Thrills on the track at last weekend’s NHRA Northwest Nationals were in short supply for Auburn Competition Eliminator driver Aaron Strong.

Starting with a devastating first run in the qualifying rounds on Friday at Pacific Raceways, Strong, the defending Division 6 Comp Eliminator champ, was unable to overcome mechanical problems and reach Sunday’s elimination rounds.

In his first run, Strong struggled from the starting line, posting a disappointing 13.263-seconds elapsed time at a paltry 66.06 miles per hour.

Although he was able to coax a little better performance from his 2005 Cavalier in the next two rounds, posting an 8.766 at 123.56 mph on Friday and an 8.335 elapsed time in the first round of eliminations, it was not enough to move Strong on to Sunday’s main event.

“We just kept driving through the clutch,” Strong said after the race.

Despite his car woes, Strong was buoyed by a surprise visit by an NHRA Pro Stock legend to his trailer on Friday night.

“We had Warren Johnson come in and help us,” Strong said. “We actually had ‘The Professor’ in my trailer helping. It was an honor.”

Mike McKeigue won Sunday’s Comp Eliminator final, posting a 7.392 final run, just edging out Casey Plaizier, who ran a 8.191.

Strong looks to get back on the winning track at Pacific Raceways on Aug. 17-18 in a Northwest Division 6 NHRA event.

ALSO: Auburn’s Dino Kost also found himself the victim of the mechanical gremlins at the Northwest Nationals. Kost, whose car was operating on its third rear end in 18 races, failed to move out of the Super Stock qualifying rounds. Jody Lang won the class with a finals run of 11.139, beating Rick McKinney. … Auburn’s Stephen Schwab also was unable to progress out of the qualifying rounds, jumping the light in his final round. … Auburn’s Curtis Geise drove his 2004 Trans Am to Sunday’s Super Gas fourth elimination round before narrowly losing to Kevin Kleinweber by 0.0354 seconds. … Auburn’s Gary Ermish was knocked out in the Super Street elimination round four, narrowly losing to Allen Mecham by a 0.0039 margin of victory. … In the pro classes, Top Fuel Dragster driver Del Worsham posted a 316.38-mph run in the finals to edge out Tony Schumacher. … Tim Wilkerson finished first in Funny Car, and Jason Line, the 2008 Pro Stock champ, knocked off teammate Greg Anderson by three feet with a 6.553 time. … Joey Severance finished first in the Top Alcohol Dragster class with a 5.439 final run, and Alex De Joria was first in the Top Alcohol Funny Car division with a 5.611 final run.