The First Nitro Coupe Repeat Champion!

Beginning 2003 with a brand-new car, Dan Nickelson tackled all the problems inherent with "sorting out" a racecar, while defending his 2002 Nitro Coupe Championship. Early on, it became apparent that Dan's C5 Corvette, beautiful as it might be, was not as ready as Nickelson was to carry the Championship flag. Riding along in third place after the Pomona Super Chevy Show in early May, Dan made the switch to the "old" racecar -- his Championship-winning Beretta from last season.

In a preview of what we'll...        read full caption In a preview of what we'll see Dan Nickelson running next year, the team brought its C5 Corvette to Vegas, and it ran great. Ever since the car was essentially rebuilt (by fellow Nitro Racer John Scalpi), it's been much more competitive and predictable. Those are good qualities to have in a 220 mph, nitro-burning door-slammer!

The night desert sky is a...        read full caption The night desert sky is a great backdrop for Ken Hall's Top Secret Jet Funny Car, as he lights it up next to Mark Hanna's First Strike. The Hanna team gives us thrill after thrill on their thunderous quarter-mile runs.

Amazingly, Nickelson jumped back into the Nitro Coupe points lead in Dallas, and never looked back. It's a good thing he didn't, because two fire-breathing teams from Canada, Bruce Bolton and Gary Irving, were coming on strong. Responding to the challenge, Nickelson's team had enough to stay out front and eventually collect the $10,000 prize from Muscle Machines, along with another $5,000 from AutoStar Productions.

We don't know what to expect from the Nitro Coupes in 2004, but looking at the way teams finished up 2003, it should be really fast, really loud, and really exciting! All the action on the track, and all the beauty in the show-car grounds is displayed in Super Chevy magazine. Please keep an eye out for the full coverage in an upcoming issue.

On the left is famous automotive...        read full caption On the left is famous automotive artist, Kenny Youngblood, talking with Coronado High School's auto shop instructor, Jeff Schmanske. We met them when the Super Chevy Tour made a stop at Coronado High, on our way to the Hot Rod Grille, and finally, the Super Chevy Show.	What a year for Project "X!"...        read full caption What a year for Project "X!" Vegas was the wrap-up event for our favorite '57 Chevy, and it still drew crowds. It might make an appearance or two on the 2004 circuit, but we're already planning for the next Tour Car -- a very potent Camaro.	Muscle Machines makes some...        read full caption Muscle Machines makes some very nice model cars, but they're also behind some great drag racers. Everybody's favorite salt-flat machine, a chevy-powered '53 Stude leaves the line at "The Strip."
Just your average, everyday...        read full caption Just your average, everyday Las Vegas response vehicle? This is a fire department that gets to the scene FAST!

2003 LAS VEGAS SUPER CHEVY SHOW STATS

Preston Anderson	Rick Beaver	Doug Bullard
John Castro	Karen Comstock	Craig Diller
Tim Ebbett	Neisha MacKay	Jeff Patton
Robert Powers

Dennis Anderson	Larry & Sharon Cox	Shirley Goldstrom
Gary Kostrivas	Steve Kramer	Lisa O'Shaughnessy
Willie Tyson	Dick & Muriel Uhlenkott

John Hadorn	Neil Anderson	John & Sylvia Piccola
Bob & Nancy Smith	Chris Pilos	Don Carlile
Jerry Yoder	Chuck Immormino	Kim & Diane Lapick
Tyler Kurth