Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS Strip to get two dates again next year

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Although the National Hot Rod Association has yet to release its 2004 schedule, the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway again will be the scene of two NHRA national events.

LVMS general manager Chris Powell said this week that The Strip would host the fifth annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals April 1-4, 2004 and the fourth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals Oct. 28-31, 2004. It will mark the fourth consecutive year that the state-of-the-art drag strip has hosted two national events in the same year.

"The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has provided a great stage for the NHRA's top racers," Powell said. "Our April date has been a springboard to the championship for many drivers, while our October event has often been the clinching race for many division championships.

"It is obvious by the special attention paid to the races at The Strip that Las Vegas' races are two of the most prominent events on the schedule."

Many teams have chosen the Las Vegas races to showcase special paint schemes on their cars and several high-profile celebrities, from boxer Mike Tyson to rock stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS and Kid Rock, have made appearances at The Strip.

Last fall, Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike) clinched season championships with victories at The Strip. The ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals is the second-to-last event on the 23-race NHRA schedule.

The third annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals will be Oct. 23-26. Tickets can be purchased at the LVMS ticket office (644-4444) or online at www.lvms.com.

Densham insisted the parting is amicable and is a result of the difficult economic climate.

"John and I have been friends for the last 30 years," Densham said, "and we'll be friends for the next 30. But he has a lot of masters to satisfy and a whole lot of bills to pay. He has to look out for his future and, by the same token, I have to look out for mine.

"Nothing's carved in stone, but you have to plan ahead in this sport. I've been talking to people who've helped me in the past and we're trying to put together a package that will keep us competitive. At this point, we don't have adequate funding for 2004 but I'm confident we can put something together.

"For both of us, this is a business decision -- nothing more."

Densham, who won the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 17 in Brainerd, Minn., for his sixth victory under the Force banner, is in his third season driving for the 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion. Force fields Funny Cars for himself, Densham and Tony Pedregon.

"Gary is a great racecar driver and a good friend," Force said. "He's been great for this race team and, while he may wind up running his own team next year, he'll always be part of the John Force Racing family.

"Right know, I don't know which way we're going (for next season). There are some sponsor issues. People keep asking me about a fourth car and, bottom line, that's not a reality and the third car still needs more funding."

Friday's "Midnight Mayhem" for street-legal cars will be an extended program (8 p.m. to 2 a.m.) and also will include a car show, bikini contest, burnout contest, hip-hop DJs and a concert by local punk band Happy Campers. Gates open at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League will holds its sixth points race from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. while the PSCA Labor Day Classic gets under way Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Sunday's action includes the NHRA Division 7 Junior Drag Racing Series (8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and PSCA eliminations (4:30-11 p.m.).