Bud Martins' small block Chevy, a modified V8 like the "Two Shy" team's V6 KB, was also an interesting piece but unfortunately broke on its first pass. The Hammerdown Racing Team of Dennis Wright and friend not only had a Top Fuel car but a Blown Alcohol entry and Pro-1 Open car, too. Fuller and Crook have been racing on the sand too for a long time and John Crook Jr. is now the driver of that Chevy-powered machine.

Others attending this U.S. Nationals-like sand drag race included Rick Cameron in his awesome new machine (which he still is working the bugs out of) and Clovis, Calif.'s John McCloane (in a Robert Riehls old Top Fuel mount) who is always a treat in sand drag racing. Best ever for John is 2.55, 157 mph with a tune up from Robert Riehl and himself.

After three days of qualifying, the top five laps were automatically transferred to the Sunday show. The other three qualifiers had to beat their competition to be in the show on

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Sunday, too. The track may only be 300 feet long, but this type of racing does not lack for action.

Dennis Wright in the Hammerdown big block machine put a giant hole out of the block in his first paring but changed the motor just like the big guys. John McCloane on a bye run cranked out a fine 2.62 but had problems stopping the machine and bounced off a cement barrier in front of Primm Valley Rec Park. Wheelstands were commonplace. In the final round it was Scott Whipple, who had won the last three events in a row, versus the record holding 6-cylinder "Too Shy", but Whipple left just a tad too soon giving the win to Longerot and his fine crew. Whipple's fine 2.59, would have just covered Longerot as he turned in a fine 2.63 at 136 mph for Top Speed of the event.

BLOWN ALCOHOL

This class has the closest competition of all the Pro classes in sand drag racing. A lot of the Top Fuel cars came from the asphalt, but many of the Blown Alcohol guys chose to have brand new cars built strictly for sand. There were 28 entries, which is without question a record turn out for the 16-car field, but one withdrew, so still 27 cars were out to show who was Top Alcohol Eliminator. The Alcohol cars run almost as strong as their nitro burning brothers.

Setting the pace all the way from Michigan was the awesome brand new dragster built and driven by Ted Lirones. Ted's brand new piece was painted by fellow competitor and friend Joe Moat. Joe, his wife Cheryl, and son David ran their beautiful "Predator" dragster out of Michigan too, and it was its first time ever down the sand. Joe's new ride was a Lirones-built dragster from the ground up. Son David and wife Cheryl are Joe's entire crew.

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