PSCA West Coast Shootout at Las Vegas

Words and photos by Eddie Maloney

Mel Roth's Pacific Street Car Association rolled into The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway September 25-27. Despite the temperature reaching upwards of 100 degrees, the cars were out in full and the track was set on kill. With five heads-up categories, six bracket and index classes, as well as two classes for the junior dragsters, there was plenty of racing to be had. 

In Magnafuel Outlaw 10.5, Troy Cafaro of Las Vegas piloted his 1963 split window Corvette to the number one qualifying spot with a 4.484 at 165.86 mph. Cafaro ultimately took the win on the final round with a 4.433 ET at 166.60 mph over a 6.351/86.17 for the Orland, California-based 1965 Chevelle of Casey Von Tol. 

Vortech Outlaw 8.5 is always one of the toughest fields to navigate with elapsed times very close between all the qualifiers. Scott Bieschke of Henderson, Nev., took the pole with a 5.266 ET at 150.46 mph in his ’88 Mustang. In the final round Bieschke was pitted against Los Angeles, California-based Anthony Smith in his ’93 Mustang. In a close final round, Bieschke took the win with a 5.275 ET at 149.51 mph to Smith’s 5.303 at 144.38.