NHRA WJ's Wrap Sheet - The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Edition

(Please note:  The following has been sent as a supplement to our
pre-race release, and takes a look back at WJ's career at The Strip at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of "The Professor's School's Out Tour".
We do have a historical picture of the 2000 GM Goodwrench Firebird
available upon request.  We thank you for your interest in the GM
Performance Parts Racing team and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series)

Contact:

                Jon Knapp

                TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

                Ph: (704) 662-3121

                jgknapp@tmgsports.net  

 

WJ's Wrap Sheet - 

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Edition

 

1.  WJ's First Las Vegas Race & Final - 2000

Race Car:  2000 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac Firebird

Performance:  WJ Qualified Fourth, 7.075 seconds, 196.33 mph

                          Defeated Kurt Johnson, Richie Stevens and Troy
Coughlin

                          Lost to Jeg Coughlin

 

In Warren's Words:

 

"I came here about 10 years ago when they were doing the original
excavating for the site, so I had an idea of the layout, and based on
what they had done in redoing Bristol, we knew going in that they were
going to do a first-class job.  Therefore, I was not at all surprised by
the quality of the facility.

 

"I really don't have a great recollection of the race, other than all
the construction that was going on as we pulled into the track.  They
were laying asphalt, painting and putting in glass just about everywhere
you looked, but they had it ready to go for the first qualifying
session.   Of course, it's never memorable if you don't win.  We were
obviously competitive, but just didn't get the job done." 

 

Notes of the time:

*      This was the 126th final round appearance of WJ's career.

*      This marked the ninth time in his career that Warren had advanced
to the final round in his first race at a particular track. (The others
were Gainesville, FL, Fremont and Irvine, CA, Reading, PA, Dallas and
Houston, TX, Madison and Chicago, IL)

*      Ron Krisher was the No. 1 qualifier with a 7.048-second elapsed
time, with John Fairleigh on the bump at 7.122 seconds.

*      In one of the closest races of the day, Warren reached the final
by defeating Jeg's brother Troy on a hole-shot in the semi-finals, using
a better light and a 7.077-second elapsed time to better Coughlin's
7.072-second pass.

*      32 cars attempted to make the inaugural SummitRacing.com NHRA
Nationals

*      This was the final year for the venerable Pontiac Firebird, which
was replaced the next year by the Pontiac Grand Am.

1.  WJ's First Las Vegas Race & Final - (cont.)

 

*      The field consisted of an Oldsmobile Cutlasses, Pontiac
Firebirds, Chevy Camaros, Dodge Avengers and a solitary Ford Mustang.

*      Winners in other categories that day included Kenny Bernstein in
Top Fuel, who defeated Joe Amato in the final, Jim Epler in Funny Car,
who won his first race in seven years, and Angelle Seeling in Pro Stock
Bike.

 

 

2. WJ's The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a Nutshell - 

 

"The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is what we have come to expect
from Bruton Smith and his people.  First and foremost, it's
fan-friendly.  They take a backseat to no one in terms of preparation of
the facility or the racing surface.  

 

"The track itself is pretty decent.  They had a few issues early on due
to the construction.  In fact, they were still laying asphalt and
applying paint when we pulled in for our race.  At that point the
surface had a few unforeseen problems with the ground shifting, but they
were all addressed. Today, it has one minor bump in it, but it doesn't
seriously affect anyone.  The only detriment they have is the sand when
the winds pick up, which gets on the track and makes it somewhat
slippery.  Of course, that is not in their control, and if you know what
you're doing, you shouldn't have a problem, other than slowing down.

 

"The air is thinner and drier than what we're used to, and it does
affect the tune-up because you can get into the point of some serious
detonation every once in a while.  Other than that, it is a track we
look forward to racing on."

 

 

WJ's The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Box Score

 

Races

Starts

Wins

Finals

#1

Avg. Qual.

W

L

Pct.

9

7

0

2

0

6.0

8

7

.533

 

Did You Know?

 

*      The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the only track on the
2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Schedule where WJ has yet to
record a win.  He has two final round appearances in 2000 and 2002, but
is still looking for his first Vegas "Wally".

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