NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series has returned Bristol Dragway, one of the most scenic and historic destinations on the tour, for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. 

On Friday, qualifying was cut short by rain, but not before Shawn Langdon, Alexis DeJoria, Dallas Glenn, and rookie Brayden Davis took the provisional top spots in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.

Langdon, who has won two of the first seven races this season and appeared in three finals, drove his Kalitta Air Careers dragster to a 3.800 to claim the early lead over Josh Hart, who is six-hundredths behind at 3.860. 

The Top Fuel class did not get to run their second qualifying session after a late afternoon rain shower put an end to Friday’s qualifying.

In Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria and her Bandero Café team were quickest on Friday. The past Bristol winner, who has enjoyed a resurgence this season as part of the JCM organization, drove to a 3.948 while Ron Capps is second quickest at 3.960. JFR teammates Jack Beckman and Austin Prock also ran in the threes on Friday, even though they were the two Funny Car racers who did not get their second pass due to rain.

After two runs, the Pro Stock field is both quick and tight as it stretches from Dallas Glenn’s 6.645 to a 6.714 by Troy Coughlin Jr. Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, and Erica Enders round our the quick four.

On Saturday, Deric Kramer, Chris McGaha, and Brandon Miller will be the three drivers battling to make the field as they are currently not qualified. 

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class was buzzing on Friday after the performance of rookie Brayden Davis, who rode the Vance & Hines rental bike to the top spot on the ladder. Davis, who made his debut earlier this season in Gainesville, rode to a best of 6.870 to lead teammate Richard Gadson, who is second at 6.879. Angie Smith, Gaige Herrera, and Matt Smith are the top five riders after two runs.

Saturday’s action will also include the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge which features the semifinal finishers from last week’s event in Epping. In Top Fuel, Brittany Force, Tony Stewart, Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta will race while the Funny Car field will include J.R. Todd, Alexis DeJoria, Spencer Hyde, and Jack Beckman.

The Mission race in Pro Stock features Erica Enders, Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, and Matt Hartford while in Pro Stock Motorcycle the field will revert to the most recent event in Chicago where Gaige Herrera, Matt Smith, Chris Bostick, and Steve Johnson were the semifinalists.

Things are also heating up in the Congruity Pro Mod series where Mason Wright leads the way with a 5.87 after one qualifying run on Friday. Wright is ahead of Mike Stavrinos, who ran 5.888.

2024 EVENT WINNERS
Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Austin Prock, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin Jr., Pr Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
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MOST EVENT VICTORIES
Tony Schumacher, 7 TF; Ron Capps, 6, FC; Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Erica Enders, 3 PS; Gaige Herrera, Steve Johnson, Angelle Sampey and Jerry Savoie, 1, PSM

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.667 sec. by Steve Torrence, October ‘21; 336.49 mph by Justin Ashley, June ’23.
Funny Car - 3.884 sec. by Ron Capps, June ’16; 330.31 mph by Matt Hagan, October ’21.
Pro Stock –  6.613 sec. by Greg Anderson, June ’22; 209.26 mph by Bo Butner, June ’16.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.759 sec. by Matt Smith, June ‘24; 200.05 mph by M. Smith, June ‘24

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 341.59 mph by Brittany Force, April. ‘25, Charlotte
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona
Pro Stock – 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March ’25, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14 Englishtown, N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. ’23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ‘22, Sonoma.

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, June 7
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 9:00 a.m.
Mission Foods Series qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 8
Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
Mission Foods Series eliminations begin at noon. 

TELEVISION
SATURDAY, June 7, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, June 8, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 3 p.m. (ET)