Dan Horan

Horan’s explanation was that his glasses, which he wears for driving along with his visor, fogged up and made it hard to see. 

Krabill however, was indifferent to the whole thing.

“I do my own thing up there. If he wants to turn them both on, fine, I’ll just take my time then,” he said with a smile.

As the cars pulled around to run the final round, it was 1:11 a.m. Sunday morning with Rupert and Krabill ready to battle. A few dozen hearty fans decided to hang in there and stayed to the end.

Both cars left together, however, this one was over at about 330 feet as Rupert started to train length Krabill to take the win, 5.91 at 239.80 mph to Krabill’s 6.13 at 241.61.

Rupert had an interesting perspective on his win.

“This was a great win for us, especially after what happen first round,” he said, “but what was so funny as we pulled out to head to the lanes for the final I looked at the trailer and thought to myself, man, when we get back we have all this crap to put away. I better win I don’t want to do that (loading up the trailer) being tired and mad.”

Rupert’s win makes it a real dogfight for the point’s championship. According to the NHRA Heritage Series web site, the points break down as such. Rupert has 380 points and a four-point lead on Horan who is second, then 26 back to Krabill, and Boychuk is fourth, 54 back of Rupert.

As the final photos taken and the winners crowned it was just past 2 a.m. The eighteen hours of Salt Lake had concluded, and though there were some issues, the crew at RMR under the direction of Mike Eames and Ron Craft, did a yeoman’s task of fighting the weather and getting the event in. There were some very happy and tired winners. Those who didn’t win were even more tired.

Now it is on to Bakersfield and the California Hot Rod Reunion.

Read the Group 1 results in our sister magazine, ET Drag Racing.