ROCKINGHAM – Cary’s Al Blaha dominated the season-opening Phantasm Motorsports “Imports at the Rock” event Sunday at Rockingham Dragway, driving his 1994 Toyota Supra to victory in the featured Pro Import Quick 8 division.

The No. 1 qualifier at a track record 10.132 seconds, Blaha beat Dale Sanders of Eagle Springs in the final round.

It was the third runner-up finish of the weekend for Sanders, who also participated in Saturday’s Fast Fords event at The Rock, driving a 1990 Mustang to runner-up honors in Open Comp and Footbrake while winning the Trophy Street title.  This was his first race in Pro Import Quick 8.  He won the bracket championship in the final race of 2004.

It was Blaha’s second consecutive victory in the “Imports at the Rock” series which continues Aug. 13, Oct. 30 and Nov. 27.   He shared the winners’ circle with Sanders at last year’s finale, again winning in wire-to-wire fashion from the No. 1 qualifying position.

Sunday’s bracket winner was Tony Starnes of Matthews, who got a free pass when John Vue of Lowell was guilty of a foul start.

Results from Sunday’s opening event in the Phantasm Motorsports “Imports at the Rock” series at Rockingham Dragway:

PRO IMPORT QUICK 8
Qualifying – 1. Al Blaha, Cary, 1994 Toyota Supra, 10.132, 137.72 mph; 2. Darius Mikalauskos, Charlotte, Honda Civic, 11.680, 118.93 mph; 3. Jason Biggers, Monroe, 1993 Honda Civic, 11.942, 116.84 mph; 4. Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, 1994 Toyota Supra, 12.201, 116.90 mph.
 First round – Al Blaha, Cary, 1994 Toyota Supra, 12.042, 121.87 mph, def. Barry Jenkins, Matthews, 14.048, 98.47 mph; Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, 1994 Toyota Supra, 12.004, 119.57 mph, def. Josh Carpenter, Marshville, 1998 Dodge Neon; Jason Biggers, Monroe, 1993 Honda Civic, 11.691, 118.47 mph, def. Damien Carter, Waxhaw, 12.351, 119.87 mph; Darius Mikalauskos, Charlotte, Honda Civic, 16.421, 65.68 mph, bye.
Semifinals – Blaha, 10.455, 13552 mph, def. Biggers, 12.287, 95.31 mph; Sanders, 12.081, 119.00 mph, def. Mikalauskos, 12.106, 110.09 mph.
 FINAL – Al Blaha, Cary, 1994 Toyota Supra, .471, 11.020, 130.19 mph, def. Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, 1994 Toyota Supra, .092, 12.020, 119.80 mph.

IMPORT BRACKET – Tony Starnes, Matthews, Nissan 300 ZX, .083, 16.973 on a 17.100 dial-in, 82.29 mph, def. John Vue, Lowell, 1997 Honda Civic, foul.  Semifinalist: Kiki Wong, Red Springs, Honda Civic.