In the final round of qualifying the track conditions had improved and the E.Ts showed it, but when it was all said and done, Clint Hairston’s GTO had grabbed the #1 spot with a 6.366 blast, followed by Bluebaugh 6.496, Ed Thornton 6.538, Bessant 6.804, Walker 6.923, Art Hodges 8.537, and Randy Hagerty N/T (electrical issues).

The two quickest cars of the weekend would make their way to the final. On one side of the ladder it was Hairston, who got a bye in the first round and a gimme in the second when Walker’s transmission broke.

On the opposite side of the ladder Thornton’s Corvette was making its way to the final pairing with a first round win 6.390 over Hodges’ losing 6.533. In the semi Thornton’s 6.666 would take out local favorite Kelly Bluebaugh’s losing 7.077.

In the final round (above) Thornton would take a slight starting line advantage over Hairston (.063 to .072) and hold on for the win with a 6.547/222.22 to Hairston’s losing  6.573/220.48. The win was Thornton’s first in the WCHRA and earned him the early season points lead, trophy and $4,000 winner’s check.

OUTLAW 10.5
With the change in format to the 1/8th mile for the OUTLAW 10.5 racers, the racing was close and repeated itself over the three rounds with the three entries staying within six- hundredths of each other!

Roger Holder qualified #1 with a 4.877/148.77 in his ’68 Nova followed by Dave Boles’ ’63 Nova (4.918) and Doug Sikora’s Mustang (4.935).