Lawrence, Kansas based racer Steve Bruce took out Iowa racer Bruce
Micetich in the second round and went on to the semi-finals.

On race day, Lang was a no-show, giving Barklage a bye run. It turned out to be a huge break, as the Lake Ozark, MO driver broke a trans after taking the green. Had Lang raced, he probably would have had a win. Micetich followed with a win over Mike Bodine, running a wild out-of- shape 7.59/194 to nip Bodine at the line. Little advanced with a win over Taylor, Mississippi's Mike Moran, who had another troubled run in his Monte Carlo.

David Schorr dealt out "the other" Barklage, Zach's 17-year-old brother Cody, using the rare Ford EFI combination to oust Cody's heavy metal '72 GTO. Terry Murphy ousted Tim Vogt, Delon Joseph singled against John Hocking, who was shut off behind the line by track officials, and Steve Bruce closed the round by stopping a slowing Stan Smith.

Bruce stopped Micetich to open round two, winning on a holeshot. McGinnis couldn't answer the bell against Murphy, who turned a 6.69 for the win. Little took out KC racer David Schorr with a 6.49, and Zach Barklage got back on track with a 6.40/224 winner over Delon Joseph.

Steve Bruce's excellent adventure ended in the semifinals, as Barklage put up a 6.37/225 winner to advance to the final found. Little tuned it up a bit and took out Terry Murphy, a multi-time winner of this event, by a 6.45/217 to 6.58/211 count.

For the gold, the glamour, the prestige, and the fun of it all, Barklage nipped the more experienced Little, running a winning 6.38/221 to Little's fine 6.42/214 try.

Barklage and crew gave the crowd what it came for, overcoming the weather, a tough bunch of local racers, and a persistent string of Lenco glitches to win the event. Along the way he set both Low E.T. (6.365) and Top Speed (250.62 mph) and qualified No. 1. This year's Doorslammer Challenge was a pretty good indication of how the Barklage Bunch has risen to a contending position in the Pro Mod ranks.