The most highly anticipated race for west coast racers is about to begin this week at The Strip at Las Vegas Speedway. For the third year in a row, the K&N Spring Fling Vegas event will begin Tuesday with early arrival parking for the almost 500 entries expected.
 
Racing in two classes; Super Pro and Pro; competitors will be vying for five straight days with payouts to the winner as much as $20,000 for Saturday’s Super Pro winner and $10,000 to the winner of the Pro class.
 
Following Tuesday’s early parking, the action kicks off on Wednesday with a free Test & Tune session sponsored by Yukon Gear & Axle. Wednesday will also be the day for the Maytag/Silver State Refrigeration 32 Car Shootout with $50K going to the winner.
 
Thursday’s event pays $5,000 and $3,000 to win respectfully to the two classes, while Friday and Sunday’s races each pay $10,000 and $5,000. In addition to the win money, the K&N Spring Fling Vegas race pays back starting with a third round win each of the main four days. The Spring Fling Vegas event also offers over $50,000 in product giveaways.
 
While most of the west coast racers can’t wait for the gates to open, neither can former NHRA Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin. Taking a second break from professional racing to spend more time with his own family and he and his brothers' primary business, JEGS Mail Order, Coughlin plans to once again hit as many high-dollar bracket races as his schedule allows this season.
 
In Las Vegas, Coughlin will be racing two vehicles in the Super Pro category: his distinctive JEGS.com Chevy II wagon and a yellow-and-black JEGS.com dragster. Coughlin, a former big money bracket race winner also, will have no time to adjust as he plans to take part in the $50,000-to-win, 32-car Silver State Shootout on Wednesday evening.
 
"We jump right into the fire," he said. "Might as well swim with the sharks from the start. It'll be fun no matter what, and I'm anxious to get back out to a dragstrip.”
 
“Besides the payout,” says co-promoter Kyle Seipel, “both myself and Peter [co-promoter Peter Biondo] are excited simply because of the atmosphere of fun which has been created here every year. From the time the gates open on Tuesday right up until the final rounds on Sunday, there’s a major party going on.”
 
Friday night’s race will finish off with a Sparco Racer Appreciation Party while the Saturday trophy presentation will have the winner’s photos taken with the famous Las Vegas Showgirls.
 
For those not fortunate to make the event in person, this year’s race, held on the weekend of April 22-26, will now feature live coverage as it happens on the BangShift.com Internet site. Bangshift will be on hand with a live broadcast on their website for all five days of the event. Visit www.BracketRaces.com for further info and results from the last two years.