The West Coast Hot Rod Association was at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on May 19-20 for The Battle. It was a grudge race where no times or speeds are noted; it’s just who gets to the finish line first. Over 150 cars were ready to compete in WCHRA and brackets.

Frankie “Madman” Taylor (near lane) of Dickenson, TX, got a big holeshot win over Rick Snavely in Pro Mod. Snavely was caught sleeping but made a race out of it at the top end.  (Paul Schmitz Photography)

Big Tire: Mike Dowling from Clancy, MT, in his Procharger-powered 1970 Chevelle got the win over an always tough Cole Dow out of Sacramento, CA, in Raymond Arruda's nitrous-fed ‘55 Chevy.

Small Tire: Local Las Vegas shop owner Frank Yee of VooDoo Racing Innovations in his turbocharged Mustang "Betty" took out one of the best small tire cars in the country in the final, Ryan "Toaster" Jones of Los Angeles in his turbocharged Nova.

Outlaw 8.5: George Raygoza picked up the win in his famous ‘68 Nova with Casey VanTol taking runner-up in his clean ’67 Nova. Both are powered by some hard-running nitrous assisted big blocks.

Super Pro: This would be another all Las Vegas final with Shane Thompson from Henderson and Dick Krieger from Las Vegas. Thompson would cut an .009 light to get the win over the hard charging Dick Krieger at the top end.

Pro: Las Vegas racer Scott Fivella with his ’69 Nova got the win when Henderson, NV, racer Jason Hoorn turned on the red light by .002.

Ultra Street: This was an all Chevy Nova race with an all California final. Mike Silva got the win after David Holtgrew’s big wheelstand put it on the rear bumper and slowed to a stop.

Next on the WCHRA schedule will be the Duel Race at Tucson Raceway on Oct. 27-28. [05/25/17]

Jacob Elrod took the Super Gas win. (Tom Schiltz photo)

Spectacular racing was in the spotlight at the 11th Annual Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, May 19-22 at Summit Motorsports Park.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, which went into overtime on Monday when rain rolled in on its last scheduled day, also featured jet engine-powered vehicles and fireworks.

Top Alcohol Dragster driver JP Gutierrez led qualifying with a 5.42 and 261 mph hit from his MGM Grand Detroit/Children's Center of Detroit car and won with a 5.52 at 259 mph over Brandon Greco's 6.17 at 128 mph. The top qualified position and the win are firsts for the Michigan-based driver who's been working his way up in the category he's been in for five years.

Top Alcohol Funny Car welcomed a new driver, as three-time Top Fuel Dragster champion Larry Dixon climbed into the cockpit of Tony and Michael Bartone's Hussey Performance Camaro-bodied car for competition. In a hot rod completely different from what he's used to, he wheeled to a win with a 5.53 at 265 mph over Tony Bogolo's 6.28 at 178 mph.

Competition Eliminator saw Jeff Lane and his 2010 Cobalt clock a 7.94 to claim the victory over Mike Farrell, who was 7.90 in his 1934 Chevy, and Super Stock showcased Pete D'Agnolo and his 1967 Camaro, who won with a 9.25 over John Frech, who turned in a 10.98 in his 1983 Camaro Z28.

In Stock Eliminator, Tom Russel rolled out a 10.31 in his 1998 Camaro to capture the win over TC Morris, who was 10.80 in a 2004 GTO, and in Super Comp, Rick Schneider sailed to an 8.90 in his dragster to snag the win over Davy Markle, who was 8.88.

Super Gas saw Jacob Elrod earn the win with a 9.89 in his 1992 Corvette over Janice Swan, who was 9.93 in her 1973 Opel, and in Super Street, Scott Sattler sailed to a 10.92 in his 1978 Malibu for the win over Taylor Young, who was 10.90 in a 1994 S-10.

The always-tough Top Sportsman saw Jeff Brooks and his 1951 Henry J haul to a 6.73 and oust Bill Thoman, who was 6.74 in his 1963 Corvette, and Top Dragster pitted JB Strassweg against Zach Sackman, and at the stripe, Strassweg, who was 6.18, was the victor over Sackman, who as 6.86. [05/25/17]