Joel Matton’s “Diggin’ Racing.”

Howard Anderson could not improve on his earlier 6.96 and stayed in the second spot. Scott White in the White Family ride is third at 7.07, and rounding out the top half of the field is Mitch Chamberlin in his ’51 Chevy at 7.19. Joel Matton, Mike Molea, Scott Wyke, and Monte Grubb were the cars to round out the field.

Eliminations

Many of the competitors were very confident of positions going into first round.

The low qualifier Troy Owen was optimistic. “We are just gonna run the race track. The motor is very happy, so we will see what happens.”

Mitch Chamberlin was also very confident and straightforward. “There is no strategy; first one to the strip wins.”

Scott White’s Willys got the first-round win over Scott Wyke’s Chevy.

The first round of the Gassers was, to say the least, entertaining. The first two pair of Owen versus Matton and White versus Wyke, went according to form as both low qualifiers, Owen and White, won their tilts.