(J.M. Hallas photo)

Franklin, Tennessee's Hope piloted his original “Rat Trap” to the win in the final when both he and Hilsabeck ran into traction trouble.  Hope won the pedal-fest finding enough traction at the top end to blast across the line with a fiery less-than-stellar 8.008, 161.12 to win the typical fuel altered final round. 

In Jet Dragster Eliminations Elaine Larsen had two tremendous passes of 5.746 and 5.707 - both at over 270 mph - to take the win. In the final Larsen and Dawn Perdue put on a tremendous show ending with a 5.707 to a 5.774 in favor of Larsen

SPORTSMAN ELIMINATIONS

Reported by J.M. Hallas

The local Texas racers had their chance to perform in front of a huge national event crowd with two bracket races for the ET Box (Electronics), ET No-box (Foot brake) and Jr. Dragster classes.

Had it not been for the local sheriff’s department, the sportsman classes could still be racing. The high volume of entries combined with several delays for oil-down clean ups and general track prep, saw the sportsman racing lasting well into the night, er, morning. The sheriff's department showed up after complaints about noise and imposed a 3 a.m. curfew for the night.

IHRA officials and racers did their best to complete as much of the program as possible, along with pushing the deadline given. The Jr. Dragsters were able to complete both of their races within the limits, while the Box and No-Box classes snuck in enough racing to get to their finals. Several different split options were offered to try to be as fair as possible.

In all, nearly 150 Sportsman cars in the three classes made runs throughout the weekend. Add them all up, plus buy backs, and it makes for, well, a lot of laps down the eighth mile course over the course of the event.

ET BOX (ELECTRONICS)

Rabedeau and Flores Split Race 1: Canyon Lake's Jeff Rabedeau and Willie Flores (San Angelo) were the co-winners in the first of two ET Box (Electronics). Rabedeau, who has been on a bit of a hot streak lately following some time away from the track, was awarded the track points with the money split between Flores and him.

Rabedeau's dragster got past Chris Gulitti, D. DeBerry, P. Maduri, Paul Schneider, and took a bye in round five. Flores, in his Camaro trailered Paul Schneider, David Cain, David Bills, Kevin Picha and N. Hernandez.

Fields, Turner Divide Race 2: Two area drivers made their way to the finals in the second race with the IHRA Ironman trophy also up for grabs. Russell Field (New Braunfels) and Bryon Turner (San Marcos) opted to split the prize money and points with Fields awarded the trophy after he won the coin toss in the officials’ tower.

Fields, in his Chevy II got wins over M. Collier, C. Peterson, Rick Schafer, Brian Miller, Aaron Cole and Brett Zampese in the semis. Turner's dragster scored victories over Mike Murillo, M. Blair, David Cain, Kevin Picha, M. Collier and got the bye in his semifinals.

ET NO-BOX (FOOTBRAKE)

Herbold and Gallegos Split Race 1: Gene Herbold (Seguin) and Ruben Gallegos (Schertz) were slated for the first of the two ET No-Box finals. They opted for a money split with a race later this season to decide the points.