Ron August Jr. will be pulling double duty by driving in two classes at this weekend’s 9th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. August will make his second Top Fuel appearance behind the wheel of one of Mitch King’s entries and drive his family-owned Top Alcohol Funny Car. Both entries are backed by Lescure Co.

“This is a dream come true,” said August. “I never really thought I’d get a chance to compete in Top Fuel, let alone in two classes at the same race. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

August earned his Top Fuel license in one of King’s entries shortly before the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil and drove a brand-new McKinney dragster at the event, missing the field when Clay Millican knocked him out of the No. 16 position in the final qualifying session. His odds of getting into the show in Las Vegas won’t be much better with 26 drivers entered, but August has faith in King’s Paul Smith-led team and has one clearly defined goal for the event.

“I want to be racing both cars on Sunday,” said August. “It’s not going to be easy in either class, but I know what both teams are capable of. I’m not going into this race with delusions of taking on someone like [Tony] Schumacher in the final round, but I think we can get the dragster in the show and be competitive. We’ve had a tough year with the alcohol car, and I’m trying to get that back to the level we were at before.”

August has been successful with the alcohol car in Las Vegas, winning the spring event in 2006 and scoring a Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event win in 2007. He will join Pat Austin (who twice doubled with wins in Top Fuel and Top Alcohol Funny Car), Morgan Lucas, Gary Scelzi, and Mitch King Motorsports teammate Del Cox Jr. as drivers who have competed in a nitro and alcohol category at the same event. His doing so this weekend and two weeks later at the season-ending event in Pomona will be especially frantic for the 45-year-old from Pleasanton, Calif., because he works on and tunes his alcohol car in addition to driving.

“I’m sure there will be times when it gets busy,” said August. “Fortunately, there are good people on both teams, and I don’t have to worry about anything except driving on Mitch’s car. Going back and forth between driving each car shouldn’t be too bad. I have so many runs in the alcohol car that it’s kind of second nature, and I’m getting more comfortable in the dragster. I just have to remember not to release the clutch when I’m staging the alcohol car or reach between my legs for the reverser in the dragster.

“I’m just really grateful for the chance to do this. Mike and Susan Lescure have stepped up a bunch for me, and Mitch has given us a great opportunity. I also couldn’t do this without the support of my parents; my son, Christian; and our business, California Air. We’re working on next year, and I’d love to be able to race Top Fuel at five to seven races and still run the alcohol car at Division 7 races and a few national events. Whatever happens, I’m just lucky to be out here doing this.”

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