Once there Pluchino made his best pass of the event at 4.108 and 175.52 mph to edge his 2006 Ford Escort ahead of Montecalvo's 4.115 at 176.58 in his 2012 Camaro.

"This is great, but I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for John; he's an awesome guy," Pluchino stressed as Montecalvo arrived to congratulate him after both exited their cars. "We've been doing this together and racing each other for more than 20 years now, but for him to help me get down here is just awesome."

"I just don't know how you're going to get home now," Montecalvo answered.

PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE

(Joe McHugh photo)

It had been quite some time since Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider and former class champion Ashley Owens last visited victory lane with his 2010 Suzuki, but the Decatur, AL-based rider found his way there in Tulsa after a final-round win over teammate Eric McKinney.

"I'm kind of disappointed with the .10 because I thought it would've repeated the .06 it ran the run before, but I'll take it any way I can get it, I guess," Owens said upon arriving alone at the TRP turnoff following a 4.107-second ride at 173.94 mph.

McKinney, who won four of the five previous PDRA race crowns, qualified number one and beat Jeff House and Travis Davis in the preliminaries, but his 2012 Suzuki broke upon launching for the final round. Owens started from the number-two slot and took down Mark Rendeluk and Terry Schweigert to reach the final.

"I'm not real happy with my bike's performance here, but I am glad we got both bikes in the final, something we hadn't been able to do before," Owens said. "Hopefully that's going to change."