Pre Race Report: Team Speed Society Gearing Up For First Vegas Four-Wide
The 2018 NHRA tour rolls into it’s fourth stop this weekend at the first ever DENSO NHRA 4-Wide Nationals held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motorsports Park, and Team Speed Society Racing’s drivers are geared up for the new challenges that await at the recently-expanded facility.
Don Schumacher Racing driver Antron Brown won the event last year in his Matco Tools dragster, his second win in a row at the spring Vegas event and is looking to make it three in a row. Brown has been consistently going rounds so far in 2018, entering the event just 7 points out of the lead, and is looking to step back into a the familiar winner’s circle out west. “I can’t wait to get out there and see if we can stand on top of that mountain. Can’t tell you how thrilled I am to run four-wide on the West Coast,” said Antron about the expanded venue.
Joining Brown in top fuel under the DSR banner is Leah Pritchett in the Papa Johns Pizza digger, who will be looking to compete for her first win in Las Vegas. Pritchett comes into the event ranked 8th in points, a position she would love to improve on this weekend. “Our team has a proven track record of having a strong grasp on the various Vegas race conditions, which brings confidence heading west after a promising Gatornationals performance,” said Pritchett.
Clay Millican rolls into Vegas flying the colors of event title-right sponsor DESNO along with his usual Great Clips and Parts Plus sponsorship. He enters the event riding third in points thanks to strong qualifying efforts at each tour stop so far this year and consistent late-round finishes. Millican and crew chief David Grubnic look to continue to wrangle in their tremendous horsepower and push the car to be more consistent in eliminations to help Clay find his way back to the winner’s circle.
The third Team Speed Society Driver to also fly the DSR banner is NAPA Auto Parts funny car driver Ron Capps, who has won in Vegas before and is hoping to add a second Sin City win to his resume. “This inaugural four-wide race is going to be so much fun for not just us racers, but for our West Coast fans that haven’t had a chance to experience four-wide racing live and in-person,” said Capps of the new track layout. He enters the event in 4th place in the points championship and would love to climb that ladder with a another win.
Jonnie Lindberg raced to a runner up finish at the spring Vegas race in 2017 and is looking to get his program back on track after a subpar Gatornationals outing. For those who have forgotten, Lindberg’s Jim Head Racing Toyota Camry was destroyed when John Force exploded and engine and drove into Lindberg in the shutdown at Phoenix. Team owner Jim Head made the decision to swap to a Mustang body, which will carry the colors of sponsor Landmeco again in Vegas, along with a brand new chassis at Gainesville, where they fought traction issues all weekend and failed to qualify. Lindberg and his crew have shown they can run competitive numbers and are hoping the new chassis will bring them the consistency needed to go rounds consistently.
In pro stock, Alex Laughlin looks to bounce back from an early exit in Gainesville, where he redlighted away a first round win against Val Smeland. Alex comes into the event in 8th place in the points chase, but a win this early in the season could move him several spots up the list. Laughlin’s Elite Motorsports-powered Camaro will once again fly the eye-catching Hot Wheels Car Care colors as he looks to race to the win in Vegas.
Coverage will be airing on FS1 all weekend, starting tomorrow with Friday Nitro Live at 7:00pm ET. Keep and eye on all of our drivers along with the rest of the stars of the most powerful sport on the planet.
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