(Richard Muir photo)

Starting from the No. No. 8 position, Anderson piloted one of just five cars to make it down the racetrack with a respectable time on a very tricky racing surface. While pedalfests abounded in round one, Anderson got loose early but regained control to clock a 6.554 at 213.43 mph and advance on rookie competitor Jonathan Gray. In the second round, the 74-time national event winner came to the starting line for a meeting with Chris McGaha, the No. 16 qualifier who had just pulled off an upset over low qualifier Allen Johnson.

What was to ensue in their head-to-head match was a real thriller as both Anderson and McGaha left the starting line and quickly lost traction. Each driver worked the throttle, pedaling as they tried to get the tires to stick back to the racetrack, and ultimately it was Anderson who was able to get to the finish line first. His 7.906 topped McGaha's 8.272 for the win.

Rodger Brogdon's season has been frustrating so far this year, but at Englishtown things seemed to be looking up. Brogdon’s ProectTheHarvest.com Camaro made it to the semifinals from the No. 5 qualifying position, but the semifinal battle against Greg Anderson went awry before it ever started. As Anderson pulled up to do his burnout, his team noticed Brogdon's car wasn't starting. Anderson backed up to the waterbox and waited as Brogdon's team took the nose off his Camaro to get it started.

NHRA eventually ordered Anderson to fire and do his burnout, but then Brogdon's Elite Motorsports engine finally started.

"It just wouldn't start," Brogdon said. "We are behind the eight ball since this morning, trying to catch up. We had clutch issues, valve spring issues, and everything else. It just got overlooked.

"We always start 'em up before we leave the pit, and we didn't do it this morning for some reason. It came back to get us up there."

After an abbreviated burnout, Brogdon knew his chances were slim.

"When you can't burn one of these things across the starting line, you have about zero chance," Brogdon said. "But we went to the semifinals, so it's not all bad. It could've happened in round one."

Brogdon's car got loose immediately at the hit, and he pushed the clutch in and coasted to a pass of 15.406 seconds at 54.34 mph while Anderson sped to the final with a 6.535-second pass at 214.25 mph.

Jason Line started the weekend by resetting the track record for speed in his fast Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro on Friday evening. His 213.40-mph blast was the fastest run that the racing surface at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park had ever hosted for a Pro Stock car to that point, and although the record was eclipsed on Saturday, Line still proved he had a car that could contend for the title as he raced to a qualifying best time of 6.488-second at 214.52 mph. Notably, in the second qualifying round Line reset his personal best record for speed to 214.83.