With almost identical reaction times, the number one qualifier was not to be denied as Griffith’s sharp looking candy burgundy Dodge Viper just did edge out Kelly bluebaugh, winner of the the last race at Las Vegas in the tightest race of the night with a 6.596, 213.98 mph to the Auto Trader Monte Carlo’s 6.599 and 215.17 mph.
Karl Wilson was experiencing blower belt problems all weekend and even borrowed two from good friend Jeremy Hanger’s team. In his first-round race Wilson hit the throttle and once again the blower belt just let go, giving Big Ed Thornton a tune up run with the Accufab ‘57 Chevy. Thornton finally found a combo that worked at 6.788, 217.14 mph.
Big Jay Syvertsen came all the way from Surrey, Alberta, Canada, just to race with his friends. Syvertsen runs Danny Rowe’s former ‘37 Chevy coupe, which is powered by a blown big block built and tuned by West Covina, California’s John Scialpi. This weekend Syvertsen just could not find a handle on this tricky track, as he cut (.062 RT) only to veer into the guard-rail damaging the coupe and giving an instant victory to a guy who needs no help at Fontana, John Mihovetz, who eased on down the 1320 to the tune of 6.726 at 216.13 mph.
It was nitrous versus turbo in the next pairing with Mike Bowman’s turbo Monte Carlo and Randy Hagerty’s awesome 1963 Corvette. Both these guys have been flying lately but not today as Bowman squeezed out a 6.944/212.43 over a completely sideways Hagerty at 7.144, 187.16 mph as Randy would just not give up the race.
In another close race Hanger and his Studebaker seemed to adapt to the conditions with a 6.666/212.96 over Art Hodges in his now Figspeed Speed Parts=backed Dodge Stratus at a sideways but decent pass of 6.859/209.88. For Art’s very NHRA Pro Stock appearing Dodge it was just one lap too late. In a Ford versus Pontiac turbo match up, it was the brand new record holding Mustang of Giuseppe Gentile and the Turbo People staying in it a little longer than Clint Hairston’s family GTO.
