Fifth qualifier was the Stealth-looking piece of Mike Fuller & Bill Dunlap (lead photo) out of Capitola, CA at 6.07, 231.71 mph. Ray Zeller, tuning the quickest and fastest Nitro Chevy, ran 6.13 at 224.20 mph. The Foothill Flyer made a nice showing of 6.15/234.98, after being "missing in action" for quite some time. Rounding out the elite eight was Bob Muravez in the Western Hoist Spl. with a 6.24/223.61 run.

Jeff Diehl (front) was number two qualifier and Bob Muravez was number eight.

Missing out were Ground Zero-Bill Alexander, Scott Mason (best ever 6.35!), Brendan Murry, Fred Farndon, Rick Rogers, Birky & Malde, and the Superstition of Mike Lockman.

In the semi-final against Jack Harris, Dunlap was not to be denied as he joined the Firebird 5-second Club at a fine 5.98, 240.89 mph to narrowly defeat Harris's game 6.09, 225.33 mph.

Final round of the fire breathing Top Fuel cars came down to Lee Jennings' California Trucker Chevy entry versus Dunlap & Fuller's Chrysler/Stealth. It was an awesome race, as the veteran Dunlap laid down another fine 5.95, 237.71 mph to just defeat the Ray Zeller horsepower that ran a best for the GM Top Fueler at 6.07, 234.80 mph.

Brendan Murry won the Tater Top Fuel honors over Fred Farndon for the number 9 to 12 qualifiers.

AA/FA

Western States/CAT presented the AA/FA class, and it was a fantastic field too. Low qualifier for the breed was the very impressive "Fast 'n Forty" Fiat Coupe of Greg Daebelliehn at a fine pass of 5.81/244.63. Pepsi-backed Ron Fassl in the Pepsi Thunder entry tuned by "Famous" Amos Satterlee ran an easy (for them) 5.96 at 213 mph.

The Sparks, NV team of Ricky Ruiz and family was number three
at a fine 6.02/207.65 mph. In the background is Mitch King's
Texas-based machine, which didn't make the quick four.

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Mac McCord and the Gorilla out of Phoenix, AZ clocked the fourth quickest qualifying at a 6.33, 211.76 mph.