In round 2, Walker got a competition bye run as the number-one qualifier but he wanted to make sure he got lane choice so he ran a stout 6.382 at 218.90 mph.

The last pair would also be a very close at the finish line as Griffith got a great light and had the lead up to the last 200 feet as Bluebaugh used all that WFO power plant to come from behind and take the win light running a 6.493/219.72 over Griffith’s 6.552/206.92.

In the semifinals, Bluebaugh left the line first and got the win light with a 6.587/216.24 to Thornton’s 6.750/212.63.

Walker had his El Camino running like a bracket car and he ripped off another 6.394 at 219.47 mph as Mihovetz had all kinds of troubles, first shaking the tires, then getting out of shape and finally giving up the chase running a 7.101 at only 161.69 mph.

On paper this looked to be a great battle of two carbureted Chevrolet machines with NOS juice. In the final Walker used his driving talent to put a holeshot on Bluebaugh and he would need it as his El Camino fell off his high 6.30 pace but took the win light with a 6.474 at 217.98 mph to Bluebaugh, who ran his quickest and fastest run in the final round, a 6.461 at 220.33 mph.

Accufab Racing Outlaw 10.5: Ron Weems (shown) 7.019/200.80 over Greg Seth-Hunter 7.173/207.37.