Pac-Div Las Vegas Saturday summary

RACE OF CHAMPIONS WINNERS CROWNED AT NHRA PACIFIC DIVISION SUMMIT FINALS

LAS VEGAS - The best NHRA Summit Racing Series competitors from across the Pacific division have converged on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to face off in head-to-head competition, running for individual and team honors. Saturday's action included the Race of Champions, a race within a race where the top points-earning drivers from participating tracks square off for a chance to run for a national title against the winners from NHRA's other six divisions.

The Super Pro winner was Tommy Debartoto from Grantville, Utah. Debartolo, who was running for Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, beat Irwindale (Calif.) Raceway's Mitch Miyamoto of Garden Grove, Calif., in the final. In Pro, John Gray, Suisow, City, Calif., earned the win in his '72 Demon representing Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. He got the win over Alan Ross, Atascadero, Calif., who was running his '65 Mustang for the team from Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. Greg Dreher of Bakersfield, Calif., wheeled his '73 Comet to the win for Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, Calif. Runner-up in the class was San Diego, Calif., resident Gary Hairfield racing for Barona 1.8th-Mile Dragstrip in El Cajon, Calif. The Motorcycle Race of Champions winner was Mike Gragun, of Sandy, Utah, also running for Rocky Mountain Raceways. He rode to the winner's circle around his teammate Larry Mota of Orem, Utah. Mike Passerby, Queen Creek, Ariz., wheeled his '69 Chevelle to the win in the High School category, beating out Kyle Holbrook of Chandler, Ariz. Both drivers represent Firebird Int'l Raceway in Chandler.

Winners of the Race of Champions in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will compete at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., for a national championship. They will run for a winner-take-all payday of $5,000. Each racer will also receive $3,500 for competing at the NHRA Finals.

The event will continue Sunday. Drivers in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle/Snowmobile as well as a High School category represent 18 tracks vying for top honors and a share of the $30,600 purse. Competitors in the High School class are running for trophies.

Gates at Las Vegas Motor Speedway open at 7 a.m. Eliminations kick off at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.LVMS.com.

-credit: nhra