The second time around there was no doubt. Hill left with a .053 holeshot, then posted his best numbers of the day with a 4.713-seconds pass at 157.65 mph over the eighth-mile race distance. Meanwhile, Martin shut off early, coasting through in 6.19 seconds at 83.83 mph. Unfortunately, however, Hill lost the oil pump belt on what should have been his final-round pass.

"It's frustrating for sure, but it wasn't the track's fault the lights didn't work," Hill said. "I didn't really want to run him (Martin) again, but I understand where the track was coming from. It was the only fair way to do it. That's just the way drag racing is sometimes."

A large crowd gathered to watch Mike Hill's crew gamely try to solve their low oil pressure problem in time for the Outlaw 10.5 final at Carolina Dragway. Hill said the motor normally runs 90 to 100 pounds of oil pressure, but could maintain only about 70 pounds, so he decided to play it safe and withdraw.

To make matters worse for Hill, Robinson barely moved off the start before spinning the tires in his bye-run final. Then, flames erupted under his nitrous-equipped 1970 Camaro.

"Any way I can get it. The car's been running 4.70s every pass, so I can't complain," Robinson said later. "There's no damage. It wasn't a nitrous fire; I think it was just all the brake cleaner I'd sprayed under there to clean things off between rounds that caught on fire."

As unlucky as Hill was, Blake Wilder was the exact opposite as he advanced to the semis on the other side of the ladder. Wilder, driving a 1966 Rambler with a blown 526 hemi up front, made an off-the-pace bye run in the opening round when his opponent broke, then overcame a huge holeshot by Jack Barfield in round two when Barfield's '68 Camaro lost traction. Wilder enjoyed another bye in round three courtesy of breakage in the other lane, but then had to face off against Robinson for a chance at the big money.

Despite losing in the semis, driver Blake Wilder and car co-owner John Jenrette were pleased with their appearance at ORSCA's first race. "We're fourth in points," Wilder pointed out. "That's not too bad."