Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: The Strip at LVMS to host last preseason series test

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 10:08 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Local drag racing fans will have an opportunity to see many of the top NHRA professional and sportsman teams test their equipment prior to the 2002 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series season opener when The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts the series' final preseason test Feb. 1-3.

Kenny Bernstein and John Force, 2001 NHRA champions in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, are expected to be among the drivers who will be fine-tuning their cars in Las Vegas. Fans will have a chance to check out the new cars and paint schemes before they make their official debuts at the Winternationals Feb.7-10 at Pomona Raceway.

The Strip will open at 7 a.m. each day and testing will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be no charge for admission. In addition to the testing time set aside for the teams, NHRA sportsman category racers will be eligible to compete in a "run-for-the-money" event each afternoon.

"The 2002 season will be our best ever and we look forward to kicking off the year with a visit by the top NHRA professional and sportsman teams," said Chris Blair, director of drag racing operations at LVMS.

The Strip will host its third annual spring NHRA national event April 4-7 and its second annual fall event Oct. 24-27.

The NHRA test will cap a busy week at LVMS. NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch series teams will be testing at the 1.5-mile superspeedway Jan. 28-31.

The campaign will be funded entirely by corporate sponsors, which will back the operation through contributions. Lampus' dragster will prominently display a new "Racing Program for MADD" (RPM) logo in a primary position with corporate donors filling in the associate slots.

"We're extremely happy and proud to align ourselves with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and their message," said Lampus, the 2000 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

"We are hopeful this unique program will bring new corporations into the sport of drag racing that might not have gotten involved with auto racing in a conventional manner."

The Strip -- in operation since April 2000 -- hosts two NHRA national meets, weekly E.T. bracket racing and a number of special events. It is considered to be one of the busiest drag racing facilities in the world.

Winners in all four classes will receive special NHRA 50th anniversary "Wally" trophies -- named after NHRA founder Wally Parks.

Gates will open at 7 a.m. and time trials will begin at 8. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.