Sports briefs for August 12, 2004

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

NHRA schedules two Vegas dates for 2005

For the fifth consecutive year, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host two NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series events in 2005. The 2005 NHRA schedule, released today, contained some minor changes from the traditional NHRA dates at LVMS.

The NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals will move to April 14-17 in 2005. All past spring events have been held the first weekend in April. Next year's NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals will take place on Oct. 20-23. This year's event is scheduled for Oct. 28-31.

"Today's announced schedule changes are good for The Strip," LVMS general manager Chris Powell said. "By moving the spring event off the first weekend in April, our NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals will fit better into the speedway's annual schedule.

"Although these are not radical date changes, these modifications should allow us to enhance drag racing's premier series and the events at the world's greatest drag strip."

Tickets for the Oct. 28-31, 2004 NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals are on sale and may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at 644-4444 or online at www.lvms.com.

Tickets for the 2005 events will go on sale later this fall.

GV in region final

The Green Valley Little League all-star team has a chance tonight to become the first team from Nevada to qualify for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The Green Valley team plays Thousand Oaks, Calif., and the game will be broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.

Ex-UNR player indicted

A federal grand jury in Reno indicted former UNR player Rodney Landingham, who admitted he robbed two Reno banks to help support a gambling habit.

Field set for Million

Sweet Return, trained by Ron McAnally and ridden by Jerry Bailey, was made the 7-2 favorite for the Arlington Million. A field of 13 was entered for Saturday's race.

Heatley faces Sept. 16

Atlanta Thrashers forward Dany Heatley will be arraigned next month on vehicular homicide charges in the 2003 crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder.