Marc Dantoni fared only a little better than racing partner Pat Musi, who went out with tire shake in round one. Dantoni got past Tony Williams in the opener, but lost a squeaker to Samuel in the second round.

Ed Thornton's qualifying speed held up as fastest of the meet, earning the Chino Hills, CA-based racer a $1,000 bonus, but Steve King eclipsed his e.t. mark with a 6.613-second win over Terry Brown in round two of eliminations. King, who qualified 6th, drove his blown '98 Viper to a semi-final finish.

We've heard of drivers "knocking down the tree," but it appeared Carl Smart was taking the term a little too literally in qualifying on Saturday. Actually, Smart quickly regained control of his 2002 Mustang and wound up 63rd of 73 Super Pro entries.

The excitement didn't quite end for Mike Steele when he lost in the final to Samuel. He had a little trouble getting slowed down and ended up in the weeds off the end of the Orlando strip. "I was just praying you were going to see me and not turn in," Steele told Samuel afterward, since he was in the right lane and they both had to make a right turn to exit the track. "That wouldn't have been a good way to end it."

OUTLAW 10.5

Tim Lynch's qualifying pass stood up as low e.t. of the meet, adding a $1,000 bonus to the $5,000 he earned by winning the Outlaw 10.5 final over Mike Calvert.

The Outlaw 10.5 class featured 92 entries, with qualifying led by eventual race winner Tim Lynch from Woodstock, GA, with a 7.116-second pass at 203.75 mph in his twin-turbo 2002 Mustang Cobra. Pedro Apolito's 7.529/186.52 combination filled out the field, meaning just .413 seconds separated 32 cars for raceday, making it easily the most tightly contested class at the World Street Nationals.