<b>IMCA Modified "A" Feature pays $3,000 to winner</b>
LAS VEGAS -- The half-mile dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will present the fifth annual Duel in the Desert for IMCA Modifieds on Nov. 22-23. A number of changes -- including an increase in the total purse -- have been implemented to make the fifth running of the Duel in the Desert the best yet.
"Last year's race had an incredible turnout of 127 cars and one of the largest spectator counts of the season," said Chris Blair, LVMS' director of dirt track and drag racing operations. "We are receiving calls from racers as far away as Ohio who heard about the incredible 2001 show and are planning to participate in this year's event. The race is now held two weeks earlier in hopes of milder weather. We've added additional heat races, trophy dashes, the Best in the West Shootout and the Race of Champions to provide racers with more opportunities to capture a checkered flag in Las Vegas. These bonus events are another major step toward our goal of making this race the IMCA Super Nationals of the west coast."
Changes for this year's event include:
· Purse increased over 2001.
· Eight heat races on Friday night (there were six in 2001). This will provide more opportunities for drivers to advance to the A-Main. The top two from each heat race will be locked into Saturday's A-Main.
· IMCA Race of Champions added on Friday night. The eight-lap dash will pay $250 to win, with $150 for second place and $100 for third. Drivers who are the points champions from each state are eligible.
· IMCA Best in the West Shootout added to Friday night's schedule. Drivers eligible are the racers who finished second in IMCA points in the following states: Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. The eight-lap dash will pay $250 to win, with $150 for second place and $100 for third. Winner also will receive a trophy and an LVMS jacket.
· Two trophy dashes added to Saturday night's schedule will pay $100 to win and a trophy. The first trophy dash is for Friday's heat winners and will determine starting positions 1-8 for the A-Main. The second dash is for runner-ups in Friday's heats and will determine starting positions 9-16 in the A-Main.
· The IMCA event is held in conjunction with the Super Chevy Show at The Strip at LVMS, creating one of the speedway's biggest race weekends of 2002.
Race Schedule
Friday, Nov. 22
Registration and pit gates open -- 9 a.m.
Mandatory tech inspection -- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Drivers' meeting -- 4 p.m.
Spectator gates open -- 5 p.m.
Practice -- 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Heat races -- 7 p.m.
10 hot-lap sessions -- 14 cars per session, one session per entry
Eight heat races -- 10 laps each or 20-min. time limit (pill draw for heat lineups)
1st and 2nd in heat transfer to Saturday "A" Feature
3rd and 4th in heat transfer to Saturday "B" Main
5th and 6th in heat transfer to Saturday "C" Main
7th and 8th in heat transfer to Saturday "D" Main
9th and 10th in heat transfer to Saturday "E" Main
11th and higher in heat run Friday-night Last Chance Races
Two (2) Last Chance Races -- 12 laps each or 24-min. time limit.
Last Chance Race No.1 includes cars from heats 1-4 (Top three to Sat. "E" Main)
Last Chance Race No. 2 includes cars from heats 5-8 (Top three to Sat. "E" Main)
Race of Champions (Open to points champions in IMCA standings from each state)
$250 to win, $150 for second place and $100 for third place (8 laps).
Best in the West Shootout (Open to second-place point men from Nev., Calif., Ariz., Utah, Ida., Wash., Ore. and Mon.)
$250 to win, $150 for second place, $100 for third place (8 laps).
Saturday, Nov. 23
Pit gates open -- Noon
Drivers' meeting -- 4:30 p.m.
Spectator gates open -- 5 p.m.
Practice -- 5:15-6 p.m.
Racing begins -- 6:30 p.m.
First Trophy Dash (Friday night heat-race winners) -- winner receives $100, trophy.
Finish determines "A" Feature starting positions 1-8.
Second Trophy Dash (Friday night heat-race second-place finishers) -- winner receives $50, trophy.
Finish determines "A" Feature starting positions 9-16
"E" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "D" Main
"D" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "C" Main
"C" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "B" Main
"B" Main -- 15 laps or 30 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "A" Feature
"A" Feature -- 40 laps -- 24-car field
LVMS Thunderstock Trophy Dash and $100-to-win feature.
LAS VEGAS -- The half-mile dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will present the fifth annual Duel in the Desert for IMCA Modifieds on Nov. 22-23. A number of changes -- including an increase in the total purse -- have been implemented to make the fifth running of the Duel in the Desert the best yet.
"Last year's race had an incredible turnout of 127 cars and one of the largest spectator counts of the season," said Chris Blair, LVMS' director of dirt track and drag racing operations. "We are receiving calls from racers as far away as Ohio who heard about the incredible 2001 show and are planning to participate in this year's event. The race is now held two weeks earlier in hopes of milder weather. We've added additional heat races, trophy dashes, the Best in the West Shootout and the Race of Champions to provide racers with more opportunities to capture a checkered flag in Las Vegas. These bonus events are another major step toward our goal of making this race the IMCA Super Nationals of the west coast."
Changes for this year's event include:
· Purse increased over 2001.
· Eight heat races on Friday night (there were six in 2001). This will provide more opportunities for drivers to advance to the A-Main. The top two from each heat race will be locked into Saturday's A-Main.
· IMCA Race of Champions added on Friday night. The eight-lap dash will pay $250 to win, with $150 for second place and $100 for third. Drivers who are the points champions from each state are eligible.
· IMCA Best in the West Shootout added to Friday night's schedule. Drivers eligible are the racers who finished second in IMCA points in the following states: Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. The eight-lap dash will pay $250 to win, with $150 for second place and $100 for third. Winner also will receive a trophy and an LVMS jacket.
· Two trophy dashes added to Saturday night's schedule will pay $100 to win and a trophy. The first trophy dash is for Friday's heat winners and will determine starting positions 1-8 for the A-Main. The second dash is for runner-ups in Friday's heats and will determine starting positions 9-16 in the A-Main.
· The IMCA event is held in conjunction with the Super Chevy Show at The Strip at LVMS, creating one of the speedway's biggest race weekends of 2002.
Race Schedule
Friday, Nov. 22
Registration and pit gates open -- 9 a.m.
Mandatory tech inspection -- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Drivers' meeting -- 4 p.m.
Spectator gates open -- 5 p.m.
Practice -- 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Heat races -- 7 p.m.
10 hot-lap sessions -- 14 cars per session, one session per entry
Eight heat races -- 10 laps each or 20-min. time limit (pill draw for heat lineups)
1st and 2nd in heat transfer to Saturday "A" Feature
3rd and 4th in heat transfer to Saturday "B" Main
5th and 6th in heat transfer to Saturday "C" Main
7th and 8th in heat transfer to Saturday "D" Main
9th and 10th in heat transfer to Saturday "E" Main
11th and higher in heat run Friday-night Last Chance Races
Two (2) Last Chance Races -- 12 laps each or 24-min. time limit.
Last Chance Race No.1 includes cars from heats 1-4 (Top three to Sat. "E" Main)
Last Chance Race No. 2 includes cars from heats 5-8 (Top three to Sat. "E" Main)
Race of Champions (Open to points champions in IMCA standings from each state)
$250 to win, $150 for second place and $100 for third place (8 laps).
Best in the West Shootout (Open to second-place point men from Nev., Calif., Ariz., Utah, Ida., Wash., Ore. and Mon.)
$250 to win, $150 for second place, $100 for third place (8 laps).
Saturday, Nov. 23
Pit gates open -- Noon
Drivers' meeting -- 4:30 p.m.
Spectator gates open -- 5 p.m.
Practice -- 5:15-6 p.m.
Racing begins -- 6:30 p.m.
First Trophy Dash (Friday night heat-race winners) -- winner receives $100, trophy.
Finish determines "A" Feature starting positions 1-8.
Second Trophy Dash (Friday night heat-race second-place finishers) -- winner receives $50, trophy.
Finish determines "A" Feature starting positions 9-16
"E" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "D" Main
"D" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "C" Main
"C" Main -- 12 laps or 20 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "B" Main
"B" Main -- 15 laps or 30 min. -- 24-car field -- first 8 finishers transfer to "A" Feature
"A" Feature -- 40 laps -- 24-car field
LVMS Thunderstock Trophy Dash and $100-to-win feature.
