Breiten Scores First T.B.F.A. Win
at Texas State Championships
Stouffer Clinches 2011 T.B.F.A. Championship
Event #8 – Texas State Championships – San Antonio, Texas – October 22nd, 2011
Report: Chris Graves - Photos: Max Cackle Photography
The Texas Blown Fuel Association rolled into San Antonio Raceway to conclude the 2011 racing season at the Texas State Championships, presented by the Texas Timing Association. The 2011 edition of the TSC was dedicated to the life and memory of Bobby Langley, legendary wheelman of the “Scorpion” dragsters, who passed away the night before the event. Langley was also recognized at the Twilight Memorial Service at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California which was held on the same weekend.
Chris Stouffer and the Carl Meador tuned “Defiant” front engine dragster came into the event with a lock on the 2011 Texas Blown Fuel Championship and the team was presented with a Championship celebration during the pre-race year end banquet. Other award winners included L.H. Newlin who took home a very special “Lifetime Achievement” award, Carl Meador was awarded the “Sportsman of the Year” award, Steve Matthews won “Rookie of the Year”, Rick Grindstaff accepted the “Best Appearing Car” title and Leonard Ament and team ‘Black Magic’ won “Best Appearing Crew”.
(Team "Defiant" - 2011 T.B.F.A. Champions!)
After a feast of what else but Texas BBQ provided by T.B.F.A. and the awards presentation, it was time to return to the pits to prepare for the first session of qualifying as eleven teams headed to the staging lanes ready for action. Dustin Johnson started off the session with a fine 7.601 at 177 mph pass, almost dead on the 7.60 index, with Don Holley right along side with a 7.86 at 178 mph.
(Dustin Johnson)
Rick Grindstaff wheeled the “Quarterflash” dragster to a nice 7.72 at 176 mph and Leonard Ament went just under the mark with a 7.598 at 174 mph. 2011 Champion Chris Stouffer clicked off a 7.63 at 170 mph to secure his spot in the top half of the field and Mike Wheeler posted a 7.76 at 173 mph in the “Rapture” blown altered.
(Bill Norman)
Bill Norman made his season debut with the T.B.F.A. in the Seminole, Texas based “Fabulous Fat Boys” blown front engine dragster and posted a 7.40 at 181 mph along side Steve Matthews’ 7.51 at 150 mph, both just a tick under the index, as Wes Breiten, L.H. Newlin and T.B.F.A. first timer Neal Rogers returned to the pits hoping to improve in the second qualifying session.
(Neal Rogers)
(Chris Stouffer)
Chris Stouffer opened the final qualifying round and improved to a 7.61 at 175 mph along side Mike Wheeler’s 7.81 at 170 mph, Stouffer securing the number two qualifying position. Steve Matthews laid down a 7.76 at 141 mph to qualify seventh and Wes Breiten improved to a nice 7.64 at 178 mph to nab the number three spot.
(Wes Breiten)
(L.H. Newlin)
L.H. Newlin posted a 7.99 at 158 mph to qualify the “Cantankerous” blown altered in the number nine spot. Dustin Johnson’s near “perfect” 7.601 held on for the number one spot and the “Fair Warning” team claimed the Competition Sales of Dallas “Top Qualifier” bonus as the teams returned to the pits to prepare for the first round of eliminations.
Final Qualifying Order:
1. Dustin Johnson (Davis, Oklahoma) – 7.601 @ 177
2. Chris Stouffer (Cleburne, Texas) – 7.61 @ 175
3. Wes Breiten (Wolfe City, Texas) – 7.64 @ 178
4. Leonard Ament (Denton, Texas) – 7.69 @ 169
5. Rick Grindstaff (Dickinson, Texas) – 7.72 @ 176
6. Mike Wheeler (Paradise, Texas) – 7.762 @ 173
7. Steve Matthews (Ardmore, Oklahoma) – 7.764 @ 141
8. Don Holley (Denton, Texas) – 7.86 @ 178
9. L.H. Newlin (Tolar, Texas) – 7.99 @ 158
10. Neal Rogers (Luling, Texas) – 13.72 @ 50
11. Bill Norman (Seminole, Texas) – 7.40 @ 181*
Leonard Ament and Dustin Johnson rolled through the water box to open the first round of eliminations. Ament was looking to take the upset win over the number one qualifier and was out in front early with a big starting line advantage. The cars blasted down the quarter mile side by side with Ament out front taking the stripe with a winning 7.63 at 162 mph to Johnson’s breakout 7.56 at 175 mph.
Steve Matthews and Bill Norman wheeled their blown front engine dragsters to the starting line next as Matthews led from start to finish, posting a winning 7.68 at 135 mph to Norman’s close 7.79 at 134 mph.
(Steve Matthews)
Rick Grindstaff had the daunting task of facing the newly crowned Champion Chris Stouffer, in a battle of gleaming blown slingshot dragsters. Stouffer had a tenth on the tree but at half track fell back as Grindstaff pulled ahead to take the win with a 7.98 at 150 mph. Stouffer claimed the Good Vibrations “Quick Reaction Time” bonus with the quickest light of the round.
(Rick Grindstaff)
Wes Breiten and Mike Wheeler laid down side by side burnouts as eliminations continued. The two blown altereds crept into the beams and Wheeler had a huge starting line advantage. As the cars neared the stripe Breiten came around Wheeler right at the stripe with a winning 7.65 at 166 mph to Wheeler’s close but loosing 7.99 at 132.
(Mike Wheeler)
L.H. Newlin laid down a long smoky burnout along side Neal Rogers, who was making his T.B.F.A. debut in the “Little Red Rocket” blown front engine dragster. Rogers had engine troubles in the burnout and Newlin took the single, clicking off a nice 7.80 at 162 mph to advance to the semi-finals.
(Don Holley)
Closing the round, Don Holley drew the lucky bye run in the odd numbered field and clicked off an 8.05 at 136 mph in the “Rattlebone” blown front engine dragster to take the round win. The four quickest winners, including Leonard Ament, Wes Breiten, Steve Matthews and L.H. Newlin, advanced to the semi-finals.
For team “Defiant” a first round loss was less than desired, but with the title of 2011 Texas Blown Fuel Association Champions, the team was all smiles in San Antonio. Congratulations to the entire gang on a well deserved title, as Stouffer claimed two wins in two finals and three number one qualifying efforts in the eight race season to finish in the top spot in the points standings.
(David Stouffer all smiles in the staging lanes)
First Round Results:
(W) Leonard Ament (.092) 7.63 @ 162 mph vs. (L) Dustin Johnson (.296 rt) 7.56 @ 175 mph
(W) Steve Matthews (.105 rt) 7.68 @ 135 mph vs. (L) Bill Norman (.115 rt) 7.79 @ 134 mph
(W) Rick Grindstaff (.196 rt) 7.98 @ 150 mph vs. (L) Chris Stouffer (.090 rt) 11.82 @ 69 mph
(W) Wes Breiten (.342 rt) 7.65 @ 166 mph vs. (L) Mike Wheeler (.101 rt) 7.99 @ 132 mph
(W) L.H. Newlin (.342 rt) 7.80 @ 162 mph vs. (L) Neal Rogers (No Time)
(W) Don Holley (.155 rt) 8.05 @ 136 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye Run
Two veterans kicked off the semi-final in their blown altereds as Wes Breiten’s “Bad O-Man” and L.H. Newlin’s “Cantankerous” rolled to the line. Newlin jumped the tree and went red, while Breiten posted a 9.22 at 100 mph to advance to his second final round of the season.
(Leonard Ament)
Steve Matthews was out next along side Leonard Ament. Matthews was off the line first by a tenth of a second and got the nod with a 7.74 at 140 mph to Ament’s close 7.76 at 165 mph. Matthews advanced to his third final of the season to face off with Breiten and crown a Texas State Championships winner.
Semi-Final Results:
(W) Wes Breiten (1.49 rt) 9.22 @ 100 mph vs. (L) L.H. Newlin (Foul)
(W) Steve Matthews (.094 rt) 7.74 @ 140 mph vs. (L) Leonard Ament (.197 rt) 7.76 @ 165 mph
As the clock struck midnight the final round pulled into the water box, set to conclude a tough day of fun filled nostalgia drag racing at the Texas State Championships. Breiten and Matthews pulled forward after the burnouts and crept into the beams, with Matthews getting a slight reaction time advantage.
(Wes Breiten "Near Lane" vs. Steve Matthews "Far Lane")
As the cars past half track they were wide open and side by side and at the stripe Wes Breiten lit the scoreboards first with a winning 7.74 at 174 mph to claim his first Texas Blown Fuel win over Matthews’ 7.90 at 146 mph.
Final Round Results:
(W) Wes Breiten (.134 rt) 7.74 @ 174 mph vs. (L) Steve Matthews (.098 rt) 7.90 @ 146 mph
(Wes Breiten & Team "Bad O-Man" - TSC 2011 Winners)
(Steve Matthews - TSC 2011 Runner-Up)
The Texas Blown Fuel Association concluded it’s second season with a great outing at the Texas State Championships. Wes Breiten tested before the final race of the season and it paid off for him in the end, as he will rest easy this off-season knowing he’s the most recent T.B.F.A. winner until the season opener of 2012. Steve Matthews went to three finals in six races this season with the T.B.F.A. which earned him "Rookie of the Year" honors. The Champions Meador & Stouffer will be plenty busy during the off-season preparing to defend their title next season.
The rumor mill indicates a handful of new teams eager to join the fun in 2012 including a possible return of Cole Johnson after his top end accident in Tulsa. Teams can confirm two race weekends for next season, May 4th & 5th and October 19th & 20th, both two day events at San Antonio Raceway. Ed Miller and the Texas Timing Association present Texas Nostalgia Thunder in May and the Texas State Championships in October, mark your calendars!
The 2011 Texas Blown Fuel racing season was witness to five different winners in it’s eight race sophomore season and included eighteen different teams throughout the year. Leonard Ament posted a solid number two finish in the points standings after his Inaugural T.B.F.A. Championship in 2010. Rick Grindstaff posted his best finish in third with Steve Matthews and Don Holley rounding out the top five finishers!
The T.B.F.A. would like to thank Jim Maher and Good Vibrations, Bill Mitchell and Competition Sales of Dallas, JamWorksChassis and Brodix Cylinder heads for their support of the 2011 racing season. Congratulations to all the drivers, crew members, team owners and family members of the T.B.F.A. and thank you to the fans for supporting your local nostalgia drag racing scene. We’ll see you next season!
Click Here to see photos from this event!
Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time Bonus - Chris Stouffer (.090)
JamWorks Chassis Top Qualifier Bonus - Dustin Johnson
Comp. Sales of Dallas Top Qualifier Bonus - Dustin Johnson
