It's a big deal, as racers and fans in the stands had their jaws dropped open when Billy Glidden handed Spiro Pappas, the favorite and #1 qualifier, a one-way ticket home courtesy of his truck and trailer.
Glidden and Pappas are not new rivals; they have been dueling since the mid 1990's in the NMCA days and know each other well. Pappas had run as quick as 6.83 in qualifying, and Glidden made a run which was surely a low 7.0 or 6.99. Glidden knew he had to get it done on the tree, and he did, with a .059 light, 1.07 60-foot, and a 6.99 at 204.70.
Spiro, for his part, ran a 1.19 60-foot, and ran Glidden down (almost) with a 6.95 at 208.55 mph. The total margin was .02 seconds.
That's what they race.
Also advancing is Jim Blair who ran a 7.01 over Ron Lumus (who was broke). Tony Nesbitt also advanced over Ed Rice. That leaves Blair, Nesbitt, and Glidden still in the field.
