Matthews Masters San Antonio
San Antonio Raceway - Texas Nitro Nostalgia – Saturday, May 5th, 2012
Event #2 of 8
Report & Photos: Max Cackle Photography

The Texas Blown Fuel Association rolled into San Antonio Raceway for their second of eight events this season, participating in the “Texas Nitro Nostalgia” event hosted by the Texas Timing Association. An eight car field came to battle down the quarter mile in the heat of a blistering May afternoon in Texas.

Included on a bill featuring the Outlaw Fuel Altereds, Southwest Junior Fuel Association, Nostalgia Funny Cars and Cacklefests, this event was a trip back in time for fans and racers alike.

Qualifying Highlights:

(Rick Grindstaff)

Rick Grindstaff and Ted McCord started the action in this 7.60 indexed event, with side by side burnouts in their alcohol burning blown front engine dragsters. Grindstaff spun off the line in the “Quarterflash II” machine while McCord posted a strong 4.65 at 163 mph in “Senior Moment” slingshot.

Steve Matthews rolled out next along side Steve Dunkin. Matthews clicked off a straight and clean 7.74 at 145 mph and Dunkin posted a nice 7.83 at 175 mph in the “Sudden Pleasure II” dragster.

(Steve Dunkin)

Wes Breiten and Chris Stouffer were out next, but Breiten ran into transmission problems before the burnout and was forced to shutoff. Stouffer, fresh of a between race thrash to repair his small block powered, Carl Meador owned and tuned machine, posted a solid 7.78 at 175 mph.

(Chris Graves)

Chris Graves made his debut in the “Blown Inheritance” front engine dragster powered by a 427 cubic inch Chevy and on his first check out pass went 8.92 at 100 mph. Randy Mueller was also making his debut, wheeling a 500+ cubic inch blown Chevy altered, but tossed the blower belt off on his first burnout of the evening as the teams headed back to the pits.

(Randy Mueller)

In the second qualifying session, Steve Matthews stepped up but went a touch too quick going .021 under the index with a 7.579 at 151 mph along side Steve Dunkin who stepped up to a 7.79 at 175 mph.

(Ted McCord)

Ted McCord clicked off a 7.79 at 151 mph in his second qualifier and Chris Stouffer stepped up to a 7.72 at 171 mph to qualify the “Defiant” dragster in the number two spot behind Ted McCord who led the field into eliminations. Rick Grindstaff ran into troubles in the transmission and joined Wes Breiten on the sidelines as the remaining six teams returned to the pits to prepare for eliminations.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Ted McCord (Claremore, Oklahoma) - 7.65 @ 163
2) Chris Stouffer (Cleburne, Texas) - 7.72 @ 171
3) Steve Matthews (Ardmore, Oklahoma) - 7.74 @ 145
4) Steve Dunkin (Aledo, Texas) - 7.79 @ 175
5) Chris Graves (Carrollton, Texas) - 8.58 @ 103
6) Rick Grindstaff (Dickinson, Texas) - 13.46 @ 144
7) Randy Mueller (San Antonio, Texas) - No Time Data
8) Wes Breiten (Wolfe City, Texas) - Broke

In the first round of eliminations, Chris Stouffer paired up with Steve Dunkin. Stouffer was off the line first by a huge margin and never looked back, clicking off a solid 7.64 at 179 mph to take the win.

(Chris Stouffer)

Steve Matthews lined up with Ted McCord as eliminations continued. Matthews was off the line with a remarkable .003 reaction time and coupled that with a 7.67 at 141 mph to take out McCord’s 8.14 at 139 mph.

(Steve Matthews)

Chris Graves and Randy Mueller both made single passes in the eight second range to close the round and the decision was made by the T.B.F.A. to advance the two quickest first round winners, Steve Matthews and Chris Stouffer, straight to the final round as the two other entries were first time participants and had singles in the opening round.

First Round Results:

(W) Chris Stouffer (.143 rt) 7.64 @ 179 mph vs. (L) Steve Dunkin (.637 rt) 10.42 @ 74 mph
(W) Steve Matthews (.003 rt) 7.67 @ 141 mph vs. (L) Ted McCord (.036 rt) 8.14 @ 139 mph
(W) Chris Graves (.381 rt) 8.97 at 98 mph vs. (L) Bye Run
(W) Randy Mueller (.297 rt) 8.82 @ 112 mph vs. (L) Bye Run

Chris Stouffer and Steve Matthews lined up their blown front engine dragsters one last time to decide an event winner in San Antonio. Matthews was again deadly on the tree with a .010 reaction time and his strong 7.62 at 145 mph was enough to hold off Chris Stouffer’s nice 7.67 at 165 mph.

(Final Round: Stouffer "Near Lane" vs. Matthews "Far Lane")

Final Round Results:

(W) Steve Matthews (.010 rt) 7.62 @ 145 mph vs. (L) Chris Stouffer (.088 rt) 7.67 @ 165 mph

Congratulations to Steve Matthews and company on their win in San Antonio and in doing so are now the Texas Blown Fuel points leaders heading into the third event of the season. Defending series points Champion Chris Stouffer and the “Defiant” team posted a strong effort in San Antonio qualifying well and going rounds on a new tune-up.

(Matthews Racing - San Antonio Winners)

The T.B.F.A series would like to welcome Chris Graves and Randy Mueller to the association and look forward to their participation at more events this year. The T.B.F.A. would also like to thank Good Vibrations, Competition Sales of Dallas and AMS Racing Engines for their support of the 2012 season bonus programs.

The Good Vibrations “Quick Reaction Time” bonus went to non-other than Steve Matthews with his .003 in first round, the AMS Racing Engines “#1 Qualifier” bonus went to Ted McCord and the Competition Sales of Dallas “Luck of the Draw” bonus went to Wes Breiten.

The Texas Blown Fuel Association is headed north to North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas on Saturday, May 19th. This will be a double up event for three competitors, Steve Matthews, Dustin Johnson and Rick Grindstaff, who are still in competition from the “Old School Showdown” at the Texas Motorplex and will pick-up in the semi-final round of that event, in two weeks at North Star Dragway.

Click Here to see photos from San Antonio

Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time Bonus - Steve Matthews (.003)

AMS Racing Engines Top Qualifier Bonus - Ted McCord

Competition Sales of Dallas "Luck of the Draw" - Wes Breiten