Naffziger wins $2,000 National Dragster Challenge Super Pro finale;

Phlegar wins 2004 Jerry¿s Nugget Series Super Pro title

The 2004 Jerry¿s Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series came to a close on Saturday, Oct. 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  The season finale, which doubled as the National Dragster Challenge, awarded the coveted NHRA ¿Wally¿ trophy to all final-round winners.  Chris Naffziger, The Strip¿s 2003 Super Pro champion, won the final and its $2,000 first prize.  Runner-up was Becky Phlegar of Las Vegas, who just happens to be married to The Strip¿s 2004 Super Pro champion, John Phlegar.

Nick Ariotti of Boulder City won the Street class finale but Utah¿s Scott Parsons won the championship.  Bob Coulter won the Pro final but Nick Ariotti won clinched the points title.  Dave Phillips won the Motorcycle event while Kahea Woods earned the championship.  Mike Billich of Henderson won the Sport Compact final over A.J. Del Rosario.  Bill Dudley had secured the title before the evening¿s races began.  Carl Cannavo won the Super E division.

On Saturday morning, Mackenzie Phillips won the National Dragster Challenge for the Short Line Express NHRA Jr. Dragster Thunder class while Bob Jackson won the Lightning finale.  The Jr. Dragster ¿Outlaw 330¿ final was won by Jack Belli of Newport Beach, Calif.

Speedway Children¿s Charities Run-for-the-Money winners included: Taylor Vetter (Jr. Dragster Lightning), Steven Holmes (Jr. Dragster Thunder and Jr. Dragster Overall), Kahea Woods (Motorcycle), Kyle Hirschi (combined Street/Sport Compact), Mark Piel (Super Pro) and Chad Boyd (Pro and Overall Bracket).  The Strip¿s drag racers raised $2,890 for The Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children¿s Charities and the more than 40 local children¿s causes it helps to support.

Jerry¿s Nugget Reaction Time Bonus Awards were won by Chad Boyd (Pro, with a perfect .500), T.J. Fogarty (Super Pro, with a near-perfect .501), Dave Phillips (Motorcycle), Nick Ariotti (Street) and Jason Dawson (Sport Compact).  The bonus is won by posting the best reaction time on a winning run during the first round of eliminations.

2004 Jerry¿s Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series champions:

John Phlegar (Super Pro)

Nick Ariotti (Pro)

Scott Parsons (Street)

Kahea Woods (Motorcycle)

Bill Dudley (Sport Compact)

Final-round results (driver/rider, hometown, vehicle, reaction time, elapsed time, top speed):

SUPER PRO

Winner: Chris Naffziger (Las Vegas) 1970 Nova  .545  9.674 sec./133.22 mph.

Runner-up: Becky Phlegar (Las Vegas)  1972 Chevelle  .590  10.766 sec./122.39 mph.

PRO

Winner: Bob Coulter (Las Vegas) 1964 Falcon  .534  12.120 sec./111.04 mph.

Runner-up: Dick Krieger (Henderson) 2002 Camaro  .498 (foul)  12.637 sec./106.66 mph.

STREET

Winner: Nick Ariotti (Boulder City)  .557  12.981 sec./89.82 mph.

Runner-up: Suzanne Adamson (Las Vegas) 1999 Grand Prix  .593  16.259 sec./85.29 mph.

MOTORCYCLE

Winner: Dave Phillips (Las Vegas) 1977 Kawasaki  .500  9.350 sec./133.65 mph.

Runner-up: Leo Shaver (Las Vegas) 1987 Kawasaki  .465  9.985 sec./130.76 mph.

SPORT COMPACT

Winner: Mike Billich (Henderson) Cavalier  .633  17.366 sec./79.65 mph.

Runner-up: A.J. Del Rosario (Las Vegas) 1994 Acura  .421 (foul)  18.209 sec./76.12 mph.

SUPER E ASSOCIATION

Winner: Carl Cannavo (N. Las Vegas) dragster  .423  8.032 sec./160.88 mph.

Runner-up: Chris Diyco (Huntington Beach, Calif.) dragster  .455  8.075 sec./169.27 mph.

SHORT LINE EXPRESS MARKETS NHRA JR. DRAGSTER THUNDER (1/8-mile)

Winner: Mackenzie Phillips (Cedar City, Utah)  .584  13.068 sec./45.46 mph.

Runner-up: Rachel Leath (Costa Mesa, Calif.)  .613  12.883 sec./48.29 mph.

SHORT LINE EXPRESS MARKETS NHRA JR. DRAGSTER LIGHTNING (1/8-mile)

Winner: Bob Jackson (Cedar City, Utah) .685  8.261 sec./79.01 mph.

Runner-up: Tristan Craig (Henderson) .621  9.187 sec./68.96 mph.

JR. DRAGSTER OUTLAW 330

Winner: Jack Belli (Newport Beach, Calif.) .455  4.481 sec.

Runner-up: Ryan Valandingham (Kingman, Ariz.) .527  4.538 sec.

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