Rick Grindstaff (shown) had the daunting task of facing 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.

Wes Breiten and Mike Wheeler, both driving 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.

L.H. Newlin laid down a long smoky burnout along side Neal Rogers, who was making his TBFA 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.

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 semifinals.

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. In getting the championship Stouffer claimed two wins in two finals and three number-one qualifying efforts in the eight-race season.