PSCA Magnafuel Nationals at Las Vegas

Under the Lights

Words by Richard Kratz
Photos by Tim Marshall

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a first class facility in the daytime. At night, it rivals the other famous “Strip” of Las Vegas for impact and drama. The fourth PSCA race of the season was run May 23-25 under the lights and stars. Weather was perfect throughout the weekend, warm without getting too hot, although Sunday was hot until the sun went down and the lights came up.

Car turnout attendance was good. Those in the stands got to see some great racing in eleven different classes with two classes for the juniors racing at night as well. The PSCA annual awards ceremony occurred Sunday afternoon under the grandstands and the 2013 champions and runner-ups were honored and received their trophies and, for the champions, their jackets. Friends and family enjoyed the food and camaraderie with their fellow racers. The track was tight and the racing was close. There were few breaks in the action; it was one of those weekends where the cars just seemed to stay together and few cleanups were needed.

In the Junior Dragsters I class it was a family affair as Reilly Garceau survived an atypical .089 light when his brother Cody Garceau missed by a larger amount on a double breakout with an 8.950 on an 8.97 dial to Reilly’s 8.896 on an 8.90. Junior Dragsters II saw Elizabeth Strones red light and give the victory to Josh Gagnon.

In the Calvert Racing Street Muscle class, Jeff Dudgeon of Las Vegas beat fellow Vegas resident Scott Horsley. Jeff’s 1966 Coronet was quicker on the tree than Scott’s 1979 Chevy Luv truck with a .022 to .045 light and Jeff then ran a 10.743 on his 10.74 dial over Scott’s 11.861 on an 11.83 dial.