Sunday's other big winner in Rockingham was Salina, Kan. native Brad Waddle. The driver of the Innovator's West 2013 Ford Mustang Mountain Motor Pro Stock overcame a weekend full of challenges on his way to his first career Pro Stock victory over Kevin Bealko. With a much smaller operation encompassed in a three-person crew, Waddle worked his way from last on the ladder to the championship round where he ran the quickest and fastest quarter-mile pass of his career to take home his first career Pro Stock win.

Waddle bested Bealko, driver of the AMSOIL-backed 2014 Chevrolet Camaro for Black Diamond Motorsports, with a 6.412 pass at 220.66 mph to claim the win. Bealko had a 6.440, 212.93 in the runner-up effort.

"About 20 years ago we got into drag racing and about four years ago I got my first taste of Pro Stock. We loved it, but we never thought we would ever be able to run with the big boys, especially over here in IHRA," Waddle said. "But holy cow. When I went out there with a chance to win, it was unreal. I left and saw Kevin up beside me, so I pulled fifth and I could feel the car start pulling right on by and I thought, hey, we just won this deal!"

Waddle overcame a smoking John DeFlorian in the first round and earned the bye into the finals by taking out the weekend's top qualifier. From there, it was just one pass that stood between himself and IHRA glory.

"They know that we have the potential, but we don't always have the expertise to get it done. We are getting there. We are a rookie team compared to most of these guys, but we stay aggressive and resourceful and now it has finally paid off," Waddle said. "I have to thank Hurco, Innovators West and everyone back at the shop, my crew chief Marc Brown, co-crew chief Chuck Lawrence and Jon Kaase for the big power.

"I have always wanted one of these big trophies. I have never even held one until today."