NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The last time that an 8.79 elapsed time won a Pro Stock drag race was probably the mid-1970s but that's all that it too for Alex Laughlin to defeat Jeg Coughlin Jr. in one of the wildest races of the this or any other season. Both drivers rattled the tires at the drop of the clutch and both drivers seemed to quickly realize they  were involved in a rare pedalfest. Laughlin was able to recover sooner, and nursed his Havoline Camaro to the finish line with an 8.79 at 180.50 mph to hold off Coughlin's 9.330. Laughlin, a semifinalist at the last two events, has now run his record to 14-6 for the season. Laughlin will be racing in his fifth-career Pro Stock final with an opportunity to get his third win. Earlier this season, Laughlin went to the final in Gainesville where he lost to Bo Butner.

The other half of the semifinals was also far from a textbook race when Chris McGaha took on points leader Bo Butner. McGaha made three attempts to do a proper burnout and botched all of them. Normally, that's enough to destroy a Pro Stock clutch, but the Harlow Sammons driver managed to run a 6.610 to cover Butner's 6.650. Butner's car also shook the tires, ending his shot a a Pro Stock/Factory Stock double. In ten previous finals, McGaha has a strong 7-3 record.

Pro Stock ladder