The TBFA teams filled the lanes as the fireworks show wrapped up and the call went out to fire em’ up.  Opening the first round action was points leader Willie Brainerd alongside veteran L.H. Newlin.  Newlin jumped the tree and went red giving Willie the automatic win with a 4.88 at 145 mph for team “Black Gold”.  This was the fourth “opponent foul” to benefit Brainerd this season and he could only hope his 4.88 would be one of the quickest four winning passes of the round.

Rich Witko rolled through the water box next alongside young gun Cole Johnson who hoped he could re-peat his career best 4.85 from qualifying in the “Blown Bee” slingshot.  Johnson got a solid starting line advantage but had to lift as the front wheels reached for the sky again and that was all Witko needed as he blasted right down the groove to a winning 4.75 at 146 mph to advance his funny car.

Mike Wheeler was out next alongside Leonard. Ament was hoping to put together a strong outing at his home track after a somewhat slow start to the season for the defending champ.  Their cold streak would continue as Wheeler was out first and never looked back, clicking off a strong 4.71 at 146 mph to Ament’s 4.84 at 144 mph.  Ament had put down a 4.82, 4.83 and 4.84 but with a new rear end gear combination just couldn’t get the job done.  Needless to say, Ament and company will be out for revenge returning to their Championship combination at the next TBFA event to be held August 5th at Texas Raceway, an event Ament won last year.