After three-time defending champ Marc Dantoni (left) was defeated in the first round, he combined knowledge with Pat Musi. Tony Christian drove Musi's Camaro this weekend. (Cranmer photo)

Also notable was Tony Christian, number 11 qualifier, fulfilling the driver's seat in Pat Musi's nitrous-aided '69 Camaro, and Zach Barklage, who qualified 11th, bringing his Pro Modified blown Pontiac. The number 1 qualifier, with a $1,000 cash bonus, was Tony Gillig in a 2002 turbo'd Mustang which ran a 6.671 at 212.41 mph. Three time defending event champion, Marc Dantoni, qualified seventh with a 6.832 at 208.42 mph in his juiced '69 Camaro. The bump in Super Pro was Joe Bradtke with a 7.312 at 188.44 mph. A 32-car field and the bump is a 7.31 - not too shabby in my book.

10.5 CLASS

Following Super Pro was the Mickey Thompson 10.5 class. These cars were only allowed 10.5 inch slicks with a maximum tread with of 12 inches, measured at the end of the run, 3,000 pound base weight, no full round tube chassis, and stock front frame rails. This class held many from the Ford racing series, and saw turbochargers galore. Dan Millen's 2002 turbo Mustang qualified number 1 with low E.T. of the meet, a 7.249 at 199.33 mph.

Mike Calvert's '02 turbo Mustang qualified second and grabbed top speed of the event with a pass of 7.295 at 200.53 mph. (Cranmer photo)

Steve Kirk Jr., the first man to 200 mph on 10.5's, and his 2000 Camaro qualified eighth with a pass of 7.349 at 195.18 mph. With the last qualifier being Kenny Perry's 7.732 at 177.37 mph, the 32 qualified cars were separated only by five-tenths of a second.

RADIAL TIRE

Mike Dees' 2000 Mustang completely astounded everyone in attendance with his low E.T. and top speed of the event, number 1 qualifying pass of 8.299 at 174.31.
(Gruenwald photo)

The last class to qualify was the Radial Tire class with 77 cars attempting to get into the 32-car field. With a maximum 12-inch width DOT radial tire, base weight of 3,400 pounds, stock type suspension, OEM transmissions, and one "power adder" allowed, these cars are fun to watch slide all over the track. Even with Weisinger's crew spraying traction compound wall to wall, a few of these guys met the guardrail first hand. But with a 9.250/139.49 pass by Dave Acker as the bump, even the "slow" class at this race is exciting.

After the abbreviated qualifying sessions, due mostly to good ol' Mother Nature, the sun was out early on Sunday when eliminations began at noon. There was a huge upset in Super Pro as number 7 qualifier Marc Dantoni was beat in the first round by 26th qualifier John Gullet, and sent home with no hopes for a fourth consecutive title.