This is the first time Diehl and Head have faced each other in eliminations. Head was the runner-up here in Top Fuel in 1998 and in Funny Car in 1986.

Head would have been dead this round, but Diehl misses the tree by -0.016 to give the free pass to him for round two.

Head's Solara was up in smoke about 100 feet out and he pumped it to settle it back down and get on down the track to the finish line. Looks like lane choice will be tough!