Michael Paschal from Greensboro, N.C., drove his Ford Falcon to victory in the International Hot Rod Association season opener. He was solid at the tree in the Top Eliminator class sponsored by Trailer Ranch LLC with a .021 start and then posted a 5.591-second pass at 121.96 mph against a 5.59 dial-in.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Randleman, N.C. driver Scott Macy, who left the starting line just -.001 too quick in his Dodge Coronet. The foul disqualified his run of 6.646 seconds at 99.98 mph. Both drivers had been strong at the start. Macy was perfect on a single run in the semifinal round, while Paschal had posted a .002 reaction time in his quarterfinal win over Randy Biddle.

William Roberts beat Carson Robbins in a battle of Ford Mustang drivers in the Footbrake final. Roberts, a driver from Benson, N.C., was closer to his dial-in. He ran 6.028 seconds at 111.37 mph against a 6.03 dial-in. Robbins, a Walnut Cove, N.C. driver, had the better reaction time .005 to .018. He was a little too quick on his run, going 6.110 seconds at 110.87 mph against a 6.12 dial-in.

Roberts had a tough route to the victory. He beat Biddle in the quarterfinal round and then came through with a .001 reaction time to best Mark Hunter in the semifinals.

Forrest Radford won a hotly contested Junior Dragster final when final-round opponent Landon Burnette broke out. Radford, a Riner, Va. driver, finished in 8.982 seconds at 74.43 mph against an 8.96 dial-in. Burnette from Burlington, N.C., was slightly quicker at the start .059 to .061. He finished with a 7.923-second run at 81.85 mph against a 7.93 dial-in.

It wasn’t just the finals that produced winners. A trio of racers — John Roach (Top), Dillon Winkler (Footbrake) and Carter Jackson (Junior Dragster) — took home prizes for the best packages in the “Moser Money Round.” 

The IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Moser Engineering and Fuel Tech returns to action Saturday, April 15 at Music City Raceway, Goodlettsville, Tenn., where racers will compete for the big checks, prestigious IHRA Ironman trophies and other prizes.