ELVIS SIGHTING NUMBER 1

When his Castrol GTX Funny Car suffered an engine explosion and crashed during the 1992 Mid-South Nationals at Memphis, Tenn., John Force climbed out of the cockpit telling TV reporters, "I saw Elvis at a thousand feet."

For the second time in his career, Force will be at the wheel of a Castrol GTX Ford Mustang that pays homage to Elvis, one of the 11-time NHRA champion's idols while growing up.

The newest Elvis "theme car," a joint venture between Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Castrol, Inc., and Action Performance Companies, Inc., will roll onto the track for the first time during Friday qualifying at Las Vegas.

The silver-and-black Ford will boast likenesses of the rock-and-roll legend on the hood and rear spoilers with a keyboard design playing down both sides of the carbon fiber body. (April 4)

ELVIS SIGHTINHG NUMBER 2

Larry Dixon and team owner Don Prudhomme's first action in Las Vegas began weeks ago when they descended on the city with Miller Lite Racing teammate Rusty Wallace and fellow drag racer John Force, as they unveiled their special edition Elvis Presley Tribute cars to be run at this year's NASCAR and NHRA spring events. For Dixon, it is a paint scheme that will not only make an appearance in the desert, but will also fly during the NHRA's annual stop in Memphis, Tennessee later this year (Sept. 19-22).

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In addition to the Elvis Presley program, Dixon and the Miller squad will celebrate team owner Prudhomme's 61st birthday, as well as his 40th Anniversary season.

With the momentum that Dixon and crew have generated after winning two out of the first three NHRA races, including 11 wins in 12 rounds of elimination racing and a 105-point cushion in the points standings, one would think the Miller team to be a strong favorite to win their third race of the year this weekend. But Dixon has a bit of history to contend with in that for a variety of different reasons, he has yet to advance past the second round on race day at The Strip.

"I don't have any bad feelings at all about racing in Las Vegas," said Dixon. "I love racing there and think it's one of the best tracks and facilities in the country. Things just happen sometimes, little things that you can't control, and for whatever reason they sometimes happen at the same track. As far as Las Vegas goes, last year we dropped a cylinder in the second round and the year before that we had a silly little part break on us. Those are the kinds of things that happen in drag racing, no matter where you race." (April 4)

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