NHRA FMDRS: Race Notes--The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
16 October 2000
THE STRIP IS ONLY A QUARTER-MILE LONG FOR FMDRS RACERS
Las Vegas, Nev. - The NHRA Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Drag
Racing Series made its way to the brand new Strip at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway for the sixth points race of the 2000 season. After running six
divisional events for year, the NHRA decided to give the Pacific Division a
seventh Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event after Bruton Smith spent
over $12 million building one of the best NHRA Drag Racing venues in the
nation on the site of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Nearly 700 racecars made their way to the "oasis in the desert" to compete
in the first divisional race in Las Vegas since 1996. Of the 700 cars, 19
Federal-Mogul Dragsters and 15 Federal-Mogul Funny Cars made an attempt to
qualify for Sundays eliminations.
FORMER FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER CHAMP COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT
Las Vegas, Nev.-Former Pacific Division Federal-Mogul Dragster
Champion, Rick Henkelman of San Jose, Calif. returned to the cockpit of a
Federal-Mogul Dragster, his sons Federal-Mogul Dragster. Henkelman made
the trip southeast to The Strip to drive his sons Henkelman Motorsports
Dragster because Brandon Henkelman had prior college engagements. Brandon
Henkelman, a graduate finance student at Santa Clara University, was No. 2
in the Northwest Division Federal-Mogul Dragster points standings going
into the Las Vegas event after winning his first Federal-Mogul event at
Woodburn Dragstrip in July. The old man still showed he had some racing
left in him with a No. 1 qualifying run of 5.485 seconds at 263.31 mph.
Rick Henkleman lost in the first round to Dale Carlson of Olympia, Wash.
after going up in smoke at the 60-foot mark.
"We came here to test new parts and set-ups for Brandon's 2001
season," said Rick Henkelman. "Brandon is the better driver and I am just
here to get him a head start on next season."
New teammates and Northwest division competitors, Duane Shields of
Las Vegas, Nev. and Dale Carlson or Olympia, Wash. have jumped over
Henkelman in the points standings with a win and semifinal appearance,
respectively.
PRO SPORTSMAN BIKE RIDER SKIPS FINAL QUALIFYING TO TIE THE KNOT
Las Vegas, Nev.- Northwest Division Pro Sportsman Motorcycle rider,
Joe Collette of Boise, Idaho married his long time girlfriend, Kim in a
late night ceremony at The Chapel of Love on "The Las Vegas Strip".
Collette skipped his final qualifying attempt to be able to make his 10
p.m. date at the alter. Collette ended up No. 2 qualifier and lost in the
first round due post wedding ceremonies.
SHIELDS TEAMS WITH FORMER DIVISION CHAMP, DALE CARLSON
Las Vegas, Nev.-Duane Shields of Las Vegas, Nev. brought on former
Northwest Division Champion, Dale Carlson of Olympia, Wash. to form the
first true Federal-Mogul Dragster team in history. Both teams work out of
the same trailer and are sponsored by Shields' Short Line Express Markets.
Carlson will drive Shields' 1998 Hadman Federal-Mogul Dragster that became
available after Shields' purchased a 2000 Hadman Federal-Mogul Dragster.
The deal may stretch into next year with Carlson riding with a new sponsor.
Shields and Carlson split two wins at the two Northwest Division
Federal-Mogul events at Mission Raceway Park in Mission, B.C., Canada
earlier in the year when Carlson drove Mike Johnson's Giant Bicycles
Federal-Mogul Dragster.
The new Shields teammates met sooner than expected in eliminations
after Shields qualified No. 4 and Carlson qualified No. 8. Shields took
out No. 5 qualifier Steve Federlin of Oregon City, Ore. in the first round
with his best pass of the weekend, 5.545 seconds at 257.38 mph. Carlson
took out No. 1 qualifier, Rick Henkelman of San Jose, Calif. with a pass of
5.755 seconds at 239.36 mph to meet Shields in the semifinals.
In the Semifinals, Shields moved into the second in the Northwest
Division Federal-Mogul Dragster points standings with a pass of 5.554
seconds at 245.54 mph to Carlson's run of 6.449 seconds at 162.24 mph.