Words and photos by Steve Gruenwald

The start of the 17th annual World Street Nationals at Carl Weisinger’s Orlando Speed World Dragway started off with an overcast sky and stayed that way all Friday. But the action on track made up for the dreary weather and both the weather and excitement improved throughout the weekend.

There were 47 cars in Super Pro Street competing for 32 spots. Action started slowly as for the first few pairs the cars left before the tree was activated. Most spectacular of the failures was Dewey Pedrick’s blue 1963 Corvette. With the run not counting (whether or not he knew it), he didn't shut it down but ripped down the track and reportedly kicked the rods out and hit the wall just past the finish line. The tire tracks showed the car went to the right and then it turned a slow curve into the left wall, tearing up the front and rear of the car.

Two pairs later Doug Horween’s new blown ‘94 Lumina (right, top) out of Laxahatchee, FL, got the first full pass down the track with a 6.75 at 208, good for the number one spot. That lasted about three more pairs when virtual unknown Coby Rabon (right, bottom), from Ridgeway, SC, pulled his unpainted 2005 Mustang to the line and proceeded to lay waste to the track records with an unreal 6.269/235.31 blast. Everyone was stunned. That run put the 670-inch PLINE (Steve Petty) twin turbocharged Ford in the number one position.