John Hale was the early leader in the clubhouse with a 6.00, followed closely by Jim Obalek, who was making his first ever runs in a funny car. The former jet car driver was showing great promise in Twig Zeigler’s “Pizza Heaven” car at 6.01.

Ryan Davenport, at the wheel of the new look Arrow for Bucky Austin, ran a trouble-plagued 6.69.