CLOSER TO 1.(Competitions of automobile racing)

The AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals made for a brutal weekend for many of the National Hot Road Association's "Countdown to 1'' playoff drivers. It's the first year for the playoff system, which narrowed the championship contenders in each of the four pro divisions to the four top drivers, with the championship ultimately decided in the final two races-Las Vegas and then Pomona, California, on Nov. 3.

In Top Fuel, Rod Fuller beat late-season spoiler Doug Kalitta in the finals, giving Fuller a 52-point lead over Larry Dixon, with Brandon Bernstein in third and Tony Schumacher in fourth. Under last year's points system, Fuller already would be the champion.

In the Funny Car final, Ashley Force was defeated by Tony Pedregon's holeshot, leaving Pedregon with an enormous 91-point lead over second-place Gary Scelzi. All three of Pedregon's competitors for the title-Scelzi, Robert Hight and Ron Capps-lost in the first round, virtually deeding the title to Pedregon. As for Force-whose car caught on fire after she won her quarter-final race-her final-round appearance was the first ever for a female driver in Funny Car and capped an emotional weekend highlighted by the return of her father, John Force, who had been seriously injured in a crash in Dallas, though he toured the Las Vegas track in a walker instead of his race car.

Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, pictured above, beat Jeg Coughlin in the final, giving him a 34-point lead over Coughlin. Third is Dave Connolly, and fourth is Allen Johnson.

In Pro Stock motorcycle-which, unlike the other three pro classes, didn't compete at the last race in Richmond, Virginia-reigning champion Andrew Hines beat Chip Ellis, giving Hines a 39-point lead over Ellis to take to Pomona. Matt Smith is third, with Peggy Llewellyn in fourth.

LOEB LOSES OUT

Even if an oil-pressure problem did not force World Rally Championship title contender Sebastien Loeb out of Rally Japan, a rare mistake by his navigator could have cost the Citroen driver a record-tying fourth title. Either way, Loeb failed to capitalize on title rival Marcus Gronholm's own retirement from the event.