Unfortunately their title hopes suffered a major setback on the first run of the year. A wild 5.10 at 217-mph pass at first glance looked good, but as Cassiday and the crew returned to the pits and looked closer, the lightweight boat was no match for the 8,000 horsepower and several cracks and sponson blowouts were discovered. The San Francisco-based team was finished for the weekend, but vowed to return at the second stop of the season in Chowchilla, Calif.

Saturday morning officially opened the season, and sportsman racers hit the water at 8:00 a.m., and the pros were set for an 11:00 a.m. session. Top Fuel was on the water, but the winds began to pick up, and after holding on the rope for better than half an hour, the IHBA officials pulled the boats off the water. Everyone patiently waited as the forecast called for the winds to die in the late afternoon.

Top Alcohol Hydro was finally called to the water late in the day, but after a couple of hair-raising passes the plug was pulled and fields would be set based on 2008 points.

All the disappointment of Saturday’s weather was erased as absolutely perfect conditions greeted a large crowd eager to witness Sunday’s final eliminations.

Dragonator  (James Drew photo)

Top Fuel round one began with Rex Childers in Eddie Knox’s “Problem Child” taking a 5.21 win over a troubled Scotty Lumbert in David Kirkland’s “Spirit of Texas”. John Haas and the “Speed Sport Special” then unloaded a great 4.763 at 240.64, and 2008 winner Jarrett Silvey in Dennis “Hoot” Gibson’s “Hot Licks” ended the round with a smooth 5.100 win over an out of shape Bob Parrish in the South Carolina-based “Dragonator”.

Silvey would sit out the semi final round and wait for the winner of the Haas-Childers match up.

John Haas (near lane) and Rex Childers.  (James Drew photo)