When a large puddle of nitro caught fire under the right side headers the NHRA starting line crew shut down the flopper, but as the motor sputtered, the upturned headers puked out a ball of flaming-hot nitro all over the veteran tuner. Jimbo fell to the ground rolling around to extinguish the stinging mixture.

A security guy guided the dazed crew chief off the starting line and to medical help. He returned singed and bandaged on his left arm for the final Saturday session, but the Craftsman Firebird failed to qualify, missing the 4.929 cut.

I'LL BE BACK?

Even though the T2 sponsored funny car made it to the final round at Pomona, the third car for Worsham & Fink racing may be a fading dream next season for fill-in driver Cory Lee.

As of Sunday, Artisan Home Entertainment had not signed on for 2004 and Arnie Karp's son brought the sponsorship to the team. Artisan has just been purchased by Lions Gate Films and often in these kinds of corporate acquisitions; the ways of doing business in the past are often discarded by new management. We hear that the T2 Funny Car promotion was a huge success for moving the DVDs off the shelf.

After showing his driving talents in Sunday's runner-up finish, Cory is keeping his fingers crossed, but is realistic while he tries to continue his funny car career looking for win No.1.

WALKING WOUNDED

John Force was still hurting with 40 stitches in his hands caused by the shattered crystal trophy incident earlier in the week. Before the final qualifying session on Saturday evening, Force had to scoot from the staging lanes to his motorhome to grab a pill to mask the pain he was feeling in his hands from the deep cuts.