In qualifying, it was rookie Travis Brandt, of Katy, Texas, who wheeled his Will Hanna-tuned roots-blown Corvette to the top spot with a career-best 4.096 at 166.66 mph.

Richard Otwell was second with a 4.170 at 174.73 mph. Keith Hollenshead rounded out the eight-car field.

It didn’t take long for the first round to serve up an upset as defending series Champ Bengt Blomberg’s nitrous-assisted Firebird sent Brandt packing with a near career best 4.174 at 171.18 mph to Brandt’s on and off the throttle 4.45. Tim Ortiz wheeled the “Team O” Camaro to a win over Marc McClasken’s Firebird with a 4.184 at 173.45. Another upset occurred when Stacy Cunningham wheeled his turbo powered mount to a win over No. 2 qualifier Otwell with a 4.618 at 157.76 mph. Gulitti closed out the round with an off-pace 4.291 at 169.61 to defeat Hollenshead.

In the semifinals, Ortiz remained consistent, running a 4.190 at 172.30 to take out Blomberg’s 4.58. Gulitti and tuner Kenny Hubbard found their stride with a 4.102 at 175.02 to defeat Cunningham, who was off the throttle early.