Words by Mark Westfall
Photos by James Drew, Tim Marshall and Jon LeMoine
11/21/2007
The best drag boats in North America, perfect weather, and record crowds descended on Firebird Raceway in Chandler, AZ for the 25th running of the Lucas Oil IHBA World Finals.
After three furious days of testing and qualifying rounds and an eight-boat Top Fuel field, the stage was set for final eliminations in front of a SRO crowd at Firebird Lake at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, AZ.
Sunday was a mirror image of the previous three days, as the record crowd enjoyed mid-80's temps and a light, cool breeze. Top Fuel Eliminations kicked off with 2005 champion Doug “the Rooster” Verstuyft taking 4.91 @ 241.80 win over Steve Carter's red light in “Disorderly Conduct”.
Next up, Ron McClellan’s “Liquid Quicker” unloaded a great 4.80 pass to trailer Rex Childers driving “Whiskey River II”. The “Hotlicks Bullet” driven by Jarrett Silvey put away Scott Thompson in Eddie Knox’s “Problem Child”.