Lang also walks out of Maryland with a new IHRA World Record elapsed time of 5.884 seconds wrapping up one of the best races of the year during one of the most impressive seasons in Pro Modified history.

“Obviously last year was really competitive and our first year we got a national event win and now to go to eight finals in a row and have the season we are having is great,” Lang said. “This ranks right up there if not as good as last year.”

Lang received his toughest test of the season on Sunday to pick up the win, almost being knocked off on three different occasions on his way to his seventh career victory.

Along with barely edging Hoover, Lang also survived against the man with the fastest recorded pass in Pro Mod history, Andy Jensen, and had to hold on against Fred Scriba by three thousandths of a second.

“There were definitely no easy rounds. In the second round he cut a light on me and I knew that one was going to be close and then having the turbo car in the semifinals I knew I would have my hands full,” Lang said. “Every round was tough and then to have Ed again in the final, I knew he would throw everything at it and we were able to come out on top.”

Lang has been able to run away with the title thanks to his fifth victory over Hoover in seven tries – including two wins in final rounds.

In the quarterfinals Jensen put down the lap heard round the world at 5.954 seconds at 243.63 miles per hour in his supercharged Camaro in the quickest lap ever recorded in an IHRA Pro Mod to move on to the semis.

Lang survived his quarterfinal run against Freddie Scriba by three thousandths of a second to move on to the semifinals and Alfonso defeated Pete Farber and Hoover defeated Steve Bareman in other quarterfinal action.

There were few surprises in the opening round of Pro Modified as nearly all of the high qualifiers moved on to the quarters. The lone exception was a big upset by Alfonso who took out No. 2 qualifier Tony Pontieri. Hoover also squeaked out a win over the third qualifier Ike Maier.

PRO STOCK

During the second half of the season, no one has had more bad luck than Cary Goforth. After two final rounds and an incredible 9-2 win-loss record through the first three races of the season, Goforth’s last four national events have included two first round losses, a second round exit and a no-show.

Thanks to that stretch, all Goforth could do was watch as his point lead through three races slowly dwindled from first to the bottom half of the top five entering this weekend’s event. But on Sunday Goforth finally managed to get his act together and return to championship form with a victory over Bob Bertsch.