In one of the most spectacular and unforgettable Top Fuel finals ever, Joe Amato scored a come-from-behind victory over Kenny Bernstein, whose Budweiser King dragster was reduced from a sure winner to a pile of mangled metal in the aftermath of a violent engine explosion.

With a half-car lead at half-track, Bernstein's engine exploded in a ball of fire, and the resulting shrapnel shredded the left rear tire. Amato raced past Bernstein, who was wrestling with his out-of-control dragster, which skidded across both lanes and crossed the finish line at 221 mph before crashing backward into the guardrail. Bernstein's mount exploded upon impact, flinging the engine from its mounts before grinding to a halt. Bernstein was temporarily unconscious but otherwise uninjured and was able to exit the driver's compartment without help.

"It was still pulling and going fast, and we were ahead and winning the race, and the next think I knew, I was sideways," said Bernstein. "I knew instantly that something seriously wrong had happened to the tires or the wing. I had no idea that the engine had expired or exploded.

Funny Car winner John Force scored one of his two holeshot victories in the final against Del Worsham, who ran a 5.19 only to lose to Force's 5.21.

"As I was heading backward toward the wall, I had a funny thought: 'Don't hit anything solid.' I knew it was coming; I just didn't know how hard it was going to hit. I was unconscious as soon as I hit. The next thing I remember is the guys from the Safety Safari spraying me [with water]. I was trying to get to the seat belts but couldn't function; I was still in limbo. I was having a little trouble figuring out where I was. A few seconds later, it cleared up."

Said Amato, who squeaked by with a 4.91 for the victory, "My car started pulling on him, then all of a sudden his car disappeared. I thought he had broken the blower belt or something like that. At the time, I was thinking how lucky I was; I didn't realize how unlucky he was."

A round earlier, Bernstein had defeated Doug Herbert, who became the only driver other than Bernstein to eclipse the 300-mph mark after running 301.60 mph in a first-round defeat of Mike Dunn. The historic pass also made Herbert the first driver to crack that barrier in eliminations.

"I could tell it was running on all eight, and it was so smooth that I knew it ran some big speed," said Herbert. "I first heard someone talking about 300 mph on the PA system while I was sitting in the car. I had to stop and think for a second who was in the other lane before I realized that it was me [who ran 301.60]. After that, I couldn't get out of the car fast enough."

The race also yielded a new national e.t. record — a 4.784 by No. 1 qualifier Cory McClenathan — and five of the 20 fastest speeds in history. In addition to Herbert's 301, which was just the fourth 300-mph run in NHRA history, Ed McCulloch ran 298.50 and 298.01, Amato ran 298.40, and Tommy Johnson Jr. ran 298.21.

The Funny Car final wasn't as spectacular as the Top Fuel finale, but it was just as exciting. Force, one of several drivers to run in the 5.1-second zone, used his considerable driving skills to survive close semifinal and final-round races.

In the semifinals, Force defeated Dale Pulde, 5.15 to 5.13, on a holeshot in the closest side-by-side race in Funny Car history. Pulde had a better-than-average .511 reaction time, but Force didn't give him a chance by cutting a .467. In the final, Force ran his slowest pass of eliminations, a 5.21, but never trailed after taking a .474 to .520 starting-line advantage against Del Worsham, who lost with a quicker 5.19.

Warren Johnson won his 35th national event with a dominating performance in Pro Stock. He qualified No. 1 and posted low e.t. and top speed en route to only his second Winternationals victory.

"It makes me feel good to win on driving ability," said Force, who caught a break in round one when Whit Bazemore crossed the centerline, negating what would've been a winning 5.11. "The major deal was that our car was consistent, and it ran good numbers. We had to change blowers for the final, and [the performance] fell off a bit, but the consistency was there.

"Luck is the name of the game. The first round was luck, then we got on a bit of a roll. The reaction times make the driver look like a hero, but it's all a matter of your race car and timing."

Of the three Pro winners, only Warren Johnson dominated. He had low e.t. of all four qualifying sessions, including a 7.16 at 194.04 mph (top speed), and of every round in eliminations. He also had low e.t. with a 7.14 in round one.

If not for Scott Geoffrion, Johnson would've raced against his son, Kurt, who was making his driving debut, in the final. And if not for a faulty line-loc, Geoffrion likely would've had his first victory. After ending Kurt's debut in the semifinals, Geoffrion sat at the starting line, and W.J. sped to a winning 7.24.

The runner-up finish was Geoffrion's ninth in nine career NHRA finals, which tied him with Force for the all-time record for most runner-ups without a victory.