For Spiess, his second IHRA career victory came on a track that in the past had not treated

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him kindly.  In fact, after earning his first tour victory at Darlington, S.C., in 2000, he came to Rockingham and crashed his car.

“This track has never been really good to me till this year,” Spiess said.  “I’m happy that Steve fixed the shutdown area.  It’s a lot more comfortable at the other end.   It’s a great facility.  I love the crowd and everything else about it.

“We gambled this morning,” admitted the No. 10 qualifier.  “We had been running some new stuff that I thought was good and we went back to the old stuff.  I didn’t know where the clutch was going to be or nothing.  We got lucky.  It was very consistent.  And fast.”

Spiess took out Jerry Haas of Fenton, Mo., in the money round, making the chassis builder a runner-up for the second time in his career, 18 years after he lost to Roy Hill at the IHRA World Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio (1987).

Although Billes won for the second straight time at The Rock, building on his victory in last October’s World Finals, it was his first IHRA tour victory with engine builder and car owner Jim Oddy as the successor to retired 2000 series champion Fred Hahn. 

This one, which came at the expense of No. 1 qualifier Quain Stott of Columbus, S.C., stamped Billes as the favorite to win the 2005 championship, especially in light of the early-season problems encountered by reigning champion Mike Janis of Lancaster, N.Y., who has yet to qualify for a tour event.