For the 3rd straight Las Vegas NHRA Nationals event – it was BC powerhouse racer and defending Lucas Oil World Champion Shawn Cowie standing tall at the event’s conclusion.  The Mundie’s Towing & Recovery dragster was dominating again in the TAD category — with Shawn racking up it’s 27th career national event score.

Super Gas (10.05) class racing produced another win for wily veteran Ken Mostowich. With his racing partner Charlie Marsh, the Calgary-based team won at the NHRA national event level for the 6th time in their careers.  Ken,  racing his ultra reliable flip-top 2015 model Corvette, capped his victory over almost a 70-car field, with a final round win light over Colorado’s Mark Philbrick.

“Top” class car racing at Las Vegas included a slew of Canadian news makers. Including in Top Dragster – it was Mantioba’s Dale Patterson who ran deep into class eliminations with a superb “final four” finish in that category. For Top Sportsman, it was Alberta’s Aaron Steinkey pacing the field with a #1 qualifying effort at 6.387 secs 222.07 mph. Steinkey, who had won just recently at the NHRA Pomona Lucas Oil Winternationals, did lose out early in eliminations this time, with a round #2 breakout in his nitrous-assisted Camaro.

Red Deer Alberta was extremely well represented at the Las Vegas race – with the very potent injected nitro cars of Mike Quayle (top) and McKenna Bold both making the TAD’s “4-Wide” program.  Although both drivers lost in their round one groupings — both racers ran quick — with Mike hitting a 5.327 secs and McKenna a 5.349 secs –  event bests.

In just his 4th start in the class, it was Spencer Hyde (near lane) collecting his first win for the Funny Car category.  Spencer did prevail within the event’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge race held during Saturday’s event schedule.  Spencer (from Stratford Ontario) knocked off opponents Matt Hagan – Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green.  Spencer also qualified #3 for the 4-Wide Nationals on Sunday, and won his first round quad there – before losing out in quad 2 due to tire spin.

A very impressive outing in Pro Stock was delivered by Port Perry Ontario’s Matt Latino. Matt qualified #10 (6.671 secs) and advanced all the way to the final quad!  Matt ran 6.679 secs to win his quad #1 and a 6.697 secs to place second in his quad #2.  His final round quad appearance is the equivlent of a semi-final round finish — coming in only his 4th career race in the class!

Very decent 3rd round finishes within Lucas Oil Sportsman racing at Las Vegas were claimed by Western Canadian drivers — Bob Gullett in Stock,  Dustin Ward, in Super Street (above photos) and both Don Thomas and Sheldon Erfle for Super Stock (photos below). Gullett, racing his stick shift F/S Nova was also the #1 qualifier for Stock eliminator running a 10.924 secs to pace that 65-car field.

Rick McKinney, from Richmond BC came close again to a big event win driving his GT/NA classed Camaro (a 1996 model former Byron Setters car). Rick qualified 11th for the large attended field and won 4 rounds before having a breakout loss in the semi finals.

Stan Essery (from Sherwood Park AB) qualified #1 for the T/D class category – hitting a 6.132 secs (low ET). Fans will recall Stan went to the T/D final round at this race – last year – but his quest in the extremely quick AFD-sponsored machine ended in round two this time out.