Once the first session, the two hour SME qualifying was in the books, the loose plan was to allow the Class cars four hours to slug it out, and determine who would take home all the hardware in the other 17 classes. Keith Turk and Lonnie Grimm were even actively seeking to arrange for side by side races with the current leader and runner-up in each class. Clearly they were trying to put on a good show, for the spectators, and competitors alike, and it was evident very early on that this Friday was going to be a massive upgrade over the ending of DW15.

Drama, and suspense, however are difficult to manage or manufacture. Bryant Goldstone and his Javelin went 6.90-209, Glenn Hunter threw down a 7.61, and Jeff Lutz and his Mad Max pro mod Camaro ran 6.25-235. All three of those runs were their first attempts, and within the first hour of the session. Those runs insured that they would be the top 3 overall, and receive the guitars. They also insured that each would win their respective class, Lutz in A-Unlimited, Goldstone in B-Ultimate Iron, and Hunter in C-Pro Street Power Adder.
Jeff Atkinson also wrapped up the win in D-Pro Street NA with his first pass of the day in the yellow Cars Camaro. The 9.53-142 meant he had nearly eight tenths of a second over second place in the class. Still, with 13 other classes yet to be determined, and many personal accomplishments left to unfold, it didn't mean the final three hours wouldn't be without intrigue, it just required looking a little further down the stat sheet.

One of the craziest moments of the day occurred as Mike Roy started the burnout in his Pro Street Power Adder 71 Monte Carlo, about to complete his tenth Drag Week. A crewman had bent down to record the burnout with his cell phone, when track personnel motioned the next pair in the staging lane out. The car which happened to be next in line was Aussie Harry Haig's 68 Chevelle with the twin turbos hanging out of the hood like a big double fisted middle finger salute. I had wondered all week how he managed to see around them to drive on public roads, and this situation proved he simply can't! Rachael and I, as well as Brian Lohnes on the mic, and Jeff (JERICOGTX, seen in pic behind the Chevelle) saw it all unfolding in front of us, but were powerless to stop it. At the last possible instant the crewman heard the Chevelle approaching and deftly rose and took two steps to avoid the oncoming car, but Harry never braked, swerved or in any way acknowledged how close he was to running the guy down at 4 mph! There was an audible gasp, then murmuring around me, and Brian even acknowledged it on the live feed, it was a very close call!