Roger Bateman Vegas wrap up

Bateman’s ante too much for all (but one) in Vegas

The city of Las Vegas is built on dreams and the city opens it’s doors to people who can win big but also lose big. Roger Bateman and the Friesen Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car team ventured north of “Sin City” to the other “Strip”; The one at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 10th Annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals. This was the fifth stop on the NHRA premier series, the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series but also marked the second race for Roger and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series this season. “We need to shake up the class and let (points leader) Steve (Harker) and (second place Frank) Manzo know we are here” Roger was quoted as saying Thursday Before the event. “The spring race at “The Strip” (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway) is usually a great place for us to ‘play’ at”, car owner Brian Friesen stated. The team has done well here in the past.

Due to weather and wind there was no qualifying Friday, leaving the team to qualify on Saturday in the afternoon before eliminations Saturday evening. The team did just that qualifying #3 at 5.628 seconds/ 254.09 mph in the “heat”, (air temp 72 Degrees and track temp 108 degrees Fahrenheit) of the day. Now with the team holding the all important lane choice they stared down John Patton. With the sun setting behind the grandstand and the air temperature dropping to 71 degrees Fahrenheit, Bateman handled the driver from Surpise, AZ 5.600/ 254.47 to 6.919/140.33 respectively. Now the team would have to wait until Sunday morning and warmer conditions for their second round pairing with Daniel Oliver.

Sunday, the second round was run before the professional categories to accommodate a condensed TV schedule. The cars lined up to air and track temperatures differing by only eight degrees. “The air is cool and the track is tight”, Friesen noted. “Let’s ante up!” Roger and crew handled the driver out of Whittier, CA by running a 5.624 scond/252.43 mph pass to Daniel’s 5.679/253.95 to set low elapsed time for the round and giving the team lane choice over Sean O’ Bannon of Ontario, CA in the semi finals.

The next round took place almost four hours later but still had good track conditions. The air temperature was only 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the track was only 107 degrees meaning that the conditions were manageable instead of in the summer when conditions can give the tuners fits. “I owe Sean one”, Roger noted referring to the semi-final in Phoenix, AZ over five weeks ago. The team lined up against the Californian and ran a single when Sean was shut off on the starting line and could not make the run. Bateman thundered off a 5.616 second/ 253.14 mph pass to run into the “money round” against Pomona winner this February, Tony Bartone. “He is good”, car owner Brian Friesen said. Bartone had not run as fast as he did in qualifying so anything was possible for the Manitoba- Based racing team. The Calgarian bellied up to the “roulette table” and faced off against the hot shoe from Long Island, NY. With the air and track temperatures just a bit higher than two hours before (air 73, track 109) the team seemed poised to get their first National Event win. The car unfortunately rolled snake eyes as Bateman shook and rattled to a 11.06 second/ 82.51 mph pass to Bartone’s effortless 5.640/253.42 win.

The team will stay put and will compete at “The Strip” in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event Presented by TORCO Race Fuels April 10th to 12th.

Courtesy Jeffrey Porth