E.J. Hickle had top speed of the first session as he peddled a 4.37 at 174.15 out of the potent Willys, shaking the tires at the launch.

Qualifying session two was a mixed bag as the Twins Performance Pontiac that led session one backfired through the carbs at the green and sent them back to the pits to regroup for eliminations. Hidalgo showed bracket car consistency running 4.30 at 163.10 mph to lock number three on the qualifying sheet. Steve Benoit peddled a 4.49 at 151.57 to slot in at number four. Hickle shook the tires so hard he said, “My teeth hurt” and coasted across the line at 11.44 at 34.60.

The points leader, Domino, had to qualify on this run to continue the championship quest and despite having two wounded cylinders on the nitrous-assisted Pontiac he charged to a 4.37 at 170.20 to make it in the sixth position.

Our other contender stepped up next and threw down the gauntlet big time. At the green Clark mashed the go pedal and ripped a velvet smooth 3.99 at 166.36 to vault to the number one qualifying position that also set a new Texas Automatic Outlaw E.T. record in the process. After two shots at the sticky HMP racing surface here is the final qualifying order.

1. Eric Clark           3.99 at 166.36
2. Lawayne Brown       4.26 at 165.32
3. Luis Hidalgo         4.30 at 157.73
4. Steve Benoit         4.35 at 169.81
5. E.J. Hickle          4.37 at 174.15
6. Chris Domino         4.37 at 170.20
7. Bengt Blomberg       4.40 at 163.40
8. Kurt Heble           4.58 at 152.23
DNQ
9. Darren Inman         4.75 at 147.44
10. Eddie Roach         4.83 at 133.81
11. Ricky Wilson       $.91 at 111.08
12. Glen Gustafson      5.57 at 124.48
13. Richard Willett     6.07 at 95.89
14. Harry Crane         8.20 at 50.36