Jeff Naiser roasted the motor and was out of the event.

Wayne Collins in his beautiful ’63 Corvette lined up next with Jeff Naiser subbing for Richard Otwell in the red ’68 Camaro out of the Team “O” stable. Collins ran a smooth 4.47 @ 157.12 while in the left hand lane Naiser’s mount belched fire at half track and mortally wounded the motor while ringing up a 4.39 @ 127.23.

Rolling into the water next we had number one and two in points as Bob Gulitti and Tim Ortiz boiled the hides in preparation for a hit. Both drivers demonstrated why they are at the top in the standings as Ortiz just got the edge with a strong 4.06 @ 179.64 in “Ole Yeller” to Gulitti’s right there 4.08 @177.03.

Luis Hidalgo and Eddie Roach came next with Hidalgo posting a 4.62 @ 138.59 in the silver Camaro while Eddie Roach ran the ’63 Vette out the back door putting up a 4.32 @ 165.62.

The last pair of the first session saw long time Texas Pro Mod veteran Jerry Hicks and Harry Crane out of East End, Arkansas. Both drivers ran straight and A to B with Crane posting 4.29 @ 149.95 while Hicks ran 4.28 @ 158.39 on the maiden pass of a new blown combination in the ’63 Corvette.

Richard Willett

The second and final qualifying session saw much cooler temps as the sun set on the Texas evening making for great air coupled with a track that still had some heat in it and grip. The session opened with Hickl, who left hard and had to lift and get back in it to run 4.46 @ 173.54 while Willett, after throwing a major flame out the exhaust clearing the motor on the line, powered his nitrous-backed 632 ci motivated Firebird to another 4.67 @ 150.30.