Mendy Fry  (Brian Losness photo)

Another pleasant surprise in round one, was the team of Mike Fuller and the “Forever Young” digger with journeyman driver Mindy Fry behind the butterflies. Fry qualified in the 13th position, which meant with the “short” field she would face off against her old buddy, Rick McGee. Fry advanced taking the measure of McGee with a 5.97 to a McGee’s 7.32.  

After getting down to eight cars Eliminations began on Sunday. Number-four qualifier, Jim Young from the lovely village of Salem, Wisconsin (GO PACKERS!) in a car owned by Illinois owner/tuner, Frank Ousley, defeated John Rassmussen with a 5.86/218.80 to a troubled 10.83.

Fry took on the small block Chevy-powered Champion Speed Shop ride with Adam Sorokin at the helm. Sorokin cut a very respectable .032 light and the canopied dragster went into a four-foot wheelstand, while Fry motored to the other end and the win with a consistent 5.96.

(Michael Fischbeck photo)

The final pairing pitted Dunlap in the High Speed car against Rick White in the bright blue dragster. Dunlap moved first, but that was the last time he would lead as White’s 5.62 Low ET of the meet buried Dunlap in the other lane.

The first pair out in the semifinals was Fry against White. At the green Fry was out on White but immediately ran into troubles and White recorded an early shutoff 5.94 at just 236.34 miles per hour to take the win. In the other semifinal Young left first and was never headed taking out Irwin to advance to the finals.