The Supermodified Racing Association takes on The Bullring Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for its season finale.
As the teams head into their last race, Troy Regier and S&S Motorsports of Carson City are again in the hunt for the championship. Regier is down just 38 points to leader Jeff Russell of Boise, Idaho, for the top spot. If Regier wins, it will be his eighth championship, his fourth with S&S Motorsports, and his 75th career win in a supermodified racecar.
"I do want to win the race," Regier said. "It would be nice to get number 75. I just want to run faster than all the other guys. I want to end the season strong with a win and get ready for next year."
Joining Regier will be DNA Racing of Minden " teammates Amy Silsby and Eric Silsby, who married in August; Dale Lamborn of Carson City, and Kenny White of Fresno, Calif., driving for Courtney Lewis and Mike Burts of Reno. The only Nevada team not to make the race is Whitey Janssen of Dayton.
"For the last race I added a 4-barrel carburetor to the (360 cubic-inch) engine to try to pull more horsepower but it just bogged it down," Janssen said. "I don't want to go to Las Vegas and spend more time tuning it rather than racing it. And I can't afford it with today's economy."
Regier owns fast time at The Bullring, recording a 12.72 lap on the 3/8-mile paved oval in 2004, when the supermodifieds last raced there. Regier also won his 50th main event the same night.
"This car has never raced Las Vegas, but it has the same set up as we run at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City," said Steve Shaw, co-owner of the No. 98 S&S Motorsports racecar. "Same shocks, same springs, so it should be a good starting point for us."
Lamborn said he is excited to be racing again after a problem with his engine at the opening race in April. He recently changed several valve springs in the engine and was working on the drive shaft.
"I'll be glad to be back out there," Lamborn said. "I'm looking forward to racing against all the other Nevada teams."
The SMRA will race a 40-lap feature event Saturday. An update will be posted early Sunday morning on the Nevada Appeal's Web site; full results with photo will be in Monday's Nevada Appeal.