LVMS set for Bracket Nationals

Jeg Coughlin Jr. is racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway three weeks after being crowned the NHRA Pro Stock champion for the third time.

But the veteran from Delaware, Ohio, won't be in his Pro Stock Chevrolet. Instead, he will be driving two Sportsman category dragsters today in the Bracket Nationals, which began Thursday at the facility's drag strip.

"Pro Stock is a very tough class, but from a pure driving standpoint, I'd have to say that bracket racing is just as difficult, if not harder," Coughlin said. "In bracket racing, it doesn't matter how much horsepower you have. If your driving isn't up to par, you won't have any success."

Drivers in E.T. (elapsed time) bracket racing predict their performance over the quarter-mile by posting a "dial-in," or the time expected to complete the run. The winner is the first to cross the finish line provided he doesn't go quicker than his dial-in.

Other pros reverting to their Sportsman racing roots among the nearly 500 cars this weekend are Funny Car driver Jack Beckman and Coughlin's NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock teammate, Dave Connolly.

The event, which runs through Sunday, offers four separate races and pays $5,000 to each winner. The Ultimate Gambler on Saturday could pay the winner as much as $64,000 if the maximum number of drivers pay the $1,000 entry fee. Last year's winner earned $39,000.

Racing begins 7 a.m. each day, with the Ultimate Gambler set for 12:15 p.m. Saturday.

• DIRT TRACK -- Karl Forman won the Legends Cars feature race Sunday in the Day after the Duel at LVMS's dirt track. Other winners were: Billy Grasser (Bombers), George Fronsman (Super Stock) and Erick Slusher (Mini Stock).