Matthews Scores Super Chevy Win at the Texas Motorplex

Words and photos by Chris Graves

The Texas Blown Fuel Association held their third event of the 2011 racing season on Saturday, June 4th at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas; headlining the exhibition portion of the highly anticipated Super Chevy Show.  A twelve car field of all blown nostalgia drag racing machines came ready to do battle on the all concrete Texas Motorplex quarter mile under the eyes of a strong and eager crowd, despite the hottest temperatures of the year with the mercury flirting on the 100 degree line. 

The eager fans that rolled into the Motorplex on Friday night for “Fast Friday” were treated to a few exhibition/test runs from three TBFA teams including Rick Grindstaff, Chris Stouffer and Willie Brainerd.  These exhibition passes earned them five bonus points and gave them a hopeful advantage on their quarter mile tune-up. 

The T.B.F.A series welcomed the return of L.H. and Frances Newlin to the fun in the “Cantankerous” blown altered after a brief hiatus, which was spent rebuilding their blown BBC.  The series also welcomed the Johnson Family Racing “Blown Bee” front engine dragster driven by Cole Johnson.  The teams warmed up and made final adjustments before heading to the lanes and following the national anthem, the call went out to fire em’ up for the first qualifying session.

The heat continued to bear down on the Texas Motorplex as the first round of eliminations began.  Mike Wheeler and Don Holley kicked off the action as Wheeler laid down a hide blazing eighth mile burnout, earning him the Max Cackle Photos.com “Best Burnout” bonus.  Wheeler’s momentum continued as he was on the favorable end of a red light by Don Holley, by just -.029 of a second, as Wheeler clicked off a 7.77 at 137 mph to advance over Holley’s 8.02 at 178 mph in the “Rattlebone” slingshot.