Jeff Burk photo

The next pair was Bowen in the Firebird against “The Punisher” ‘69 Camaro driven by veteran Anthony Bronge. Bowen streaked to a 5.976/241.71 to Bronge’s 6.967/182.13. It turned out that Bronge had a problem and couldn’t get the trans in low gear and had to make a high-gear only pass.

Hale raced number-eight qualifier Bazz Young in the next pair and Hale’s Guy Tipton-tuned ‘69 Mike Burkhart tribute Camaro streaked to a 5.954/244.92 win. Young improved to a 6.506 but was no match for the defending champion.

Veteran tuner Jerry Newman prepares to fire the engine in the first round of action. Newman was tuning four cars at this
race and put three of them into the program. (Jeff Burk photo)

The final pair matched up ageless Doc Halladay in his “Telstar” Plymouth Arrow against Ronny Young. Unfortunately for Halladay his shifter broke on the burnout and he too was forced to make a high-gear only. Halladay had the better light but without a first gear to get the car moving and Young on a 6.017/242.45 lap he shut the car off early and coasted to a 9.906 and saved the parts.