Darr Hawthorne Photo

Mopars at the Strip continues to grow and along with that, the kick-off for the Hemi Shootout season is here in Vegas.  The ‘08 Hemi Shootout here netted eleven entrants and the 2009 event had fifteen Hemi Darts and Barracudas, with entries from as far as Texas, Ohio, British Colombia, Michigan, Indiana and California. 

“Nitro Joe” Jackson coordinates and runs the Hemi Shootout getting the show off on time and gives the Hemi competitors and the fans at Mopars that the Strip a show they’ll remember!  Be sure to check out Nitro Joe’s website, he also writes for us here at Mopar Max.

James Drew Photo

The final round found the Barracuda of Charlie Westcott Jr. meeting John Rains Dart, with nearly identical reaction times it was Wastcott Jr. all the way to the finish line with an 8.673/153.67 mph run to Rains’ 8.760/152.66 miles per hour.  The Westcott family dominated this event from their top qualifying positions and consistently strong elapsed times throughout eliminations.

James Drew Photo

In the semi-final round even Jim Pancake’s quicker reaction time couldn’t hold off Charlie Wescott Jr in his War Fish.  Westcott’s low Elapsed Time of the event 8.630/153.88 charge was too much for Pancake’s 8.866.

Tim Marshall Photo

In the Semi-final round John Rains’ Heli•Hemi Dart ran an 8.727 (far lane) defeatin David Rayburn’s Mean Fish Barracuda with a close 8.777.

Tim Marshall Photo

David Rayburn nailed a near perfect starting line advantage in the second round of the Hemi Shootout with his .012 light and defeated Charlie Westcott Sr.  Rayburn ran an 8.788 to Westcott’s 8.663 for the hole shot win.

Tim Marshall Photo

A red light for Stephen Hebert (far lane) threw away a solid 8.712 giving the round win to Jim Pancake’s 8.878.

James Drew Photo

Don Bales in his Silver Bullet Cuda leaves early getting the red light with Charlie Wescott Jr. motoring on down the quarter mile with a solid 8.676 elapsed time, he’ll meet Jim Pancake in the Semi’s of the Hemi shootout. 

Tim Marshall Photo

John Rains (near lane) napped on the starting line as Mark Viera had a major head start, but Rain’s Heli•Hemi reeled in Veira’s Dart.  Rains had it covered with his 8.709 to Viera’s slower 8.922.

James Drew Photo

Fred Henson fouled out in this first round match with Charlie Westcott Sr.  Westcott ran an 8.759 shutting off early with a leaking oil line, smoking the top end and oiling the left lane.

James Drew Photo

Mark Viera (far lane) defeated Jerry Jenkins with a hole shot.  Viera ran an 8.903 to Jenkins 8.891 Jenkins

Darr Hawthorne Photo

Gary Moore (left) fouled out in the first round as Jim Pancake ran a 8.865, he’ll meet Stephen Hebert in round two.  Hebert will have lane choice.

Tim Marshall Photo

Don Bales had a first round single when Rick Houser was out of competition with a burned piston in qualifying.

Tim Marshall Photo

Number one qualifier Charlie Westcott Jr. made his first round competition single running 8.800.

Tim Marshall Photo

Stephen Herbert received a bye run (8.795/152.28mph) when Bob Mazzolini broke a fuel line and could not stage.

James Drew Photo

John Rains (far lane) got a slight starting line advantage over Michael Ogburn, but pulled away on the top end with Rains running an 8.717 at 152.28 miles per hour and Ogburn running an 8.926.

James Drew Photo

David Rayburn in his Mean Fish Hemi Cuda (near lane) took to the first round victory over a red lighting Peter Wille, Rayburn ran an 8.847 at 150.23 miles per hour and will meet Charlie Westcott in the next round.

Darr Hawthorne Photo

Saturday morning the cars in the Hemi Shootout got one last shot at the track prior to the first round of eliminations.

James Drew Photo

Bob Mazzolini improved by over a tenth over his qualifying numbers with this 8.896 run in the pre-race test session.

James Drew Photo

Jerry Jenkins, part of the West Coast Hemi’s improved his performance over qualifying with this 9.195 elapsed time run in Saturday testing.  He’ll race Mark Viera in the first round of eliminations today.

Darr Hawthorne Photo

Number one qualifier Charlie Wescott Jr. made an off pace 8.872 in Saturday’s test session.

Darr Hawthorne Photo

After both of the Wescott Hemi Cudas took the number one and two positions in qualifying for the Hemi shootout, Charlie Wescott Sr. set the mark for Saturday in pre-race testing.  Charlie Sr. gave it everything he had, covering the quarter mile in 8.665 at a whopping 155.44 miles per hour!

Hemi Shootout eliminations begin at 11AM.

Saturday eliminations in the Hemi Shootout begins on Saturday morning, with an early Open Time Trial session scheduled for 9:00AM.  Charlie Wescott Jr will get a first round bye run since only fifteen Hemi cars have entered.  Don Bales will get a single as well, since, as of Friday night Rick Houser will sit out eliminations - the engine is hurt on Jim DeFrank’s potent ‘Cuda.