Michael Robinson, driving VIP Racing’s “Heavy Metal” Camaro, treated the Shadyside fans to a long, smoky burnout prior to his first-round pairing against Bill Lutz. Robinson’s car shook very hard off the launch, though, hard enough to crack the right rear fender and break the welds on one of the headers. Still, he stayed with it and almost reeled in Lutz, who ran a vulnerable 5.114/159 to advance over Robinson’s 5.261 at 122 mph.

Bill Lutz brought his Heavy Street ’67 Camaro all the way down from Ohio to try his hand at Outlaw 10.5 racing and despite being up to 400 pounds heavier than any other competitor he qualified in the 11th position and made it all the way to the semi-finals before bowing out against Barfield. 

With his ’92 Camaro sporting a fresh coat of the same blue hue as Miller Lite, the beer so famously favored pitside by his father, Bobby (right), Craig Miller (left) and crew celebrated in Shadyside Dragway’s victory lane.