Two years after sliding across the Gateway International Raceway finish line at 6.69/171 without a bike(!), Phil Schmidt returned to “the Swamp” wearing the AHDRA Top Fuel Championship #1 plate. He manhandled the “California Gold” 186-incher to fourth spot after two sessions with a 6.48/218.02 best.

Despite its name, the K&K Marine-sponsored Pro Modified Eliminator doesn’t allow blowers, turbos or nitrous. In fact, the division calls for 114-inch gas-burning engines with single carburetors. Bruce Chandler’s sleek black New York rig hit 8.89/146.42 to lead the field by five hundredths.