In the semis, Stanton took a .045 advantage off the start over Frankie Taylor and his ’53 Vette and needed it as the Texan went a quicker and faster 3.97/188.28, but lost to Stanton’s 3.99/184.96 package. Taylor, who started sixth after making a 4.00 lap in qualifying, set low E.T. for the meet with an outstanding-for-the-conditions 3.95 at 187.19 in his first-round win over Bil Clanton.
On the opposite side of the ladder, number-eight qualifier Travis Swearingen completed his march to the final by dispatching Bennie McDonald Jr., polesitter Baker (who beat
Swearingen in the PEX final at Valdosta, GA, two months earlier), and John Lynam in the semis.
Swearingen left first with a .029 light to Stanton’s .044 in the final, but later said his car just didn’t leave the way it should have and he was already behind by the 60-foot marker. Stanton went on to post a winning 3.97 at 183.52, his best time of the weekend despite a major sashay about half-track, against Swearingen’s early shut-off 4.84 in the left lane.
Reisterer clearly was the class of the field in Pro Nitrous, with Billy Harper starting second with a 4.10 in qualifying and only Keith Baker also reaching the “4.0-zone” all weekend with a 4.09/179.71 win over Johnny Pilcher in the semis.
Reisterer, another Texan, advanced through Terry Murphy in round one, a redlighting Jamie Hancock in round two and Buzz Varner in the semis to meet up with Baker, the defending series champ, in the final round.
Before ending Pilcher’s attempt to win his third-straight ADRL event title, Baker, the defending series champion, took care of Dennis Radford and his radical ’70 Cuda and Terry Housley in a ’41 Willys.
Reigning ADRL Pro Nitrous champ Keith Baker (near lane) had a slight holeshot over Doug Reisterer in the Motor Mile final, but Reisterer powered through to win while Baker lost his grip on the track.
Not relying only on his car’s prodigious power, Reisterer left with a .017 reaction in the final, but Baker still got away first with a .008 light. Regardless, Baker’s ’63 Vette lost traction while Reisterer secured his first ADRL win with another nice 4.04 pass at 179.07 mph.
Victory lane was a scene of pandemonium as hundreds of fans swarmed the track to gather autographs and photos from both winners. Reisterer said he “could get used to this, especially the big check that ADRL pays to win one of these,” while Stanton smiled ear-to-ear as he admitted, “this is even more fun than winning the championship!”
