Ama Dragbike: Valdosta Finals - The Scene

Mike Slowe and Walter Sprout were locked in an electrifying battle to determine the Pro Street championship in the most exciting down to the wire finishes of the season. The pair came from rival camps with contrasting stories: Slowe, the cool veteran, riding the flagship bike of Barry Henson's Velocity Racing team while Sprout, an upstart rookie with the nation speed record of 206 mph in his pocket, racing out of the NLR camp led by Sebastian Domingo.

Slowe, the reigning champ, held a tenuous lead over Sprout. Less than one elimination round separated them going into the last race of the season.

Throw into the mix the wildcard: former roadracer and motorcycle journalist Nick Ienatsch, who was brought in to race the lightweight CBR1000RR turbo for Kent Stotz.

If Slowe could do at least as well as Sprout he would win his third straight championship. He qualified in the top spot and when the elimination ladder came out he was clear of the NLR boys until possibly the final.

Slowe was shocked in the semifinal when he lost a holeshot decision to Ienatsch whose telepathic .003 light kept him in front of Slowe's 7.21 elapsed time.

In the other semifinal Sprout found a gift-he was facing teammate Domingo. Domingo gave Sprout a half-second holeshot but in a weird twist Sprout blew the motor as he turned on the win light.