Will qualified number one in a field 21 drivers vying for one of the top eight spots, delivering a 5.359-second pass at 263.56 mph. In the first round of eliminations, she sent local Vegas driver and event title sponsor Duane Shields to his trailer early and ended his title bid with a 5.463 at 259.01 to Shields' 5.671 at 231.56. In round two, she ended the title hopes of Jim Whiteley, sending him packing with a 5.339 /263.98 to a 5.391 at 264.49. That win assured TAD driver Bill Reichert a repeat as World Champion.

The final was an all-Conway affair, pitting father against son in a battle of the crew chiefs: Will's crew chief and car-owner Tom Conway against his son Shane Conway, the crew chief for Michael Manners. Will took a large starting-line advantage over Manners but had to watch him drive away as her car overpowered the track and smoked the tires, giving him the win.

"It felt so good to see the win-light come on this weekend, I'd forgotten how good that feels," Will said. "Tom gave me a great car all weekend long, and except for that final, we had great laps down the track every shot. I'm not sure why we smoked the tires on that last run, but I've got confidence that Tom will take a look at all of the data and keep our momentum going heading into Pomona next weekend.”

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

Round 1
7) Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.395, 266.37 def. 2) Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., 5.378, 265.69
3) Michael Manners, Willis, Texas, 5.369, 263.36 def. 6) Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., 5.501, 263.51
5) Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 5.375, 266.37 def. 4) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.386, 262.08
1) Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., 5.463, 259.01 def. 8) Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.671, 231.56

Semifinals
Will, 5.339, 263.98, def. Whiteley, 5.391, 264.49
Manners, 5.348, 266.21, def. Demke, 5.381, 264.29

Final
Manners, 5.332, 265.33, def. Will, 16.506, 65.42

Mike Manners  (James Drew photo)