NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series arrives at Bristol Dragway for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, competitors find themselves facing one of the most unusual and compelling days of the 2026 season. An iconic track with a brand new racing surface. Teams spent Thursday inspecting the fresh pavement and preparing for what many expect could become one of the quickest and smoothest tracks on the tour. Nestled among the Tennessee mountains and long regarded as one of drag racing's most picturesque venues, Thunder Valley enters a new era this weekend.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1 Notes: Fast Bikes, Tight Margins, and Early Drama in Bristol

The opening round of Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations at the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals delivered exactly what fans expect from the two-wheel category: razor-thin margins, standout reaction times, and a few unexpected turns before the ladder even reached the quarterfinals.

The quickest pass of the round belonged to Angie Smith, who powered her Denso-backed Buell to a 6.916-second run at 196.99 mph to best Richard Gadson's run. Smith’s motorcycle was consistently strong through every increment of the track, and her .006 reaction time was staggering. Gadson stayed close with a 6.939 at 194.58 mph, but Smith’s combination of starting-line excellence and top-end speed made her one of the strongest performers of the session.

Gaige Herrera continued to look every bit like a championship contender. Herrera left well with a .027 light and marched to a 6.867-second pass at 196.59 mph next to Joey Gladstone. Herrera’s 6.867 was also the quickest elapsed time of the opening round and establishes him as an early favorite in Q1.

One of the most dramatic runs of the round came from Ryan Oehler and John Hall. Hall left early with a red-light foul. Hall still ran a competitive 6.953 at 196.73 mph. 

Kelly Clontz also displayed a strong starting-line advantage. Clontz used a .070 reaction time to leave Geno Scali trailing and then posted a 7.003-second run at 193.82 mph.

In another close matchup, Wesley Wells and Marc Ingwersen were working on their reaction times. Wells’ .205 reaction time was not ideal, but Ingwersen’s .109 light and slower elapsed time of 7.310 seconds allowed Wells to move forward with a 7.188-second pass.

The most disappointing pairing of the round came between Jianna Evaristo and Chase Van Sant. Timing data indicates Evaristo did not make a run, while Van Sant advanced after a delayed pass, recording a 39.597-second elapsed time.

Q1 Highlights

• Quickest ET: Gaige Herrera, 6.867 seconds
• Fastest Speed: Brayden Davis, 197.08 mph
• Best Reaction Time: Angie Smith, .006
• Closest Competitive Pairing: Angie Smith vs. Richard Gadson (6.916 to 6.939)
• Notable Upset/Incident: John Hall red-lighted against Ryan Oehler

With Herrera setting the pace, Smith showing race-winning-caliber consistency, and several riders separated by only a few hundredths of a second, the Pro Stock Motorcycle ladder remains wide open as qualifying continues in Thunder Valley.

Pro Stock Car Q1 Notes: Anderson Leads a Fierce Opening Session in Thunder Valley

The opening qualifying session for Pro Stock at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals immediately reminded fans why the category remains one of the most competitive in motorsports. Seven hundredths of a second separated much of the field, and several contenders opened the weekend with runs capable of challenging for the provisional No. 1 position.

Greg Anderson wasted no time making his intentions known. The multi-time Pro Stock champion powered his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to a stout 6.687-second pass at 204.45 mph, edging KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn for the quickest run of the session. Glenn was right there with a 6.711 at 204.66 mph, giving the powerhouse KB Titan operation an early one-two punch atop the standings.

The matchup between Anderson and Glenn also produced some of the best incremental numbers of the session, with both drivers reaching the finish line separated by just .024-second.

Matt Latino continued his recent surge with a strong 6.693-second run at 204.91 mph, placing himself firmly in the hunt for a top-half qualifying position. Latino’s KB Titan machine showed excellent consistency throughout the run and finished just .006-second behind Anderson’s provisional pace.

Not far behind was Jeg Coughlin Jr., whose 6.700 at 205.16 mph narrowly besting Aaron Stanfield in one of the tightest side-by-side runs of the session. Stanfield matched Coughlin nearly increment for increment before posting a 6.706 at 205.41 mph. The pair were separated by just six thousandths of a second at the stripe, underscoring the razor-thin margins that define modern Pro Stock competition.

Greg Stanfield also turned in a noteworthy run, driving to a 6.702-second pass at 205.26 mph. While Matt Hartford was slightly quicker off the starting line, Stanfield’s top-end charge allowed him to post one of the quickest elapsed times of the session.

Cody Anderson quietly delivered one of the stronger runs of Q1. The young standout ran 6.691 seconds at 205.60 mph. His 205.60 mph was one of the fastest speeds recorded during the opening round.

Elite Motorsports teammates continued to cluster near the top of the order. Erica Enders opened with a solid 6.746 at 206.04 mph, the fastest speed of the session. Although none of the runs threatened Anderson’s elapsed-time lead, Elite demonstrated the horsepower necessary to challenge as track conditions evolve.

One of the session’s biggest surprises came in the pairing between Stephen Bell and Shane Tucker. Bell made a clean 6.764-second pass at 204.14 mph, while Tucker encountered immediate trouble and slowed to a 13.424-second run at just 65.64 mph.

Q1 Highlights

• Provisional No. 1: Greg Anderson, 6.687 seconds, 204.45 mph
• Fastest Speed: Erica Enders, 206.04 mph
• Closest Pairing: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.700) vs. Aaron Stanfield (6.706)
• Top Team Performance: KB Titan Racing placed Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn first and second in the session.
• Notable Performer: Matt Latino’s 6.693-second pass put him within striking distance of the provisional pole.
• Session Storyline: Less than two hundredths of a second separated the top four qualifiers, setting the stage for an exceptionally competitive battle as qualifying continues at Thunder Valley.

If Q1 is any indication, Pro Stock fans are in for a weekend where every thousandth counts and no qualifying position will come easy.

Funny Car Q1 Notes

Jason Galvin reports from the starting line that he's talked to every crew chief he could and he was told, "the Bristol race surface is now 'Charlotte-esque [zMax] on the quality of the concrete,' and 'among the best racing surfaces [NHRA] has.'" 

Cruz Pedregon had an oil leak in his Funny Car and had to back the machine off the starting line and the Safety Safari moved into action to clean up the slick.