Finals

The finals match up pitted two regular TAO runners, 2013 series Champion and local favorite Chris Domino and Spring, Texas’s Championship contender Bengt Blomberg. When the evening began Blomberg had a 36-point deficit to overcome to capture his first ever series championship. His game plan was to qualify and go rounds and that is the formula that brought him to the money round. Domino was looking to end a frustrating year on a high note with a win and continue the long sought-after consistency from his machine that he and his crew found on this day.

As both finalists lit the pre-stage bulb the starter stepped up between the two contestants arms out, holding them for a moment as there was a issue in the tower and then as quickly motioned them in. Lighting the stage bulb the lights flashed yellow then green and then the dreaded red light flashed up in Domino’s lane as he went .390 fouling out but still running a 4.10 at 173.01. Domino’s red light appeared to hand the win to Blomberg as well as the season championship and not backing down Blomberg ran a career best 4.16/ 172.35 as he used up most of his lane. Blomberg got close enough to the center line that race official went down track to verify he did not cross it and determined his run was clean. The event title as well as the championship -- by 5 points -- indeed did belong to Team Blomberg.

After the race Chris Domino said that the starter holding them back for that split second “threw me off my routine and I blew it.” He added, “But we have a hot rod now and look out for next year.”

It’s often said in drag racing that you need that lucky round or things to just fall your way. Bengt and Sharon Blomberg, two of the most dedicated and beloved racers on the TAO circuit, caught a couple breaks during this race but consistently performed and went rounds for the win. Asked about winning the 2015 Texas Automatic Outlaws Pro Mod Association Championship, Blomberg said, “There is always hope. You never give up -- never give up.”