Hossler battled his way from the number-one qualifying position taking out Recchia, Stott and Stanton while running high 3.60’s at over 205 MPH like a bracket car to earn his spot in the final round. Von Smith in the Barwa ‘68 Camaro would be Hossler’s opponent in the final round after defeating D’Aprile, Scruggs (on a holeshot with a perfect .000 reaction time!) and Tutterow from the number-two qualifying spot.

Von Smith was not happy with his car’s performance in the final round…	…Alex Hossler was. (Joe McHugh photos)

The PX final round between Hossler and Smith turned out to be very anti-climactic. Smith completed his burnout but was unable to get the transmission into reverse and was forced to drive off the top end. When he passed the 1,000-foot mark on the track the new automatic shutoff device killed the power to his car leaving him stranded in the shutoff area and Hossler idling in the pre-stage beam. After what seemed like forever, Smith was off the track and Hossler could then only break the beams to take the win and be pushed back. Luckily for Hossler he did not attempt to make a pass as only about one gallon of fuel was left in the tank after sitting at the starting line idling for so long while Smith was pushed off the top end.

In the winner’s circle Hossler said, “Hopefully, after winning this event and leaving Houston with the [Pro Extreme] points lead we’ll be in Bristol, but we’re just taking it one race at a time right now.”

PRO NITROUS

Jamie Hancock purges the system. Hancock, number seven qualifier, was back competing with the ADRL again after a long break in a newly painted 1968 Firebird.  (Steven Bunker photo)

Since there were only 11 entries in the Pro Nitrous division the decision was made to make it an eight-car qualified field rather than the 16-car qualified field it has been for many years prior. Leading the pack was Mike Castellana in his 2012 Al-Anabi Camaro. Some of the true southern Pro Nitrous outlaws such as Johnny Pilcher, Jamie Hancock and Doug Riesterer filled the number six through eight spots.