It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and it has nothing to do with Andy Williams, carols or sleigh bells. This is about drag racing at more than 300 mph in Las Vegas on Halloween Weekend.

 

The treat is everything offered to drag racing fans. The trick is to take it all in during the five-day speed spree.

The weekend actually kicks off on Wednesday, with the seventh annual Cards for Kids Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament at the Cannery Hotel & Casino on Craig Rd. at 6 p.m. You can play poker against some of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series’ biggest stars, including Jack Beckman, Brandon Bernstein, Cory McClenathan, Morgan Lucas, Melanie Troxel and Shawn Langdon. All money raised goes to a great cause: The Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Join the fun, rub elbows with some of the biggest names in professional drag racing – and maybe take home some cash.

Three – count ‘em – three free driver autograph sessions will take place on Thursday, enabling fans to meet just about every top driver in all four pro classes. Check our schedule for locations and times.

On Friday, the Funny Car, Top Fuel Dragster, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle action begins at America’s Greatest Drag Strip. The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals is the next-to-last race on the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule and several heated points battles are coming our way.

John Force trails Funny Car leader Matt Hagan but just 64 points and can make up some ground if things go his way. Cory McClenathan is battling past Las Vegas winner Larry Dixon for the Top Fuel Dragster title. Greg Anderson has salvaged his season and finds himself just 36 points ahead of last year’s pro Stock champion Mike Edwards.

The competition will be fierce. While the aforementioned drivers are battling for championships, a near-record number of drivers will be gunning for precious qualification berths and victories. The Top Fuel Dragster entry list has swelled to 27, all hoping to make the 16-car field. The usual suspects will be joined by international entries, including Lex Joon of the Netherlands, Australia’s Mark Mariani and Stig Neergaard of Denmark. Twenty-one Funny Cars are entered and the Pro Stock roster is bulging at the seams with 27 cars.

If you do not already have your tickets you can obtain an $8 discount simply by bringing an empty Full Throttle can to the ticket office.

This is one NHRA you won’t want to miss.

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