Racing recap has highlights from the first full day of racing at the National Championship Air Races.

STEAD – First, a correction from yesterday. It was mentioned on various posts that Stewart Dawson in Rare Bear had declared a Mayday. While I thought it might be true turns out it actually never happened.

A source within the team informed me that Dawson was up just in case Steven Hinton, in Voodo, decided improve his qualifying speed. In fact both pilots orbited high above the course but neither tried to get in another fast lap.

Today was the first full day of racing and the air show. And due to the lighter winds all the classes got their heat races in.

Once again Tom Aberle won his Biplane heat race with a speed of 245.866 mph while Birch Entriken posted a speed of 197.237 to win the other heat race.

Over on the IF1 side Steve Senegal continued his winning ways posting a speed of 248.026 mph. Right at the end, as Senegal was catching the last two racers there was some confusion and he may have actually taken an extra lap.

Goforth Phillip was the other F1 heat winner with a speed of 226.489 mph.

Moving to the Sport class, which has enjoyed much growth over the past few years it now takes three heats to get everyone into competition.

Rovey Jason, with a speed of 234.054 won his heat as did Kevin Eldredge, who posted a speed of 301.486 mph. In the last heat David Sterling ripped off a speed of 360.485 to win his heat.

In the big planes Chris Rushing won the first T-6 heat with a speed of 241.432 and Nick Macy won the next heat with a speed of 234.149 although he finished with defending champion Dennis Buehn close behind him.

Now days the jets are the fastest class and they lived up to this promise. Mike Steiger won his heat with an average speed of 459.629 mph. In the other heat, Sean Cushing won with a speed of 502.185 mph but not far behind him in second was Pete Zaccagnino flying his vintage Vampire.

As traditional the fastest Unlimiteds took a pass on this day so the remainder of the field took to the skies. The fastest trio will race tomorrow through Sunday.

Dan Martin, flying his P-51 won the first heat with a speed of 350.319 while Dennis Sanders, in Dreadnought, left everyone in his heat with a speed of 420.676. He was so far ahead that even with a time penalty, Sanders still won by a wide margin.

During that second heat Mark Watt and Korey Wells had an almost wingtip-to-wingtip duel for third. In the end Watt ended up with the position.

Although there was no F-16 Viper show the Nevada Air Guard National Guard hauled the Air Force Academy Jump Team to altitude so they could be parting of the opening ceremonies.

And the Breitling Jet Team preformed in its first show of the weekend. And the B-25 did flybys as well.

Tomorrow, Friday, it all begins again with the Formula 1 and Biplane classes starting the show.

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Chris Rushing wins first T-6 heat.

Dan Martin, in Grim Reaper, wins first Unlimited heat.

Dennis Sanders wins his Unlimited heat.

Mark Watt in Argonaut (rt) leads Korey Wells in 924.

Pete Zaccagnino in his vintage Vamire.

Sean Cushings winning the fast jet heat.

Vicky Benzing leads Mark Pracy.

NVANG Loadmaster keeping watch from the ramp.

Breitling Jet Team in action.