Bucky Hess coupled an 8.463/156.08 to a .031 RT to beat Jr. Baum’s 8.749/149.35 with an .021 RT in the second round. (Chris Haverly photo)

Hebert got around Steve Kent in the third round and then turned on the win light unopposed in the semifinals when challenger and No. 1 qualifier Bucky Hess suffered a very unfortunate circumstance that sent his Barracuda spinning.

(photo sequence by Tom Schiltz)

The “Kandy Kuda” 1968 Plymouth Barracuda driven by veteran Mopar driver Bucky Hess was blazing through eliminations after Hess put his Mopar in the No. 1 qualifying position for the Mopar HEMI Challenge at the U.S. Nationals. In the opening round, Hess knocked out Jim Keyes and his Barracuda then edged Eldon Baum Jr.'s '68 Dodge Dart to earn a bye run into the semifinals, but that was where his day came to an abrupt end.

Hess was a cool .005 at the starting line to Hebert's .047, but things went wrong quickly as smoke began to pour from the bright “Kandy Kuda”, a car painted by hand by Hess's son, Travis.

"It started out great because I knew I drilled him," said Hess. "I looked over to the right and could see that he was way behind. As I came out of the wheelie, still pulling, I looked over again and all of a sudden it started fluttering. When it did, I felt the 'death rattles' and the back end washed out on me. Once it did that, I knew I was done."

Hess crossed the center line and made contact with the wall, ricocheted, and then made contact with the opposite wall before coming to a stop on the racetrack. He was uninjured, but the same could not be said for his previously pristine Barracuda – a car coveted by Mopar fans and classic car lovers.

"I'm fine; I didn't get hurt at all," said Hess. "I'll be building the car over again, or I'll have a new car for the next year. I think I'm more upset over the paint than wrecking it, but I'm good. I'm more determined. Indy just kills me every year, and I don't know why, but it was nice knowing I had a shot of being in the final. He wasn't going to make up four-hundredths. We had her on kill. We were going for it."

"It's a classic coulda, shoulda, woulda," said Hebert, following the final round. "I was hoping this would finally be it, but I just can't race at night. It's a different game. I change my whole reaction time and how I operate the vehicle. We had the lowest e.t. and fastest mph – I think in the history of Indy – so I'm tickled. We beat the world record holder. I just lost this one. But if I was going to lose, this is a fine young man. It's no problem."

When Daniels raced to the Mopar HEMI Challenge victory, his father was on the starting line.