Boone started the Duster's burnout in the water box, but barely got a wisp of smoke off the tires before he released the brakes and rolled all the way to the starting line. By rolled, I mean just rolled, no smoke coming off the spinning tires, no spinning tires, just rolled to the line at 4K like a total rookie who's never done a burnout in his life.
"Is that what you were looking for?" I teased Dale as he walked over between Darren and I.
"Exactly!" Dale nodded, "I mean that's one way to get even heat in both tires...just don't burn them!"
"So he has no clue how to do a rolling burnout, he's wearing an open faced helmet, and he want's these guys to think he's a nine second player?"
"What's the old story?" Dale nodded in agreement once again, "Act like you've been there!"
Darren nearly doubled over in laughter with his hand over his mouth, "You guys are brutal!"

Boone stabbed the throttle at the first flash of yellow, and the front tires hung in the air momentarily as we heard the nitrous kick in. The Duster was moving straight down the groove with what appeared to be minimal effort, as both shifts seem to come just as the engine began to pull off the converter. The 511 sounded fine however, and didn't seem to sound labored until the last one hundred feet or so. When the 9.932-135.08 flashed on the board the three of us smiled with what felt like relief more than jubilation. The pass just looked so mundane that we couldn't get past the feeling that there was quite a bit more left in it.
"One more to go", I slapped Dale on the back, "If you can keep it alive for 1320!"
"We've got this!" He winked at me, "she's not going to like it, but the number will be there!"

#8 Brian "Boone" Gebhart Red 76 Plymouth "Ruster Duster"
Day 1: 10.68-126.7
Day 2: 10.13-130.7
Day 3: 10.21-131.5
Day 4: 10.08-133.9
Day 5: 9.93-135.0
Final Average: 10.210-131.62

Boone, Billy, and the Ruster Duster finished 4th in Super Street Big Block Power Adder. The 9.93 places the Duster 12th on the "Mopar Quickest single pass by finishers" list all time, 90th among 2016 finishers and 217th overall all time. Several weeks later it would run 9.82-139.5 to justify our belief that the tune-up was just beginning to come around.