Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS expands Pro, Sportsman test by a day

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 | 9:43 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.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway has expanded its NHRA Pro and Sportsman test from two to three days and now will host at least 15 racers from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Because of an interest in the availability of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, track officials added a test date on Friday, Jan. 31 to the previously scheduled two-day session.

"We've received numerous phone calls from NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series professional and NHRA Lucas Oil Series Sportsman teams who want as many testing days as possible prior to the start of the 2003 season," said Chris Blair, LVMS' director of drag racing operations. "We've added Friday to the schedule to meet those needs."

Racers who are scheduled to take advantage of the LVMS test dates include Gary Scelzi, Scotty Cannon, Whit Bazemore, Scott Kalitta, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Jim Head, Melanie Troxel, Del Worsham, Gary Scelzi, Craig Treble, Duane Shields, Steve Gasparelli, Bucky Austin, John Smith and Scott Weis.

NHRA Pro teams will test from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 and from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2. Spectator gates open at 6 a.m. each day.

Unlike the NASCAR test on the LVMS superspeedway, the track will charge admission to the NHRA test. Single-day passes for adults will be sold for $20 while a three-day adult pass will be $40. Various discounts will be offered for children and military personnel. Each pass includes admission to the pits.

"This is an excellent opportunity for fans to meet their favorite NHRA drivers in a relaxed setting and see what really goes on behind the scenes in the pit area," Blair said.

The 2003 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series season opens in three weeks with the 43rd annual Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

The Strip at LVMS again will host two national events in 2003 -- the fourth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals, April 3-6, and the third annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Oct. 23-26.

Many of the top Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Mod drivers will take part in the test, including six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and two-time champ Jim Yates.

Marnell will begin his preseason testing next weekend at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson.

All 23 NHRA national events will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2 on a live or same-day basis.00