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Eighteen last chance races would determine the last of the finalist for the right to compete for the title of Super Nationals Champion.

There have been 25 years of racing for this prestigious crown.

The winners include Mike Schulte from Norway, Iowa; he was the first winner.

Other winners were Mike Frieden from Swisher, Iowa, who won it twice. Wayne Larson of Ames, Iowa, won the title two times but it's Mark Noble (Blooming Prairie, Minn.) with three titles and John Logue (Boone) with five titles who lead the parade.

Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo. and Darren Williams of Phoenix, Ariz. are the only drivers with ties to this area of the world to nab the check and probably labeled by the track scribes in that area as biscuit stealers.

After talking to several racers, Kathie and I decided that we would get to the action track as early as possible so we could secure a great seat for viewing the action and try to get some better photo opportunities.

Only a select few photographers are allowed to shoot from the infield and after watching them dodge cars and flying parts I could see IMCA's reluctance to put even more photographers in harm's way.

I was promised that if one of our Pahrump racers made it into the elite 33, I would be granted an infield pass. We got to the track at around 10 a.m. (racing was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.) and secured what I felt were prime seats and we took turns keeping our claim established.

During this period of race inactivity, I headed for the manufacturers midway and a chance meeting with John Saathoff and Chad Farstveet.

I just missed Randy Lajoie and Jason Pike was seen pulling out on I-30, headed for Pahrump. Heading back to the grandstand to relieve my wife, I ran into J.R. Caha, who was confident that either one of the two remaining Pahrump racers would get into the show.

I have Saathoff's word that he will be coming out to the Las Vegas Duel in the Desert, which is scheduled to kick off a three day affair Nov. 15. Also in tow will be last year's winner, Jeremy Payne.

After guarding our seats for three hours, along with a handful of others, we were ordered to leave the area and go out and stand with the long line of spectators who were purchasing tickets despite the fact that Kathie had a week-long pit pass and I had media credentials.

We then had the privilege of meeting George and Toni Charles from Doniphon, Mo., who would eventually secure the seats for us once again.

Unbeknownst to me, I was sitting in a seat that had been occupied by the same man for 25 years and he was sitting a few rows below us.

There was another couple, the parents of IMCA hobby stock driver Tanner Powers (who qualified in the last position in the hobby stock A-main and finished seventh), who made our long stay in the grandstand enjoyable.

John Logue and Rex Merritt were honored by the IMCA; both were the recipients of Ironman awards.

Logue was appearing in his 17th Super Nationals and Merritt had competed in every Super Nationals since 1986.

Announcer Toby Cruse used a deck of cards and a couple hands of poker to help decide the starting positions for the All-Star and the Ron Elfkamp Memorial Race of Champions.

After a stirring rendition of "God Bless America" by country singer Jason Brown and the National Anthem played by the Boone High School band, the roar of alcohol-induced racing engines fired up under a beautiful blue sky with wisps of white clouds.

James Delaney was the first to carry the Nevada state banner and recorded a 10th in a last chance race. Chris Bragg from Springton, Texas, won.

Next up, representing Pahrump and Winnemucca, were Leland Hibdon, Levi Kiefer and Chad Farstveet; they competed in the same last chance race.

Hibdon made some great moves to work his way through the pack and finished fourth. Kiefer, seemingly attached to his rear bumper, was fifth.

Farstveet suffered through an exasperating Super Nationals just one position from last. Jay Goosman from Hinton, Iowa, was the winner.

The venturi effect created by the Modifieds racing around the track must have roused what one spectator described as a bug that's all mouth.

Small black bugs that create welts once they get a hold on people descended upon the exposed bare skin of hundreds of rabid race fans.

My arms look and itch like I've contracted chicken pox. I've been told by several sources that the bugs are called the "noseeum bugs."

With no one to cheer for in the Modified Super National A-Main and after sitting for well over seven hours, I decided we would leave.

I can always watch 11 rows of three-wide racing somewhere else. The IMCA Super National champion was Todd Shute from Des Moines; second was Rich Lewerke from Garner, Iowa. Rounding out the podium was Eric Dailey from Armstrong, Iowa.

Winner of the IMCA Modified All-Stars race was former Super Nationals National champion, David Murray Jr. from Oberlin, Kan. Murray was the 2003 winner of the Race of Champions and the 2004 Super Nationals.

Following were Kellen Chadwick (Oakley, Calif.), Jordan Grabouski, Reese Coffee, Randy Brands, Benji LaCrosse, Johnny Saathoff, Joen Boyce, Jay Noteboom and Shawn Zelenka (Surprise, Ariz.).

The Race of Champions winner was Jimmy Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, followed by Eric Dailey, Rich Smith, Benji LaCrosse, Troy Cordes, Jared Siefert, James Kleinheskel, Drew Christianson, Robby Haines, George Fronsman (Surprise Ariz.), Corey Lagroon and Darren Williams (Phoenix).

In case you need a refresher course, LaCrosse won the IMCA National Championship by a mere four points over Las Vegas schoolteacher, Dan Fitzgerald.

Fronsman and Zelenka are 1-2 in the Western Region, separated by a point for Western Region Championship. Darren Williams was the 2002 Super Nationals Champion.

Thanks to Casey and Levi Kiefer, our dreams were fulfilled and we can check this off our list of things to do.