Drag racing season to open at LVMS

Sessions are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Top Alcohol dragsters, Funny Cars and Nostalgia cars.

The testing is open to NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, but no major teams are expected to test at the speedway until the next open test Jan. 30 and 31.

For information: 644-4444, LVMS.com.

• OFF ROAD — NASCAR driver Robby Gordon moved up to third in the overall standings of the Dakar Rally in South America after Thursday’s 12th stage.

Gordon benefited when two-time world champion and race leader Carlos Sainz crashed in the segment in Argentina.

The 3,728-mile, 16-day event ends Monday in Buenos Aires.

Gordon, who trails new leader Giniel De Villiers of South Africa by one hour, is expected to compete in next week’s SCORE Desert Racing series opener in Laughlin.

The Laughlin Desert Challenge will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Laughlin Events Center with the Laughlin Leap, a distance-jumping competition.

Qualifying on the 6.25-mile loop course is Jan. 23, with racing the following two days.

• NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS — John Force, a 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion, will be the guest speaker at the fourth annual Speedway Children’s Charities Mel Larson Night of Champions Dinner.

The April 1 event at Bellagio will honor automotive and motor sports legend Carroll Shelby.

All proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.

For information: 632-8242 or LVMS.com.