Sundays eliminations started off with John Drummond hosting a humorous tribute to the events “Hot Rod Hero” Ed Iskenderian, a founding father in the cam grinding business from nearby Gardena. Iskenderian told the crowd how he first acquired his original cam grinding machine and also shared stories of inventing silk screened tee shirts back in the late 1940s. Isky, now 85 years old was honored with a patented Goodguys Hemi Oscar for his 60 years in the hot rodding industry.

In a field like this there are no easy marks and anyone can win. In this pair a couple of 39 year old hot shoes faced off - Brett Harris and Adam Sorokin.

Sorokin did his job in Brian Van Dyke's racer and put .03 on Harris at the hit. It wasn't enough as the big red car was in full form this weekend and Harris drove around him for the win.

Harris 5.874 at 258.52 was too much for Sorokins game 5.941 at 244.69.

As all winners must do, Harris stopped at the scales at the top end to make sure the car is within legal weight.

Harris' second round win came at a price. Their 260 mph Donovan engine broke a connecting rod which necessitated a heavy thrash to install a new "bullet".

In typical fashion, the Nitro Thunder team had a new engine in the car - running - in less than an hour.

In the semi finals Harris drew the ever improving fueler of Denver Schutz.

Schutz had an slight advantage off the line but Harris ran another big number to head into the final.

Between the semi and final round a Goodguys tech official came by to check the bore and stroke on the record setting engine. Lucky for him it was already sitting on the ground with internal damage.

The Utah Posse makes final adjustments to Big Red and that would be the last "normal" happening this race would see.

To start with, the staging procedure was a little weird as Thompson's 2nd light flickered after Harris was fully staged. What was explained to me (as I'm not nor never have been a bracket racer) Thompson may have been "bumping" the lights which is an old bracket racers trick done with brake. You barely trip the bottom light and then let the car rock back out of it... you are not fully stages and the bulb will flicker throwing your opponent off his game. Maybe someone else can explain it in more detail. At any rate, that is what many of the racers who saw him run Mendy and then Harris said he was doing. The bottom line is whatever went on it really threw Harris off his program and Thompson absolutely nailed him on the tree (0.038 to 0.307). All he had to do was run in the fives and the race was his.

While Harris was playing big time catch-up Thompson got loose and was all over the left lane.

In spite of all his troubles Thompson almost held on as there aren't many shots with his injectors closed. Harris needed every bit of a 5.866 at 258.71 to take the win. Brad clocked a 6.230 at 216.06 and his troubles were just beginning

Harris was typically late on his chutes and after what Thompson went through his should already be in full bloom.

The car went straight into the trap, got sideways, barrel rolled and stopped upside down with Thompson's head literally buried in the sand.

Don Irvin and the Safety Safari got the car rolled over, Brad out of the car and on oxygen. He was definitely shaken but not stirred. They plan to be in Seattle for the Goodguys and Northwest Nostalgia Drags in late May.

Up the track the normally exuberant Nitro Thunder team was a bit subdued as at this point the didn't know Thompson's condition.

Know all was OK with his opponent, Brett let allowed himself to start enjoying a huge win. The car weighed in over the minimum weight and the race was his.

Brett Harris (Top Fuel) and Scott Parks (Jr. Fuel) watch the remaining classes prior to the trophy presentations. Harris runs a Neal & Parks car so the teams stick together.

As the sun begins to set, Camp Harris is savoring the victory and thinking about loading up.