Larry Dixon sends shockwaves through drag racing community with sport’s first ever sub 4.50 secs clocking with an astounding 4.486 seconds during qualifying. Dixon’s Miller Lite dragster which is owned by Don Prudhomme and tuned by Canada’s Dale Armstrong, runs 4.51 secs to back the mark up as a NHRA national record. Dixon bows out in round two but Armstrong received the Sears Craftsman Crew Chief of the Race Award.

Doug Herbert who just missed winning the Winston "No Bull" Challenge at Gainesville made good on a second chance. Herbert collected an extra $100,000 in prize money after his number was drawn in a pre race ceremony. To collect he had to win the event and his crew chief Dick LaHaie saw to that. For Herbert, who is a multi-time IHRA winner the NHRA victory was only the second of his career.

Pro Stock final at Houston is an all Camaro affair as Kurt Johnson defeats Mike Edwards. Last time NHRA Pro Stock fans saw that brand pairing in a final round was in 1987 when Jerry Eckman beat Bruce Allen at E-town.

The problems for defending Winston Top Fuel World Champion Gary Scelzi and his car owner Alan Johnson continued. After being ousted in round one of the first three events this season they were much to everybody’s surprise a DNQ (!) at Houston, managing a best of only 5.137 secs. It was Scelzi’s first non qualifying effort since turning Pro in 1997.

John Force continued to demoralize the Funny Car contingent by winning his third race in four tries this season. Force’s Castrol GTX made a surgical strike at Houston as to available points as they skimmed off their own national ET record (from 4.799 sec to 4.788 secs), qualified low and won the race. Force collected the maximum points available at any event: 138. His teamate Tony Pedregon was runner-up.

Scotty Cannon showed at the O’Reilly Nationals with new crew chief in hand, Dale Pulde f. The legendary Pulde was not however able to resolve Cannon’s predicament in one event as his 5.156 secs was good only for 17th. Cannon and his former crew chief Wayne Dupey parted company after a fiery and physical confrontation during the Mac Tools Gatornationals.

Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson, who suffered a wicked tumble at Gainesville was back in action at Houston with a Dodge Avenger that was formally driven by Scott Geoffrion. Using Dale Eicke power -- Johnson completed his remarkable rebound and qualified on the bubble with a 6.977 secs. Johnson was the only non-G.M. qualifier in the class.

Pro Stock Truck racing boasted it’s largest field ever as 35 teams took runs at the sixteen available slots. Mark Osborne -- who formally raced Pro Stock cars won his second consecutive event driving a Chevy S-10.

Canadian Pro Stock Truck racer Mike Mahon made his first appearance of the season driving his Ford Ranger. Unfortunately the London, ON native’s best run of 8.057 secs at 169.32 mph was a distant DNQ.