Englishman Spencer Tramm qualified his E/SA with a .509-under 11.791, but was gone after the first round.

Words by Kay Burk
Photos by Tim Marshall

Several sportsman drivers picked up their first national event wins of the season at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., qualified 5th in Top Alcohol Dragster and worked his way through the field to take out hometown racer Brandon Johnson in the final with a 5.353 at 267.69 mph pass to Johnson’s 5.455 at 252.24. Cowie beat No. 1 qualifier Monroe Guest in the semifinals with a 5.391, 267.53 after disposing of Mark Niver in round two.

Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., came from the seventh qualifying position in TAFC to take the win over Alexis De Joria, Bronson, Fla. Oliver’s Monte Carlo got the holeshot (.039 to .103 Reaction Time) and turned in a 5.658, 254.09 to the quicker 5.641 at 255.63 mph for DeJoria’s Mustang. 

In the first round of eliminations, DeJoria met her teammate Sean O’Bannon. O’Bannon was off the line first, but DeJoria caught him at about the 60-foot mark and pulled away for the win with a 5.609/256.21 to O’Bannon’s 5.624/256.65.