After finishing runner-up in the 2006 DHRA race at Atlanta, Layden went one better this year when opponent Matt Wells Jr. broke out in the 12.0 index Quick Diesel final. Layden got away first, then posted a winning time of 12.08 at 113.92 mph with his '94 Dodge, which he uses for work and drives to and from the racetrack. Wells, from Middleburg, FL, ran 11.965 at 113.03 mph in another ’94 Ram 2500.

A pair of Bowling Green, KY, neighbors squared off in the DPM Diesel Shootout, with Kitchens earning the big bracket win with a holeshot over "Big Earl" Talley in the final round.  Kitchens went 13.051 at 99.70 mph against a 13.02 dial-in, while Talley dialed in 13.28 and ran 13.304 at 98.80 mph. It was Kitchens' fourth Diesel Shootout win in a row.

Despite falling short in the Diesel Shootout, Talley (far lane) still finished as a winner in Atlanta, as he claimed the Sportsman bracket win a few minutes earlier with his 2003 Dodge Ram truck.