Some dreams conclude when you wake up. But for Joe Hartley, he kept pinching and  each time he was awake.

 

Hartley opted for a Cinderella impersonation instead.

 

Houston Top Fuel runner-up Hartley enjoyed the greatest day of his short racing career by reaching his first Top Fuel final round.

Some dreams conclude when you wake up. But for Joe Hartley, he kept pinching and  each time he was awake.

 

Hartley opted for a Cinderella impersonation instead.

 

Houston Top Fuel runner-up Hartley enjoyed the greatest day of his short racing career by reaching his first Top Fuel final round.

"One of the goals I have always had is to win a race," Hartley said. "This has been an amazing experience."

Hartley said that he'd already won the event just by reaching the finals. It marked the first time he'd been past the second round in his career and first time in 2007 winning the first round.

Was he in a zone or in the right place at the right time? For Hartley, he only knew one way to call it.

"Honestly, I think we have been in the right place at the right time," Hartley admitted. "You get those could of rounds where they smoke the tires and you go right down. I've been on that end of things a few times. You have to be at the right place at the right time. But, we've outrun a few before."