Burgess had a non- stellar.104 RT but his 5.953/243.28 lap was easily enough to send  Mike  Knowles, who had an equally late .118 RT and a slowing  6.217/228.65, to the pits.

Defending champ Kenny Lang was the beneficiary of Harold Laird crossing the centerline for a DQ.

In the semi-finals Auxier ran his quickest time of the event with a 6.009 thumping of Joe Baker, and Burgess ran his best ET of the event using a 5.928 /243.06 defeat Canadian racer Lang.

In the final Auxier, who had used his better reaction times to advance twice in the race, was himself a victim of the reaction time battles. Auxier has his best run of the race, breaking into the fives for the first time at this event with a charging 5.988/237.75, but Burgess fed the Southern racer some of his own medicine when he cut a  .018 light and then ran a  6.002 at 240.08 for his first win as a professional race car driver.

"What an incredible win for us today," an ecstatic Burgess said afterwards. "It was definitely thrilling all day, and to win in such a close race, I have to tip my hat to Burton and his whole Al-Anabi team, but I’m so happy the things worked out the way they did for us.  Every man out here worked so hard for this, it is truly something we'll hold onto as our first win together.
 
"Driving one of these cars is definitely a hoot, and today was a lot of fun - especially winning," he said. "I'm especially glad that both Rick Stivers and Harold Laird are okay after their accidents - it really goes to show you how the safety measures we have in place really do work.”  

 
Up next for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge is the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals May 15-17 in Bristol, Tenn.