“What more could you ask for? It’s a big race and to get that first win here is amazing. This is the place you would want to do it,” Tindle said.

After teammate and No. 1 qualifier Frankie Taylor had car trouble and had to bow out in the first round, the focus turned to Tindle, and he was terrific. He went 3.688 to beat points leader Mick Snyder in the quarterfinals and was even better in the finals against Stott.

“We had some electrical issues, but we got it straightened out and this was the result,” Tindle said. “We were focused and we came up here to win.”

Cary Goforth and his Jerry Haas Race Cars GXP got better in every round of eliminations, and was at his best in the Extreme Pro Stock finals, winning for the second time in 2012 by going 4.108 at 176.49 mph to beat Richie Stevens Jr. and his 4.16.

“I’m lucky enough to win at the two tracks we’ve never raced before,” said Goforth, referencing his wins at Bristol and zMAX Dragway this year.

It was a huge win for the points leader, as Goforth (right lane) put some space between him and Stevens, who is second in points. The standout showing in eliminations was also the type of performance Goforth, who won for an XPS-best eighth time, had been waiting the entire season to see.

“We’ve been trying to get our power back and this is what we’ve been looking for,” Goforth said, who also thanked Sonny’s Racing Engines. “But I don’t think this (points race) is over. There’s going to be a lot of these types of races.”