NHRA: Memories abound as Lampus hits Las Vegas

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Rob Geiger at 281-913-3316.

Memories abound as Lampus hits Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 23) – The return of Top Fuel racer Don Lampus continues
this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the
inaugural ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. Lampus, the reigning Winston
Rookie of the Year and 1999 IHRA Top Fuel champion, took to the track
for the first time this season at last weekend’s race in Dallas where he
turned in a top-half qualifying effort and a quarterfinal finish on
Sunday.

The 37-year-old pro from Texas, who’s been sidelined for most of the
season as he continues to search for a primary sponsor, is no stranger
to racing out west. He spent several years on the SCORE International
racing tour, winning the circuit’s Class 1-2 1600 Off-Road Dune Buggy
world title in 1996, the same season he earned the Toyota Milestone
Award for completing all 2,600 miles of the SCORE International series.
His family also owns a vacation house in nearby Boulder City, Nev.,
making Las Vegas a regular home away from home.

This weekend will see Lampus, his co-crew chiefs Wayne Dupuy and Chris
Cunningham, and the rest of the Lampus Racing crew attempt to secure a
position in the elimination field with just two qualifying attempts down
the quarter-mile strip. Due to a prior commitment with a friend’s
wedding, Lampus will miss Friday’s two qualifying sessions, leaving him
just two opportunities on Saturday to make the show.

“The thinking is that we’ll have to be a little conservative to make
sure we get in,” Lampus said. “But Wayne and Chris really aren’t the
conservative type. To be honest, I’m not really worried about it because
Wayne will still be tuning Johnny Gray’s Nitro Fish Funny Car so he’ll
have a real good grip on what the track will hold by the time I get
there. I have complete confidence in my team and what we’re capable of
doing.

“I’m very excited about racing in Las Vegas again. First, the facility
is the best in the country. Secondly, I feel very comfortable racing in
that area. The drag strip might be a little smoother then the course
over in Primm (Nev.) or say a trip from Ensenada to La Paz, Mexico,
which we’ve done a few times in the past when we were racing our dune
buggy in the Baja 1000, but I think I’ll manage. Bottom line is this, we
have a fast race car and we’re ready to go.”

ESPN2 has scheduled several hours of coverage of the ACDelco Las Vegas
NHRA Nationals. Highlights of the qualifying rounds will air from
10:30-11:30 p.m. (PST) Saturday with a more comprehensive repeat showing
from 1-3 a.m. (PST) early Sunday morning. Elimination coverage will be
divided into two shows on Sunday with the opening round airing from 11
a.m.-noon (PST) and the final three rounds on from 4-7 p.m. (PST). A
repeat of the eliminations will air from 12:30-3 a.m. (PST) Tuesday.

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