The Mopar missile of Richard Klann and company with their immaculate 2001 Dodge Neon ran 7.083/196.22 with their 500-ci nitrous Mopar. Mack Moffat in his Mike’s Transmission-backed ‘95 Vette cut a 7.257/194.66 for #10. Newcomer Eric Deroche of Mesa, AZ was just getting used to his brand new GTP Pontiac and only ran an 11.997, 72.99 mph for the 11 spot.

Clint Hairston  (Shelley Kingsley photo)

One of the pre-race favorites was definitely Hairston and his Bakersfield, California-based turbo GTO, but as luck would have it he faced fellow Pontiac racer Eric Deroche. Hairston put a giant holeshot on the Arizona GTP (.069 RT to a .204 RT) but had severe tire shake and had to lift. Then it turned into a real drag race 8.196/173.56 for the new guy while Hairston trailed at 8.375/207.21, coming on strong but too late. 

Randy Walker has been the guy in Pro Street lately and this race was no different as he first laid down a fine 6.459 at 217.88 mph with a soft tune up win over a game Richard Klann at 7.101 and 196.07 mph

Bluebaugh and crew chief Deborah Woodard stepped up their act with the Magnaflow/WFO Monte Carlo defeating a tough customer in Mike Maggio at 6.649, 213.81 mph. Bob Griffith, who shares his driving duty with Eric Lenore, was in the seat this weekend and he looked great with his first round win over a very game Mack Moffat. Griffith’s Seal Beach, Calif., Viper tuned by Kirk Kuhns with crew of Eric Lenore and Chris Constanza clocked a fine 6.446, 219.54 mph over Moffat’s powerglide blown Vette at 7.151, 198.58 mph.

It was single pass victories for both Joe Allworth’s 1938 Chevy Coupe and Low ET Tim Henry, as John Mihovetz could not make the call for round one against Allworth.

A great leave this time for newcomer Eric Deroche and his new GTP (.011 RT) but it was to no avail as Bluebaugh ran another 6.605, 213.81 mph for the win and it put the team into another final round like the last PSCA event at Fontana as he got a bye run to the final. It was Deroche’s best ever at 7.383, 167.09 mph.

Without question the race of the night Walker and his nitrous 769 ci big block versus Griffith’s blown KB Viper, as they both had incredible reaction times for these cars. Walker cut a .009 RT while Griffith had a fine .020. Then it was anyone’s race as they were side by side all the way to the 1320 marker with Walker’s El Camino pulling out the victory 6.364, 220.19 mph over an outstanding 6.398, 221.60 mph for Griffith and the Viper team.

Henry and his Conquest Construction Firebird laid down another fine 6.392/220.94 to defeat Alsworth who shut off way early at 7.951 and only 122.21 mph.

The semi final started off with Bluebaugh customary easy single into the final while both Henry and Walker had their hands full. Excellent reactions again (.014 for Walker and a .021 for Henry) and that is just about how it stayed all the way down the entire quarter mile, a fine 6.373 at 220.84 for Walker and the victory to a super close Tim Henry at 6.417/197.26.