R.E. Smith was on the qualifying list in third place with Scotty Cannon’s old “Killer Red ‘Mater” Stude, but it was Jerry Prater (above) on the track on Sunday with his ’63 Vette, so we can only assume Smith broke or was otherwise unable to race. Regardless, Prater became the first opponent to fall to Neal.
Mike Neal (far lane), father of eventual race winner Michael Neal, wasted a 4.04-second blast in the semis with this red-light start against Watkins. It was Neal’s first premature leave in nearly a year and making it that much worse, Watkins blew the tires off on the line.
Ron Stokes was out with his ’53 Vette and qualified fifth before losing to Neal Sr. in the opening round.
Bennie McDonald Jr. got into the raceday show in seventh place with his flamed ’53 Vette. The veteran Georgia outlaw made it past Clanton, but ran up against Neal Jr. in the semis.