"I knew it would be tough, because running a lap like that is so monumental, and owning the record would have been such an accomplishment, but our goal when we come to the races is to go rounds and win.”

Commisso faced off against No. 14 qualifier Taylor Lastor in what on paper should have been a lop-sided race, but excitement got the best of Commisso who left the line early and handed the win to Lastor.

"I don't know exactly what happened, other than I just really wanted to race and I got too excited at the tree," Commisso explained. "I'm beating myself up, because I knew that I had to focus on winning the race, not setting the record, but I just lost my concentration for a split second - and that was all it took.

"It's so easy to go from hero to zero in drag racing, and that's really what happened this weekend. I know nothing can take that run away from us, and that we were the first NRHA-legal car in the .80s, but it would have been nice to have the record, too.

"Now we'll take a little time, and get everything put back together and then head to St. Louis for the next event. I'm sure we'll redeem ourselves there, because this is an awesome team, and Roger Burgess has put together such a great operation. Everything is the very best, I'm living a dream, and I can't thank him enough," Commisso said.

Roger Burgess (Ron Lewis photo)

Roger Burgess, driver of the R2B2 Motors/ProCare Rx '67 Camaro Pro Mod, set new personal best quickest and fastest marks, and tied for the second-quickest Pro Mod run.

In his lone qualifying attempt, the Duluth, Ga., business executive piloted his car to the No. 2 position with a blazing 5.900/246.44 - the second-quickest Pro Mod run ever, just behind his teammate Raymond Commisso's 5.884-second run.

"To say that Al Billes [crew chief] had a handle on this track would be a mild understatement," Burgess said. "The weather conditions were really amazing and we just got a hold of the track and went for it."

Eliminations saw Burgess paired with former world champion Jay Payne for a battle of the Camaros. As the pair left the line, Burgess had a slight advantage, then was passed by Payne in a neck-and-neck race. At the stripe, Burgess was just .0011 seconds behind Payne - a mere five inches.