When his boss stumbled in round one -- John Force team driver Tony Pedregon stepped up to the plate in Funny Car to win for Team Castrol. (Photo by: "Diamond Dave" DeAngelis)

Gainesville's exciting Pro Stock program was capped by a great side-by-side final with Darrell Alderman (far lane) edging out Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Photo by: "Diamond Dave" DeAngelis)

Dragracecanada photographer "Diamond Dave" DeAngelis did double duty at Gainesville. Besides being behind his Nikon cameras he was also behind the wheel of Len Cottrell's Top Alcohol Dragster! (Photo by: "Lil Stevie" Embling)

The revolutionary Harley-Davidson V-Rod Pro Stock Bike was a centre of media attention during the Mac Tools Gatornationals despite missing Sunday's final eliminations. (Photo by: "Lil Stevie" Embling)

Homestate favourite Don Garlits was in competition at Gainesville but smoked his tires on three of four qualifying runs and missed the field. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Gary Scelzi's third event driving a nitro Funny Car produced a strong runner-up finish. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Transplanted Pro Street driver Bob Reiger qualified for the Pro Mod program driving his supercharged '57 Chevy. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Two of drag racing's icon figures, Don Garlits and Chris Karamesines discuss racing strategy. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

New York's Mike Ashley qualified on the Pro Mod pole with a 6.301 secs effort in the ex-Al Billes '53 Studebaker. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Canada's Todd Paton made his return to the NHRA national FC tour but did not qualify his first race back. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

The Super Stock final round saw GT Wilson (near lane) win his first career title when he ran down Lincoln Morehead. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Ron Krisher bombed both ends of the Pro Stock track record at Gainesville Raceway before a stinging round one foul. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Popular NHRA announcer Bob Frey checks out one of the new "Frey Head" Fan Club decals which are currently circulating. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Craig Treble drew first season blood in Pro Stock Bike. It was his second career NHRA national win. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Shirley Muldowney qualified her special edition 20th Anniversary "Heart Like A Wheel" Dragster in Top Fuel -- and got into a shoving match with Andrew Cowin. (Bruce Biegler Photo)

Here's something you don't see often -- a Super Stock Cadillac! It is raced by Ohio's Ken Sharp as a GT/LA with a 425 CID engine. (Bruce Biegler Photo)