There was an extra qualifying session at this event and that was at 2 p.m. Saturday. Only Gallen made a third qualifying attempt and ran his best ET of qualifying, a 5.764/250.84 that moved him to the second qualifying slot.

With that the field was set with six of eight qualifiers in the fives.

The AA/FC pits were open late Friday night. After two qualifying sessions both the “Blue Max” and “Flashback” teams were dealing with severely damaged or blown engines. Everyone else was busy freshening their cars for Saturday’s possible three rounds of nitro racing.

ELIMINATIONS

The air was cool and the track surface perfectly groomed, and a large crowd was on hand for the first round of racing at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The first pair out paired a resurgent Peter Gallen and his Chevy Monza versus and the Jim Stanke-tuned Mustang with Brian Stewart driving. Gallen put a .046 RT on Stewart and ran his best ET in three races in a 5.733/246.75 whipping of Stewart, who ran a respectable 5.960/234.90.

The next pair was points leader Bowen against budget racer Barrie “Bazz” Young. Young was down to just three spare pistons and Bowen was on his second motor of the race as he battled an oiling issue that kept him blacking bearings, breaking cranks, and rods exiting the block. Bowen cut a .0511 RT to Young’s .138 and eased to a 6.023/220.21 win over the Snap-on Tools Prez Young’s 6.202/225.90, setting up a Gallen versus Bowen semifinal match-up.