LAS VEGAS — The 2016 DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals took place this weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Greg Anderson won the K&N Horsepower Challenge in an uncontested final round when teammate Jason Line’s car broke on the starting line Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Anderson’s Chevrolet Camaro lost traction at the start, but he only needed to cross the finish line to claim his fifth victory in the lucrative Pro Stock all-star event.
With the victory Anderson earns $50,000 and a chance to walk away with more than $100,000 during the weekend. With a win in Sunday’s DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Anderson could earn more than $50,000, including a $25,000 sweep bonus from NHRA.
Meanwhile, Jack Beckman raced to a track record performance to lead Funny Car qualifying Friday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals.
Beckman, who is in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season, powered his Dodge Charger to a track record time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph in the day’s final qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders in their categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. Torrence, who won the season-opening Winternationals, paced the Top Fuel class with a 3.728 at 325.30 in his dragster.
Series points leader Line led the Pro Stock order with a performance of 6.687 seconds at 205.98 mph in a Chevy Camaro.
Freelance photographer Rick Johnson was at Saturday’s event and sent us this photo gallery/photo essay from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
At the NHRA event in Vegas, 10,000 Horsepower, 330 MPH in under 4 seconds, 4G's to "take off" and 8G's to stop, $6,000 per run, nothing quite like it! 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
Not "Mom's" Minivan! 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
Within eight minutes of pulling in, the crew had this 10,000 Horsepower Nitromethane burning engine apart. It's about 45 minutes for a complete rebuild on the average, although one of the crew members reported their record is 29 minutes, 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
These are 1000 Horsepower Harley Davidsons. During a run, the front wheel isn't even on the ground for the first 300 feet, its used more as a "rudder" through the air, 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
One of them is powered by a Learjet Engine the other a Chinook Helicopter Jet Engine, 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
At 27-years-old, Alex Laughlin is "living the dream" as the "Pilot" of the Gas Monkey Pro Stocker, 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
These Top Fuel engines are mechanical engineering works of art! Built to last the 4 seconds and burn the Nitromethane/Methanol fuel through 42 injector nozzles at a rate of 11 US gallons per second. Bottom line, each run costs an estimated $1,000/second. 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
At 17 inches wide and a cost of nearly $700 each and lasting only 2-3 runs, you can see why $6,000 for each pass is expected, and that's if nothing "Blows Up!" 2016 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev., Apr. 2, 2015 | Photo by Rick Johnson, special to St. George News
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