Notes from Vegas:
"00"
Joe Ewing and I left last Tuesday at 5:30 p.m
.
We drove 28 hours straight and spent the first night in Laughlin, NV. Our trip was
smooth except we blew a trailer tire twenty miles outside of Laughlin.
Luckily we had a spare and had it fixed quickly. Thursday morning, Joe
& I pulled into Las Vegas Motor Speedway. What a track, if you've never been, you must
go, its a beautiful track.
We
had 7 NSS cars from the Mid-West plus 6 
from
the West Coast. Friday, the first pass of the season, the Drag'n Wag'n
went 10.16, not good. The air pressure was 27.58 and the computer showed
we were racing at 3,900 feet. Next run, we went 10.09, better, but not
good enough for our 10.00 Index. Friday night, after a great steak, I
spent the next three hours playing Craps and Blackjack. I arrived at the
track Saturday morning and the computer showed better weather conditions
and a tail-wind. The Wag'n went 10.02 at 132 MPH on the first run and
then 10.03 on the second; Now we are ready to race! Saturday night, I
went to bed early so I was ready for Sunday Morning.
Sunday, the weather changed again, more tail-wind and the
temperature was at 65°. We did not get a time run Sunday, so it was a
crap shoot on the 1st run. Round 1, I raced Bo Adams in his '64
Plymouth. I have found in the lanes, that Bo is a very experienced racer,
I had to be on my game. Luckily, I had a good light. Bo went 10.85
Breakout on a 11.00 Index, the Wag'n (with a tail-wind), went 9.97 at 137
MPH. My Win Light came on. Round 2, I ran Rich Berlisk in his '63
Plymouth. Rick ran a 10.61 on his 10.50 Index, I got by him at about the
1200 mark and pedaled to a 10.07. Round 3, I ran a '63 Plymouth and with
his Red Light, the Drag'n Wag'n was in the Finals. Final Round, I ran
Glenn Willett from Wyoming in his '64 Plymouth. I just had the pleasure
of meeting Glenn for the first time at this event, he is a good guy. His
Plymouth was the #2 Qualifier and was able to run right on the 10.50
Index. In the final, Glenn got a little quick on the tree, went red, and
handed the Wag'n the Win. Great way to start the season! After the final
round, we had pictures 
taken
and it was a good feeling. Alot of people said how proud my Dad would be
if he was here watching the days events, maybe He was. It was really nice for
our sponsors, TTI Exhaust and Indy Cylinder Head were in the Winner Circle
with me. Special thanks to Phil Painter, the event Promoter. He has
been on my to come to Vegas to race for 6 Years, I'm glad I went. Phil
puts on a First Class Event! Now, I will be getting ready for Bowling
Green April 19th-21st.
Look below
for photos from the event...
See you at the Track,
Doug Duell