Words and photos by Tim Marshall

Entertainment and hardcore doorslammer racing is the name of the game at just about every race at the famed Strip at LVMS when the PSCA Shootout Series presented by Chris alston's Chassisworks comes to town. In the city of lights, camera, and action, that includes action on the famed Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the drag racing speed palace located just across the highway from Nellis AFB. The action this weekend was furnished by the PSCA as that series came to town for the first time this year.

There were no odds-on favorites at this event; it was anyone’s game at the K & N Filters Las Vegas Nationals. That’s why veteran PSCA fans weren’t really shocked about Randy Walker’s still-in-primer El Camino stepping up to take all of the chips off the table in Pro Street competition. In the Outlaw street class Greg Seth Hunter’s immaculate Chevy Nova edged out defending Champion Ron Weems.

Hughes Performance PRO STREET

Seventeen racers in the premier PSCA class anted up for the big game on the fast quarter-mile track at LVMS. Once again the father-and-sons team of Clint, Jake and Jim Hairston with their Bakersfield, Calif.-based turbocharged Pontiac-powered GTO set the pace with a very quick 6.332/228.61 lap that also was both Low ET and Top Speed of the entire event.

Pro Mod veteran racer/tuner and nitrous oxide injection guru Charles Carpenter was on hand as an advisor for both Randy Walker’s El Camino and Kelly Bluebaugh’s Monte Carlo. Carpenter’s help really paid off for the Walker team as the Elk cranked out a 6.378/215.37 to show that they were ready at number two.

They were followed by Tim Henry’s nitrous Pontiac TA at 6.394/219.76, Bluebaugh’s Magnaflow Monte Carlo at 6.533/216.10, then 2008 Champ John Mihovetz’s Accufab BB/AT Cougar at 6.656/206.89 mph.