Mike Sheldon, SC Vegas winner and multi-year PRA Champion

Super Gas

With the top half of the qualifying field usually separated by 0.1 of a second Super Gas is arguably the most competitive class in the PRA. SG is an 11.90 ET index class that also leaves on a 0.4 pro-tree.

Rich Grise led the SG points chase heading into Vegas, with Cory Sacchette 45 points behind the leader and Troy Palmer a distant-but-hopeful third (78 points behind the leader). Rich, an emerging menace in SG, had better than a two-round lead going into Vegas and just needed to stay out in front of Cory and Troy to take the 2007 Championship.

Rich’s fate was decided when he faced Monty Foster from New Mexico. Monty, who usually doesn’t run the entire PRA circuit, is an accomplished racer and previous Vegas winner. He sealed Rich’s fate (and most likely became his future nemesis), and knocked Rich out of competition in the first round. Troy moved on to the second round and faced Cory. Troy, who had faced Cory in two finals in the 2007 season - only to go home the bridesmaid -- must have been out for revenge and he took the win. He then faced Monty “the spoiler” Foster in the third round. In a double breakout (Troy’s 11.887 to Monty’s 11.881), Troy got the win light and faced Scott Bakken in the final. It must have been agonizing for Rich to watch the final round as Troy beat Scott and took the event win and the SG Championship by ONE POINT over Rich! Unbelievable!

Steve Atkinson led the SG points going into Vegas

Doug Berg an icon in the vintage VW scene

Troy and father John Palmer, back-to-back SG Champion

Super Mod
Super Mod is the newest of the PRA’s index classes, and is a 12.90 ET class that leaves on a 0.5 pro-tree. Russell Saketani led the points chase heading into Vegas and walked away with the event win and the 2007 Championship. Richard Laitinen finished second and Randy Martindill third in the 2007 SM Championship points chase.

Pro Eliminator

Pro Eliminator is the bracket racing class of the PRA. It uses a 0.5 sportsman tree and is for VW’s that are 12.99 seconds and faster. Bruce Fordyce had the championship wrapped up going into the Vegas race with a 230-point lead over Hobi Osequera, and a 240 point advantage over Clyde Berg. Ernie Crowley (father-in-law of Monty Foster and former PE Champion) marched through the PE field in Vegas once again and took the PE win.

 

 

Ernie Cowley, Vegas PE winner

Jamie Keelan. Is he sitting on the wrong side?

This event, as with four of the five PRA race events, was promoted by Bugorama Promotions and surely did not disappoint! Check out www.bugorama.com for 2008 events near you.