NHRA drivers disagree on heat

Friday, April 6, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

NHRA Nationals

What: Second annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals

When: Today through Sunday

Where: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Times: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. today and 1 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $20 (general admission) today; $40 (GA) and $50 (reserved) Saturday; 50 (GA) and $60 (reserved) Sunday. Tickets available at LVMS ticket office or on the Internet at www.tickets.com.

Kenny Bernstein drove his Top Fuel dragster to victory in the blistering heat during last year's inaugural SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jim Epler won the Funny Car final in the same unseasonable, 90-degree heat. But the two drivers have differing opinions on the weather conditions they would prefer for this weekend's event.

"Last year here, you had extremely hot weather and the hotter it is -- it doesn't matter how good the racetrack is -- when it's hot and sunny, it makes the racetrack very difficult to negotiate," Bernstein said.

"If it's in the high 90s like it was last year, it'll be a relatively slick racetrack and very difficult to operate on because the sunshine and heat really affects these racetracks."

Epler, on the other hand, said he would prefer to see the sun come out and the temperature soar this weekend.

"I like the heat -- not because we did well here last year but because sometimes when it's hot it gets to be more of a driver's race," Epler said. "It's when the conditions are perfect that it's kind of tough for some of the teams because we might not be able to run like (John) Force can run when it's perfect.

"I was actually hoping it was going to be hotter. Last year it was hotter and it was a little trickier and it worked to our advantage."

It appears as if Epler won't get his wish. Forecasts call for winds today, cooler temperatures (a high of 59 degrees) and a chance of showers Saturday and -- much to Bernstein's delight -- partly cloudy and a high of 62 for Sunday's final eliminations.

While a prolonged rain Saturday obviously would have a disastrous effect on the racing, Pro Stock driver George Marnell of Las Vegas said his biggest concern this weekend is wind.

"The cool weather is going to help us run a little better, I'm just hoping the wind stays down to where we don't have to fight that this weekend," Marnell said.

"One of the things I'm concerned about is with the wind also comes the sand blowing and that could make things a little tricky down the track."

If the wind and rain hold off and the temperature stays in the 60s, Funny Car driver Dean Skuza said fans could see some quick times and fast speeds.

"I think you could see record fields in all categories if the climate cooperates," Skuza said. "The track is going to be better than it was last year ... the times were great last year until that sun came out on Sunday."

Besides the weather, the drivers and crew members will have to adjust to the change in altitude this weekend. After running at relatively low altitudes for the first four races of the season, the teams are racing at their first "altitude track" of the year; The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 2,100 feet above sea level.

And that may play into Jeg Coughlin Jr.'s hand. Coughlin is the reigning NHRA Winston Pro Stock champion and won last year's Pro Stock title at the inaugural NHRA national event at LVMS.

"Team Jeg's has experienced a lot of success through the years at high-elevation tracks," Coughlin said. "We have a number of setups that compliment the high-altitude tracks and the lack of air presents unique opportunities to create horsepower."

Other category winners from the inaugural SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals include Angelle Savoie (formerly Seeling) in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Bob Panella in Pro Stock Truck.