Saturday broke bright and clear with a little less breeze and comfortable 80-degree temperature.

After the second round of Quick 32, the following remained: Ron Strayer, who did well here last year too, Greg Hicks with a dragster, 2012 winner Tom DeBartolo, Kenny Phillips, Chris Wheatcraft, and Darren Williams, runner up last year.

The MOPAR semi0finals saw Ken Phillips punch his ticket into the final with a 7.58 win over DeBartolo from Utah. Darren Williams from Calgary, Alberta could not stop red hot Chris Wheatcraft racing out of Janestown, Ohio; setting up a final round battle of local vs. long distance competitors.

Wheatcraft was impressive at MATS last year and did well enough to make the trip from Ohio again. Phillips is a popular Las Vegas racer who drives an all fiberglass AMX car with a 500 cubic inch motor. Ken runs in NHRA Nostalgia A/G and recently won the Nostalgia event at Wild Horse Pass in Arizona.

MOPAR Quick 16 final with Chris Wheatcraft, far lane, taking a close win over Ken Phillips.

The MOPAR champ was Chris Wheatcraft with an impressive 7.45 slip; he will now await the ‘others’ winner for the Q32 title. For the second year running, the Ohio teammates are in the money as Ron Strayer won with his similar painted dragster, and a 7.92 time slip. The final for all the marbles went to Strayer as the whole group found the funds for gas home.

One noteworthy Pro racer is the lime green Duster of Mark Beavin (the Beaver car) from Mesa, Ariz. Mark was runner-up here two years ago, and won his class in 2015. Since last year he moved to Clovis, Calif., due to his wife’s employment, but the move did not seem to affect Mark’s driving as he cruised through four rounds early on. In the semifinal a problem with his torque converter forced him to red light and end his day just short of a three peat.