./324.83 mph.
Brandon Bernstein -- 4.510 sec./326.08 mph.
Doug Kalitta -- 4.553 sec./319.98 mph.
Larry Dixon -- 4.593 sec./273.44 mph.
J.R. Todd -- 4.631 sec./277.94 mph.
David Grubnic -- 4.671 sec./317.05 mph.
Clay Millican -- 4.924 sec./222.07 mph.
David Baca -- 4.941 sec./217.60 mph.
Mike Strasburg -- 5.709 sec./163.79 mph.
Morgan Lucas -- 6.496 sec./123.19 mph.
Doug Foley -- 7.670 sec./92.00 mph.
Arley Langlo -- 7.681 sec./109.17 mph.


FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight -- 4.690 sec./311.56 mph.
John Force -- 4.692 sec./325.92 mph.
Eric Medlen -- 4.699 sec./321.88 mph.
Gary Scelzi -- 4.718 sec./327.03 mph.
Tommy Johnson Jr. -- 4.757 sec./326.63 mph.
Ron Capps -- 4.806 sec./322.73 mph.
Whit Bazemore -- 4.824 sec./291.19 mph.
Mike Ashley -- 4.890 sec./258.52 mph.
Phil Burkart -- 4.954 sec./267.48 mph.
Scott Kalitta -- 5.026 sec./297.42 mph.
Del Worsham - 12.100 sec./77.13 mph.


PRO STOCK
Ben Watson -- 6.826 sec./200.83 mph.


BEST RUNS OF THE FOUR-DAY NHRA NITRO BLAST-OFF TEST SESSION:
TOP FUEL: Hillary Will -- 4.483 sec./324.83 mph.
FUNNY CAR: John Force -- 4.673 sec./327.51 mph.
PRO STOCK: Bob Panella -- 6.805 sec./202.52 mph.

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