When you enter final eliminations as the No. 15 qualifier, your chances of ending up in the winner's circle are slim at best. Those who know Lyle Barnett understand he's always been a master of winning against slim chances. 

It was seven years ago that the popular Pro Modified racer was severely burned during a qualifying run behind the wheel of a Radial vs. The World car at the Duck X Productions No Mercy event in Valdosta, Ga. The odds were against him, and he persevered in a painful show of determination. 

Monday, with many predicting a runner-up, the positive-minded Barnett scored the improbable victory over point-leader Kris Thorne, who red-lighted. 

"This is a dream," Barnett said. "I've watched the U.S. Nationals on tv since I was a little boy. I've seen all the greats win here and always dreamed that my name would go down as a winner of the U.S. Nationals."

In drag racing, it's not always how you start but how you finish that counts the most. And Barnett didn't have the smoothest of starts on Friday, lagging behind the front-running cars which set up camp in the 5.70s. 

Once qualifying concluded, it wouldn't take long for Barnett to visit the elusive 5.70s. And it couldn't have come at a better time. 

Even though he ran in the 5.70s, he needed some help from his button finger to get the jump on Mike Castellana, a man with a reputation for nailing the tree. Barnett used a 5.785 and the top speed of the meet at 253.71 miles per hour to defeat #2 qualifier Castellana, on a holeshot. Castellana ran a quicker 5.76. 

Barnett had been in tune with the tree for two rounds to reach the semis. He needed the relationship for his semi-final match against Eric Dillard. Dilliard was solidly in the 5.70s but, in the semi-finals, ended up on the wrong side of the tree, leaving -.002 too soon and vaulting Barnett into the final round. 

Fortunately for Barnett, who got out of shape and nearly crossed the centerline, the race was already determined. 

The odds were clearly against Barnett, as Thorne had run through his side of the ladder, making his wins look effortless. He opened with a win over Brainerd runner-up Doug Winters before dipping into the 5.70s to eliminate Adriano and then taking the measure of Stevie "Fast" Jackson, who had done him a solid by taking out points nemesis Rickie Smith. 

Thorne was clearly the driver to beat, but not in the eyes of fate. 

Thorne left -.007 too early, handing the win to Barnett, who almost gave it back by getting close to the centerline. 

Barnett was overjoyed with the victory, but as he points out, it's his family that has been his driving force. 

"To do it with my dad, it's because of him that I'm here. He is the sole reason why I'm able to do what I'm able to do," Barnett said. "I got a new baby boy at home, Nash Douglas. I get to bring him home a wally, and my wife has been holding the fort down, and I love them both. I can't wait to get home to them, but we're going to take this one in, and we're going to celebrate tonight. This is a big one."