With 32 Nitro Funny Cars getting through tech, fighting for their eight-car field, qualifying wouldn’t start until Saturday afternoon. The floppers also contained some new entries including those of NHRA Full Throttle drivers Gary Densham in his new “Teacher’s Pet” ’69 Camaro and current Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon in his recreation of Joe Pisano’s ’77 Plymouth Arrow.

An emerging class catching spectator attention is the A/FX class, with straight-axle altered wheelbase cars, Nostalgia Super Stock, Thunderbolts, Comets, Mustangs, ‘Cudas, Tempests, Impalas and Belvederes combining for a wheels up eliminator reminiscent of late 1960s door car racing. After two rounds of qualifying, Larry Knapp’s Mustang led the field with a 9.075/148.19-mph charge and Lynsi Martinez’s ’69 Dart took the second position with at 9.550/140.88.

Veteran Chuck Moore led the AA/Gas Supercharged contingent with a solid 6.529/214.08 mph and Cecil Mathews followed at 6.626/208.28.