Joe Amato -- drag racing’s all time winning Top Fuel driver records career win number 49. The win was Amato’s second straight NHRA win driving Tenneco/Dynomax dragster. Amato runs 4.585 secs during qualifying which is low ET of the meet and a new S.I.R. track record.

Funny Car racing produces some eye-popping excitement. Jim Epler has major fire while winning in round one driving EasyCare/Ekler’s C-5. He is unhurt however damage is severe enough to prevent team from returning in second round. Scotty Cannon has huge blower explosion during Saturday’s qualifying which damages body. He bounces back however and has strong semi-final round finish. Tommy Johnson Jr. has his first FC fire. The former Top Fuel racer rides out the flames driving Joe Gibbs’s Interstate/Hot Rod Magazine Pontiac during 3rd qualifying session. Johnson was not injured and fire damage was minimal.

Del Worsham ends long drought in Funny Car taking the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Pontiac to his first victory in eight seasons. Worsham’s last win was at E-Town in 1991. He beats tire-smoking Whit Bazemore in final round. Bazemore’s final round appearance was his second consecutive since debuting his new generation ‘99 Camaro body on Chuck Etchells’s Kendall car.

Federal Mogul class racing sees hometown hero Pat Austin win for the 65th time in his illustrious career. Driving his Pro/Max Firebird -- Austin resets FMFC track record to 5.672 secs while winning the event. FMD class goes to lady racer Melanie Troxel who became the 27th women in NHRA history to win a national event title. Troxel drove her injected nitro car to both low ET and top speed at 5.475 secs and 256.70 mph.

Canada’s Rob Harrison is awarded event’s prestigious Best Engineering award. Harrison’s B.C.-based ‘91 Beretta I/Altered features one of a kind fuel injected Duggan in line 6-cylinder.

Jim Yates misses winning $50,000 Winston "No Bull" Challenge when he loses to Kurt Johnson in the final round. Tony Pedregon’s position is drawn for chance at $100,000 but his car does not fire in round one.

Former IHRA mountain motor Pro Stock racer Tony Gillig qualifies in NHRA Pro Stock for the first time in his career. Gillig cracks field with best run of 6.972 secs which is good for 15th. Gillig’s Olds Cutlass gets loose in round one however and he falls to eventual winner Kurt Johnson.