Five-Time World Champion Justin Lamb Seeking More Stardust at NHRA’s Prestigious Las Vegas Event
Stock and Super Stock standout Justin Lamb has arrived at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a playbook that many dream of and a record that speaks to his experience and good fortune at one of the most esteemed racetracks on the NHRA tour. This weekend’s Ford Performance NHRA Nationals will allow Lamb, a 17-time NHRA winner in Las Vegas, to add to his tally and gain points toward his final total in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championship competition.
Five-time world champion Lamb has nine national event wins at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and eight claimed there in Lucas Oil Series Pacific Division events. With his total trophies earned between NHRA national and divisional competition, the Henderson, Las Vegas, resident is the most winning driver at The Strip. Dan Fletcher is second-most with 10 national and two divisional wins, while Erica Enders is third-most with 10 Pro Stock wins.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of success at this racetrack, and not just with my cars – my son, Jayce, has won there in his Jr. dragster as well,” said Lamb. “It’s just a great place to race, and obviously it helps that it’s right in our backyard. That being said, it’s also one of the most challenging racetracks because of the way the conditions can vary. The wind, the heat, the cold – it all comes into play, and you never know what you’re going to get on any given day, let alone on any given run.”
Lamb has had the right tune for the conditions through many rounds, including in 2018 at the spring race when he became the sixth and most recent driver to double-up with victory in both Stock and Super Stock. Only 30 drivers have doubled at a national event in NHRA history, and it has happened 46 times overall.
“That was an awesome day,” said Lamb, a 31-time national event winner who also has 34 hard-fought division wins. “I don’t think of it every time I race there, but it’s a memory that stands out and one that can’t be replaced. To be part of such a small group of people in the 70-plus year history of NHRA means a lot, and to have it happen at our home track was just outstanding. It makes you understand how much is possible, and coming into this weekend and these last three races of the year (Las Vegas national and divisional events, plus the NHRA Finals), remembering what you’re capable of is important.”
Thus far in 2024, Lamb’s Super Stock scorecard is his strongest amongst the two tough classes in which he regularly competes. He won the division race in Phoenix in February in Super Stock, and he raced his RAD Torque Systems COPO Camaro to the final round in Sonoma this summer. His best Stock Eliminator race of the season came right there The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when he powered the RAD COPO Stocker to the final round at the divisional in April.
“There’s just one thing left to do this season, and that’s win a race. We’ve done that at least once for 12 consecutive seasons, and that’s something not many people can say,” said Lamb. “No matter what, it’s been a good year – but to finish with a win at either Vegas or Pomona would mean a lot to all of us.”
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series qualifying at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals will begin on Thursday, Oct. 31, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with final eliminations taking place on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
This story was originally published on October 31, 2024.
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