The 5.4L engine in Randy Haywood's 2002 Mustang GT originally was destined for a Lincoln Navigator, but now features FR500 Ford Motorsports heads and a 91 mm Precision turbo.

It also was a personal best effort for Haywood, who backed it up with his career-first SSO win after easily handling Spurgeon Adkins in the opening round, then trailering Gary Rohe in the second. In the quarter-finals, Haywood took a leisurely 15-second trip down the strip when Smith was unable to answer the call to stage, then beat Mark VanMeter in the semis to set up the final against number-three qualifier Mike "Punk" Trimandilis.

Trimandilis was fast off the trailer with a 7.98 in qualifying, but admitted to battling traction problems about 100 feet out all day in eliminations. Haywood said he "caught a glimpse" of his final-round opponent's tire smoke in his mirror, but stayed on the gas to post a winning 8.167-second time at 172.41 mph.

"It did great all weekend," Haywood said of the 5.4 liter engine built at his True Blue Performance shop at Benson, NC. "I'm kind of glad that seven-second pass is out of the way, though, 'cause now I can concentrate on going racing."

FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE

Joe Morgan had his Bassani Xhaust 2000 Ford Focus out at Reynolds, making some exhibition and test passes at his sponsor's race. Morgan said he raced the car last season in the NHRA import series, but this is the first year for it with a new 2.3-liter, turbocharged Esslinger engine, similar to those run in quarter-midget sprint cars. The car's best quarter-mile pass to date is an 8.98 at 149 mph.

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