Cline and Tutterow ran against each other next. Cline took the tree with a .438 RT to Tutterow's .546 RT. However, Cline's 461' cu. in. Fulton powered small block launched clean and drifted out of the groove to run a 4.560/165.65. Tutterow powered down the track to light up the scoreboard with a 4.434/164.80.

The final pairing of the second round placed Decker against Gentile. Both men popped out excellent reaction times. Gentile's Musi-built 648 rushed down the track to a 4.535/161.11. Decker once again took the win light running a 4.500/162.39.

As the afternoon rolled on, it was time for the third round. Going into it, only one northern Bad Boy remained. Confident on the north's demise, spectators were overheard saying that the north will have to eat crow after this round. Yet, Dantoni was out to prove them wrong.

Dantoni and Bell staged. Bell launched his 815 cu. in. equipped Thunderbird first with a .427 RT. Yet, Dantoni's slower .505 RT did not stop him from taking the win light for the north. The confident southern race goers screamed in awe as Dantoni ran a 4.427/167.53 to Bell's 4.516/160.14.

Subsequently, Tutterow took on Decker. Decker launched the 461 cu. in. Fulton powered 63' split window Corvette to a shrieking 4.552/160.85. However, Tutterow's 92' Cutlass discharged a mean 4.542/161.23 to take out his peer.

Against popular opinion and hope, a northern Bad Boy made it to the finals to confront one of the south's toughest Big Dogs. The phrase, "this is going to be a good one," ghosted the undertone of the crowd chatter. So the time came for the most anticipated showdown in Piedmont Dragway history. The stands were packed; the starting line swamped with vanquished competitors of the previous rounds. Time stood still...

Tutterow and Dantoni rolled onto the track; a hush came over the crowd. Tutterow rolled through the water, revved the engine and laid rubber to the half-track mark. In return, Dantoni boiled smoke so thick the crowd disappeared.

Tutterow calmly lit the pre-stage bulb first and patiently waited as Dantoni's crew took a moment to re-align their stallion. Dantoni rolled in the beams. The whistle of Tutterow's supercharger grew and Dantoni's eight pounded. Tutterow lit the second bulb, Dantoni took a moment and returned the favor.

A split second later the tree flashed yellow. Tutterow's 92' Haas Oldsmobile launched first with a .457 RT. Dantoni was second with a .478 RT. Heartbeats raced as the cars thundered down the track; the beasts were neck and neck to the line. The scoreboards displayed a 4.504/161.55 for Tutterow and a 4.459/166.05 for Dantoni...and the north had the battle, but the war probably isn't over.