And spin it was, right at the hit, as Gladstone trucked straight down the groove in the other lane to a 6.78 at 214.38 mph. That was quick enough to back up Gladstone’s earlier 6.74 at 218.90 for a new international ET record.

“I had a tough holeshot loss to Ehren at Valdosta, so I can’t tell you how nervous I was in this final,” said Gladstone. “My biggest fear is letting my team down. Times are changing and these guys are nippin’ at our heels. Everybody else is steppin’ up and it’s pushing the class to a whole new level.

“I really gotta thank the IDBL for giving us a platform to race on and Orient Express for sponsoring the class.”

That win and record MIGHT have made up for Gladstone’s first round -.002 redlight on his number 1 qualifying all-motor ‘Busa in DME Racing Real Street. The beneficiary of Gladstone’s miscue was last place qualifier Justin Fernandez, competing in his first ever Real Street race. Fernandez’s next opponent -- veteran racer and drag racing educator Ashon “Capo” Dickerson -- had a lurid redlight, and the virgin Real Street racer was on his way to the final.

Anibal “Cannibal” Merced

And in the final is where Fernandez’s dream was penetrated by the painful sting of reality. Class champion Anibal “Cannibal” Merced was cool as a cucumber (as he is at all times), politely and tactfully clicking off the light and ET necessary on his nitrous-huffing Kawasaki ZX14 to subdue Fernandez’s mid-8 second turbo ‘Busa. Flush with a taste of glory, Fernandez was soon seen on the manufacturers midway looking to spend his runner-up winnings on go-fast parts and services to make that ‘Busa quicker. And thus is how the racing world goes ‘round.

Ronnie Procopio

Ronnie Procopio has been putting go-fast parts to good use for longer than Fernandez has probably been alive. Procopio has detuned his Pro Extreme Motorcycle to run the index in Vance & Hines 4.60, and beat 2014 champion Eran Pielert in the semifinal.

Current 4.60 champ Tyler Cammock beat number 1 qualifier Michael Ostrowski in the other semi, but was slow off the starting line when it counted and lost the final to Procopio.