The turnout for the first professional drag racing test session of the year in Las Vegas probably will feel the effect of this week's cold weather.

Although the forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s, several teams will delay their shakedown sessions until the weekend of Jan. 26 at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix. Many will return the following weekend to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Last Chance Test Session.

The bravest souls, or at least those in need of track time, will be at the speedway beginning today for the Nitro Blast-off, which runs through Sunday.

Leading the group will be the four-car team of John Force Racing, including rookie Ashley Force.

Also expected is Kenny Bernstein, coming out of retirement to compete in the Funny Car category. Other pros who have committed to test are Funny Car drivers Jack Beckman and Tommy Johnson Jr.

Pro test sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ...

Pro Stock veteran Mark Pawuk has decided not to compete this year in the NHRA Powerade Series. It will mark the first time in 21 years that he will not be part of the national drag racing scene.

The resident of Akron, Ohio, won the event title at the first fall race in Las Vegas in 2001. He has six Pro Stock titles. ...

Evan Knoll has purchased Kenny Koretsky's KPK Motorsports operation and will field the Top Fuel dragster driven by Clay Millican. Knoll also owns the top fueler that will be driven by Melanie Troxel, whose car will support a "Welcome Home War Veterans" campaign directed mainly to those who served in Vietnam. ...

Legendary Pro Stock pioneer "Dandy" Dick Landy died Jan. 11. He was 69.

• OPEN WHEEL -- The Champ Car World Series will return to Europe this year for the first time since 2003 with races on road courses in Assen, Holland, and Zolder, Belgium. That brings the season total to 17 races, starting April 6 to 8 with the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix on downtown Las Vegas streets.

• NASCAR -- Services will be today in Cornelius, N.C., for Benny Parsons, who died Tuesday.

The 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup champion was 65. Condolences can be sent to the Parsons family at bp@goprn.com.

• DIRT TRACK -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway's NASCAR Weekend in March will begin with the inaugural Las Vegas Dirt Classic on March 8 and 9. The event will feature the Western All-Stars Late Model Series and USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.

Qualifying will begin at 5 p.m. each night, with heat races at 6.

The event replaces a visit by the World of Outlaws. ...

Tony Stewart won Saturday's 21st annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Center in Oklahoma.

• MOTORCYCLES -- James Stewart will try for his third consecutive win of the AMA Supercross season Saturday in Anaheim, Calif. He leads reigning series champion Ricky Carmichael by one point in the standings.

• DESERT RALLY -- Carlos Sainz of Spain won Thursday's 12th stage of the Dakar Rally, which ends Sunday in Dakar, Senegal.

Stephane Peterhansel of France is the leader.

NASCAR driver Robby Gordon is eighth overall, and Las Vegan Michael Petersen is 22nd.