The Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals was, in many ways, one of the most dramatic events of the season, so there was a lot to learn from it. Here are five things that stood out.

A STAR IS BORN (OR MAYBE TWO)

Richard Gadson finally fulfilled all the promise he has shown since the Vance & Hines team added him to their roster at the beginning of the 2023 season. Gadson, who has excelled in every other arena, won his first race in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class when he scored a holeshot win over teammate Gaige Herrera in the final. 

Gadson has never lacked confidence, and he’s had plenty of opportunities to finish the job, but for one reason or another, things have not fallen his way. Gadson even joked that he’s “Mr. Almost” because he’s almost won a lot more races, and he almost won the NHRA Rookie of the Year award last season. 

Now that he has his first win out of the way, Gadson will likely race up a few more Wallys even though Gaige Herrera, Matt Smith, and the rest of the class won’t make it easy on him.

While Gadson was busy winning in Bristol, new teammate Brayden Davis almost beat him to it. Davis, in his first race on the Vance & Hines lease bike, was one double-clutch away from becoming an instant hero in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The former PDRA champion qualified No. 1 and went to the semifinals. 

His talent is obvious. His future unlimited. And even Gadson admitted that he was concerned that Davis might beat him to his first Wally. 

ONE THOUSAND ROUND-WINS IS A HUGE NUMBER

John Force. Greg Anderson. When it comes to NHRA Pros with 1,000 round-wins, that’s the list. 

Anderson reached the historic benchmark in the semifinals of the Bristol event, and in typical Anderson fashion, he admitted that it wouldn’t mean much if he didn’t win the race, but he took care of that in another all-KB Titan final with Dallas Glenn. 

Anderson’s journey began as a crewmember for the late John Hagen, and later as a key component of Warren Johnson’s successful operation. As a driver, he’ll be the first to admit that .00 lights don’t come naturally, but his work ethic more than makes up for that. When it comes to Pro Stock, Anderson understands the game at a doctorate level, and he’s determined to milk every ounce of talent out of his now-64-year-old body. 

When it comes to round-wins, Anderson knows he’ll never approach Force’s all-time record of 1,460, but he’s also determined to chip away at a second thousand.

“I’ll know when it’s time to quit,” Anderson said. “As long as I can still do this, I’ll be out here.”

RON CAPPS IS THE MASTER OF THUNDER VALLEY

So, now that Greg Anderson has his 1,000 round-wins, who’s next? Well, how about Ron Capps, who now stands at 924 following his latest win in Bristol. Capps has won almost everywhere that NHRA has raced over the past few decades, but there is nowhere he’s done more damage than Bristol Dragway.

With his final-round win over Paul Lee, Capps now has eight Bristol wins, more than any other driver in any other class. 

“I’ve paid a lot in taxes in the State of Tennessee. Maybe I should just buy a house here,” Capps joked. 

It’s not just luck that has led Capps to eight wins in Thunder Valley, which is generally regarded as one of the trickiest tracks on the tour. Capps has as much experience as anyone, and the same can be said for longtime crew chief Dean Antonelli. 

“I love this place, and I love the fact that it’s got personality. It’s challenging,” said Capps. “Not all tracks need to be the same. When I stage [the] car, I know where I need to drive to make it down the lane, even if it means getting close to the wall. It’s just a challenge that I enjoy.”

Someday in the not-so-distant future, Capps will be added to the Legends of Thunder Valley, joining an exclusive group of highly successful individuals that adorn the facade overlooking the Bristol Dragway suites. 

PRO STOCK IS AS PRO STOCK DOES

What do you need to be successful in Pro Stock? Besides a fast car and a capable driver, it doesn’t hurt to have thick skin because NHRA’s premier door-car class is not for the faint of heart. The latest example came in Bristol, where the rival Elite and KB Titan teams waged their latest battle both on and off the track. 

The drama began on Friday night (well, actually, it began more than a decade ago), but the latest round began after Erica Enders’ last qualifying run was disallowed by NHRA Tech officials due to an infraction involving a set of rear wheels that had been modified. 

Following the second round of eliminations, the longtime rivalry between teams reached the boiling point after harsh words and a few accusations were exchanged behind the starting line. There was a bit of pushing and shoving, and almost certainly a few profane words between combatants, but in the end, cooler heads prevailed. 

In fact, longtime Pro Stock racer Fernando Cuadra Sr. was quick to intervene and provided his own “can’t we all get along” moment, calling for peace and harmony among what has become drag racing’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. 

The Pro Stock cars do not race next weekend in Richmond, and maybe that’s a good thing. Or maybe not. We’ll let you know when we get to Norwalk. 

STEVE TORRENCE IS NOT DONE YET

The rumor mill is what it is, and at times this season, Steve Torrence has been front and center when it comes to the future of the Capco team that has won four championships in the last 10 years. 

This much we know. Torrence’s father, Billy, has not raced in Top Fuel this season and apparently has no plans to do so. Steve also skipped the Phoenix race earlier this year. With a growing family and a very healthy business at home in Texas, Torrence has plenty to keep himself occupied.

Torrence has also consistently said that he’ll only race if it’s fun, and nothing is more fun than winning, so this weekend’s Bristol race should provide a bit of fuel to keep the fire lit. Torrence, grabbing his first win in nearly a year, also turned in one of the best driving jobs of his career, particularly in the final round, where he had to pedal the car to get it to the finish line. 

The Capco crew, led by Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana, have worked hard to regain their championship form, and it appears they are not far off, certainly with their warm weather combination. It would be foolish to think that Torrence won’t be battling for the championship once we get to the Countdown to the Championship phase.