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19.877 seconds, well off the track record of 17.891 set by Carr last year. Davis was second-fastest, just a tick back at 19.984, and Bell/O'Neal/ Maxima/BBRP/Smith-sponsored Don Wilson qualified for his first-ever Camel Challenge by cutting a 20.100, third quickest time of the evening. "1 can't believe it," said an emotional Wilson, who had made the long trek to Daytona from his home in Kent, Washington. "All the years of trying have finally paid off." Qualifying fourth was veteran Ronnie Jones aboard the Garvis Honda. Jones circled the track in 20.235 seconds. Kevin Atherton raced the Texas HarleyDavidson/Sponseller Racing machine and turned in a 20.238, while Poovey rounded out the top six qualifiers who would compete in the Camel Challenge with his 20.308 hot lap. Heats Six lO-lap heat races that each offered two direct transfer positions were run, and each heat consisted of 10 riders. Fast-qualifier Ingram led every lap of the opening heat, with King holding down second for the duration. At the finish, Ingram enjoyed a full straightaway lead over King, who in tum led veterans Jay Springsteen and Steve Morehead by a comfortable margin. Ingram and King headed for the main, Springsteen and Morehead readied themselves for one of the four lO-lap semis. Durkee surprised the crowd by grabbing the holeshot in the second heat and leading Davis for the entire 10 laps. Davis closed at one point, but eventually drifted back and finished five-bike lengths behind Durkee. Robert Lewis and Les Washbon finished a distant third and fourth, and along with the rest would have to try again. The third heat saw Parker keep the start-ta-finish pattern going, as he left road racer John Cornwell behind to fend off the charges of Wilson and Kenton Longcor. Cornwell held on for second and a ticket to the main. Ted Taylor was a little too anxious in heat four and was sent to the penalty line after jumping the gun. Graham grabbed the holeshot ahead of Chance Darling, Kris Kiser, Jones and Mickey Fay. Jones wasted little time and motored into the lead within two laps, with Fay just a hair behind in second after starting poorly, Rusty Rogers raced into a close third, but came up short in his charge to overtake Fay. Graham faded to fourth at the flag and would ride a semi Wink Freitas led Carr in the early stages of heat five, but couldn't withstand the pressure and dropped well off the pace. Davey Camlin came out of nowhere. to zoom into second and onto Carr's rear fender. Camlin applied tremendous pressure to Carr, but ran out of time. Former Daytona Short Track winner Steve Aseltine and Atherton finished well behind in third and fourth. John Powell Performance's Tommy Colson led Poovey at the start of the final heat race, but there was no denying Poovey the win. Just before the halfway point, Poovey blasted past Colson and pulled away with an easy win. Colson held on for second ahead of James Hart and Robert Brown. Semis Springsteen looked well on his way to winning the first semi and earning the sole transfer position, but Morehead came blasting through the field up high on the race track and took over the lead before Springsteen even saw him coming. Springsteen tried to retaliate, but came up just inches short and would be a spectator for the rest of the evening. Dan Ingram grabbed the holeshot from the outside pole and stuck to the low inside line to earn his third Grand National win. Lewis led the first two laps of semi two, but was no match for a hard-cllarging Brow. Jason Fletcher also worked his way past, and began to push Brow in the closing stages. Fletcher came close, but Brow held on for a third-row starting position in the feature. Ted Taylor passed Hart on the second lap of the third semi and was never again contested for the lead. Atherton motored into third behind Taylor and Hart, but high-5ided in turn four on the fifth lap and put an end to his chances. Taylor went on to win over Hart and Andy Tresser. Graham fought off the pass attempts of Aseltine to earn the final spot in the main event by winning the fourth semi. Aseltine came from well off the pace to challenge Graham, and lost out in a photo finish. Camel Challenge Ingram chose to start the first Camel Challenge of 1993 on the inside pole, with Jones, Poovey, Atherton, Wilson and Davis to his right. Daytona marked the first of 10 series events that will feature the $10,000 sprint race, and was also one of the 12 events that the R.J. Reynolds Tobbacco Co.will sponsor under the banner of its Camel brand. Camel had sponsored the entire series for many years and particularly missed by the competitors is the $200,000 rider point fund that had been divided among the top 10 riders in the past. Starting in 1974 with a modest payout of $15,000, Camel's point fund and purse awards over the years topped the $4 million mark last year. Ingram's choice to start the race on Terry Poovey shadowed Ingram and finished a close second, only inches behind. 19