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Iconic wrestler Ric Flair regularly proclaimed, "To be the man, you must beat the man." To be the man, Comp racer Don Thomas said he regularly raced the man. On Friday, on the biggest stage of them all, the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals, Thomas pocketed the largest single-day payout in Competition Eliminator history, winning $30,000 from the Rooftec Cash Clash, a race within a race for those in the top 16 points earners in the Division 4 Competition Eliminator Bonus. 

Of all the people to beat, he stopped fellow Texas Chase Williams, a driver he admits always brings out the best of him. 

"When Chase and I race each other, it's always great, we bring out the best in each other," Thomas said. "There's a select few guys, Clarke Smiley, Chase Williams... when we race one another, we are on our game. I know I will always get his best, which makes it fun."

Thomas made his way to the finals by starting with a heads-up, C/Econo Dragster battle, where he stopped Greg Kamplain. He then took out the truck of Rick Brown before getting around Tyler Chomiski. 

Williams got off on the right track with sportsman drag racing icon Jeff Taylor fouled and then took out the Econo Altered of Sean Dodd. He took out Brad Plourd in a costly win.

Interestingly, when Williams suffered engine damage before the final round, Thomas was the first to help him. 

"They surely could have gotten that done without me," Thomas admitted. "I thought maybe I could help them get ready a little quicker. Unfortunately, I have more than my share of [broken valve] experience. I've fished a lifter back in the hole quite a few times. He would have done it for me."

Additionally, thanks to a special Calcutta-style auction, Thomas pocketed an additional $17,500, making his total take home over $47,000.