It was an all-Ohio final round as Pancake went up against Joey Wilkes from Zanesville and his ‘68 Barracuda. Pancake posted a pass of 8.609 at 152.14 mph to Wilkes's 8.713 at
151.87 to claim the victory.
"It was wonderful to have the win," said Pancake. "We worked really hard for it. What really made it special was having the brand-new car. We had hardly any testing in it, and it had been missing [under performing] on us. We decided to take it and try it, and if it was still missing on us we would change to the Barracuda [Pancake's other SS/AH vehicle, which set the current class record for ET earlier in the year]. It was also my biggest win, the biggest prize cash prize I've ever won."
Pancake pocketed the $11,500 winner's payout, including $5,000 courtesy of Mopar. He claimed between $3,000 and $4,000 in contingency awards, including $1,000 from Ray Barton Racing Engines, and certificates for a new set of Holley carburetors and a new Impact racing helmet.
The total cash payout for the field was $21,200, with the total contingency payout at $22,350.
Charlie Westcott Sr.’s ’68 Barracuda sports a cammo paint job pretty close to his son’s “War Fish” paint.
