Sunday: Winners hit the jackpot at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS - Winners in the NHRA Pacific Division's Summit Racing Series Finals will head to Pomona, Calif., in November to take on the winners from NHRA's six other divisions. The event, which boasted nearly 800 cars, featured competition in four categories - Pro, Sportsman, Street, and Motorcycle - competing for a share of the $27,160 purse.

The winners in the top four categories will head to California for a chance at a winner-takes-all $5,000 purse. They will also receive $3,500 to cover travel expenses.

The Pro category was an all-Inyokern Dragstrip affair. Steve Parsons beat out teammate David Leighton for the win. The team from Las Vegas Motor Speedway also had two racers in the Sportsman final. Richard Ariotti took the win over Paul Haszlauen. In Street, Los Angeles County Raceway's Greg Dreher beat Danny Cole from Sacramento Raceway Park, and in Motorcycle, Joseph Smith, who was runner-up in yesterday's Race of Champions event representing Southwestern International Raceway, won over Lonnie Woodruff from Rocky Mountain Raceway.

"I can't wait to go to Pomona in some new leathers!" said a triumphant Smith. Then, pointing at the worn riding gear he was wearing, added, "These old duct-taped pants have to go!"

In High School, Sacramento Raceway Park's Tim McNamara beat Andy Locke from Los Angeles County Raceway.

In the race for the coveted team championship, Sears Point Raceway won for the third consecutive year, scoring 118 points. They were followed closely by Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Speedworld Motorplex.

LAS VEGAS - In the Race of Champions, a Summit Racing Series race within a race, the best drivers from each of the 16 participating tracks went head-to-head today. They were running for a share of the $4,800 purse. The team from Speedworld Motorplex in Wittman, Ariz., earned the most points with 15. They will take home the Champion's Crown for that event.

The individual Race of Champions winners were David Johnston in Pro, Mike Zimmerman in Sportsman, Danny Cole in Street and Trace St. Germain in Motorcycle. Johnston, who represented Speedworld Motorplex, defeated Southwestern International Raceway's Noel Zweigler while Firebird International Raceway's Zimmerman beat Famoso Raceway competitor Michael Andrada. Cole, from Sacramento Raceway Park, overthrew Warren Gaede from Los Angeles County Raceway. Sears Point Raceway's St. Germain beat out Joseph Smith from Southwestern International Raceway.

Eliminations in the Pacific Division's Summit Racing Series Finals begin Sunday at 8 a.m. The individual winners in Pro, Sportsman, Street, and Motorcycle will compete against the winners from NHRA's other six divisions at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. Each driver will receive $3,500 and a chance at the $5,000 winner-takes-all purse for each class. Gates at Las Vegas Motor Speedway open at 7 a.m. For more information contact the track, (702) 644-4444 or visit the web site at www.lvms.com.