Honest racing refreshing to see

There was a rush to clean out my reporter's toolbox this week to get ready for this weekend's three-ring circus at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Not much time to savor a stellar three days of the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals last weekend because about 750 race teams from across the country have converged on the dragstrip for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 finale. The event runs today through Sunday.

Add in Saturday night's annual Las Vegas Open Comp at the Bullring and the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series on the stadium dirt course Saturday and Sunday, and things will be hectic at LVMS.

But here are a few items discovered among rusty screwdrivers and pliers:

■ NO TEAM ORDERS -- There have been times in NHRA and NASCAR when drivers have thrown a race -- or were accused of doing so -- to help a teammate win a season championship.

That didn't happen when teammates met in last weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Greg Anderson and Jason Line of KB Racing raced door to door in an NHRA Pro Stock championship run Sunday. Line was not contending for the season championship, but Anderson needed every point he could muster to pad his lead over Mike Edwards heading into next weekend's season finale at Pomona, Calif.

"We have a lot of pride on this Summit Racing team, and I think we've proved over the years that we don't believe in team orders, so we weren't about to start now," Anderson said after winning. "After all, you have to feel like you earned the win. It was a great race, and I was fortunate enough to come out on top.''

In the Cup race Sunday in Talladega, Ala., Clint Bowyer edged Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick to win.

Bowyer is out of the Chase race, but Harvick could have pulled within 28 points of leader Jimmie Johnson had Bowyer let him by. Instead Harvick sits 38 points back heading to Sunday's race in Fort Worth, Texas.

No team orders with either team. Just racers with integrity who value winning more than receiving charity.

■ INDYCARS -- We should know by the end of this month whether IndyCars will join the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in October at the speedway. Rumors are that an Indy Lights race would be included during the Oct. 14-16, 2011 weekend.

It looks like a good possibility that the event will happen and America's open-wheel series will be in Las Vegas.

■ DIRT TRACK -- The speedway's half-mile of magic mud isn't used often, but when the gates open it's for a special event.

The Las Vegas Sprint Car Nationals on Nov. 26 and 27 will be the finale for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, which features cars similar to those raced in the World of Outlaws.

Among those committed to compete are Outlaws racers Sammy Swindell, Danny Lasosky, Donny Schatz, Tim Schaffer and Jessica Zemken, who drives for Tony Stewart Motorsports and is Tony Stewart's girlfriend.

A couple of Sprint Cup stars might show up to race, too.

■ GO DADDY -- Las Vegan Brendan Gaughan is 11th in points driving for Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

The 35-year-old will also race in Sprint Cup on Nov. 14, when the series visits Phoenix International Raceway.

Gaughan will drive the No. 71 TRG Chevy in his first Cup race since he competed full time in 2004.

Gaughan needs the part-time work after wife Tatum gave birth to their first child, Michael James, on Saturday.

Jeff Wolf's motor sports column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247. Visit Wolf's motor sports blog at lvrj.com/blogs/heavypedal/ throughout the week.