NHRA Sport Compact World Finals - Chariots Of Fire

Turbo Magazine Hot Rod
On a weekend filled with flames, is it so wrong to hope that at least one car catches fire? Yes, it is, so we didn't ask for it to happen to anyone, but Mike Crawford delivered nonetheless. In the final round against Marty Ladwig, the stage was set for a magnificent head-to-head race, as both drivers were running marvelously throughout the qualifying rounds. However, as we said, Mike Crawford tried to dress up like a Southern California wildfire for his Halloween costume, jumping out of his SRT-4 in the nick of time. Mike had the early lead, but Marty could have taken a day and a half if he wanted and still won the race. He did not, however, and wound up taking the win with an 8.899-second run at 162.19 mph.

Honda Tuning All Motor
The biggest story of the entire weekend happened, of all places, in the naturally aspirated category. Drag racing history has shown that the All Motor group was doomed to the double-digit zone forever, as it's remained impossible for anyone to break the 9-second barrier in the NHRA ranks. Impossible, that is, until Leslie Durst got herself a new CRX. In a record-breaking qualifying run that stunned all 80 non-journalists with camera phones and photo credentials in the press area along with the few brave, dedicated fans risking life and lung to venture outdoors, Leslie burst through the barrier like she was taking a cruise. 9.934 seconds and 134.99 mph later, she scarred the history books with a new record, and then sealed the deal by winning in the final round against Jack Sacchete, who actually ran a better time, but fouled his start. Not a bad way to end a Sunday.