Perfect half-track poise is displayed by the Top Fuelers of Californian Phil Schmidt, St. Louis hometown hero Mark Conner and North Carolina’s Tommy Grimes. Meanwhile, Brook McCabe, (far lane), proves the wheelie bar comes in handy nearing the finish line in a Nitro Outlaw match with Julian Seaman.

Lou Gerencer’s shoulder-high launches in Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Eliminator still resulted in the best performances in the class at 9.35/144.57. The Hoosier rider swaps between the VRod and this S&S Challenge 124-inch “crate motor” H-D in eliminations but achieves the same balance.

Even the bracket racers are sometimes forced to “ride one out” as Missourian Ray Connor’s ‘04 VRod street bike wheelies its way to a 10.90/125 pass.