In the second round of qualifying Mike Halstead charged into the #5 spot in McCain's "Nitro Angel" '73 Plymouth Duster AA/FC running a career-best 5.808 and grabbing the top speed of qualifying at 253.28 mph. (Darr Hawthorne photo)

All the way from Anchorage, Alaska was Shawn Nault in his '70 Barracuda. Famed tuner Gary Ritter of "Blood-Sweat & Nitro" AA/FD is calling the shots on Nault's Cuda, improving with every pass, but he missed the cut among the thirty-three nitro funny cars attempting to qualify quicker than the 5.886 bump spot.  (Mark King photo)