NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Race day has arrived at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and after two days of qualifying on Bristol Dragway's newly repaved surface, the stage is set for what could be one of the fastest and most unpredictable elimination days of the season. 

Teams spent the weekend learning the nuances of the fresh racing surface, with performance steadily improving in every session and several categories still far from reaching their full potential. 

Top Fuel Round One: Heavy Hitters Advance as Thunder Valley Eliminations Begin

The opening round of Top Fuel eliminations at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals delivered a mix of dominant performances, close races, and early exits for several contenders as the battle for the Bristol title got underway.

Points leader Shawn Langdon turned in the quickest run of the round, powering his Kalitta Air Careers dragster to a blistering 3.764-second pass at 335.40 mph to eliminate Jasmine Salinas. Though his car had throttle trouble during the burnout and necessitated a short burnout, Langdon's run was the fastest speed of the session and sent a clear message that the championship leader intends to be a factor deep into Sunday's eliminations.

No. 1 qualifier Leah Pruett continued her impressive weekend with a solo pass after opponent Ida Zetterström was unable to make the call. Pruett took advantage of the opportunity to post a strong 3.770-second run at 332.43 mph, advancing safely into the quarterfinals while maintaining momentum from qualifying.

Antron Brown also moved on, defeating Will Smith with a solid 3.805-second effort at 328.78 mph. Brown's Matco Tools machine left the starting line nearly even with Smith before steadily pulling away for the win.

Veteran Tony Stewart scored one of the more notable victories of the round, knocking out Justin Ashley in a matchup between top-tier championship contenders. Stewart's 3.841-second pass at 325.53 mph was enough to hold off Ashley's quicker-starting effort and secure a spot in the second round.

Doug Kalitta advanced past Josh Hart in one of the closest races of the round. Kalitta's 3.799 at 330.31 mph held off Hart's 3.845-second run by just .0324-second at the finish line.

Four-time world champion Tony Schumacher survived a tight contest with Keith Murt, using a 3.866-second run at 328.62 mph to advance by a margin of just .0311-second.

Maddi Gordon continued her impressive Top Fuel debut season by defeating Billy Torrence with a 3.817-second run at 329.26 mph, while Shawn Reed capitalized on trouble for Clay Millican, whose dragster slowed dramatically to a 4.361-second pass. Reed advanced with a 3.822 at 328.30 mph.

With Langdon, Pruett, Kalitta, Brown, Stewart, Schumacher, Gordon, and Reed all advancing, the quarterfinal round promises several marquee matchups as Thunder Valley moves one step closer to crowning a Top Fuel champion.

Funny Car Round One: The Speed Is Here in Thunder Valley

If there was any doubt about the potential of Bristol Dragway's freshly repaved racing surface, the opening round of Funny Car eliminations erased it. As temperatures climbed and conditions improved, teams responded with a flurry of three-second runs, proving that the speed everyone anticipated has officially arrived in Thunder Valley.

The quickest pass of the round belonged to Jordan Vandergriff, who continued his breakout weekend with a stellar 3.999-second run at 322.88 mph to upset No. 2 qualifier Alexis DeJoria. Vandergriff's run was one of three three-second performances in the opening round and further cemented his status as a serious contender on race day.

Four-time Bristol winner Ron Capps was even quicker, charging to a 3.989-second pass at 324.44 mph to defeat Chad Green. Capps' NAPA Auto Care Toyota looked exceptionally strong from the hit and delivered one of the most complete runs of the session.

Fresh off his victory in the delayed NHRA New England Nationals final and a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge triumph, Jack Beckman continued his remarkable weekend. Beckman piloted the PEAK Chevrolet to a 4.032-second pass at 320.20 mph to dispatch Jeff Arend and advance to the quarterfinals.

Funny Car Champion Austin Prock opened eliminations with a victory over Dave Richards, posting a 4.081-second run at 302.69 mph. Richards was slightly quicker on elapsed time with a 4.064, but Prock's starting-line advantage proved decisive in the holeshot victory.

No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan moved on after opponent Jon Capps encountered immediate problems. Hagan's 4.101-second run at 295.98 mph was more than enough to secure the win as Capps slowed dramatically to an 8.516-second pass.

Veteran Daniel Wilkerson advanced with a strong 4.045-second effort at 321.35 mph, defeating J.R. Todd after Todd's machine lost traction and slowed to a 4.744-second run.

In one of the more unusual matchups of the round, Spencer Hyde earned a solo pass after Cruz Pedregon was unable to make the call when his engine and clutch were not happy in the staging process. Hyde took advantage of the opportunity, recording a solid 4.001-second run at 316.52 mph to move into the second round.

When the smoke cleared, Vandergriff, Capps, Hyde, Beckman, Wilkerson, Hagan, and Prock were among those advancing, and with multiple cars already dipping into the three-second zone, the message from Thunder Valley was unmistakable: the speed is here.

Pro Stock Round One: The Speed Is Here in Thunder Valley

The newly repaved Bristol Dragway surface continued to show its potential in the opening round of Pro Stock eliminations, where nearly every matchup was decided by hundredths of a second and several drivers dipped into the 6.64-second zone. If there was any question whether the speed had arrived in Thunder Valley, Round One provided the answer.

Championship rivals Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson led the charge. Glenn posted the quickest run of the round, a strong 6.643-second pass at 205.91 mph to defeat Stephen Bell, while Anderson followed closely with a 6.656 at 204.45 mph to dispatch Kenny Delco. The longtime KB Titan Racing teammates once again looked like the cars to beat as eliminations progressed.

Matt Hartford also advanced with an impressive performance, using a stout 6.675-second run at 205.07 mph to knock out Shane Tucker. Hartford paired a quick .013 reaction time with a consistent race-day setup to secure the victory.

One of the closest races of the round belonged to Cody Anderson, who used a razor-sharp .017 reaction time to defeat Jeg Coughlin Jr. Anderson's 6.664-second run at 204.76 mph held off Coughlin's slightly slower 6.678 effort by just .0401-second at the finish line.

Aaron Stanfield scored one of the biggest upsets of the session, eliminating Erica Enders with a strong 6.667-second pass at 204.54 mph. Enders engine blew and the car slowed dramatically, allowing Stanfield to advance comfortably.

Family bragging rights went to Matt Latino, who defeated brother Eric Latino in one of the most anticipated first-round pairings. Matt's 6.656-second run at 205.38 mph was enough to advance after Eric left before the tree and was charged with a red-light foul despite running a competitive 6.659.

The margins remained razor-thin elsewhere. Greg Stanfield edged Troy Coughlin Jr. in a classic Pro Stock finish-line battle, winning by just .0136-second with a 6.662-second pass at 203.98 mph. It was the closest race of the round and another example of just how competitive the category has become.

With Glenn, Anderson, Hartford, Aaron Stanfield, Cody Anderson, Matt Latino, and Greg Stanfield all advancing, the opening round showcased exactly what teams had hoped for from Bristol's fresh racing surface. The elapsed times continued to tumble, the competition remained fierce, and one message echoed throughout the pits: the speed is here.

***After a rain delay—We are back racing with Round 2 of Top Fuel and Funny Car***

Top Fuel Round Two: The Speed Is Here as Heavyweights Advance in Thunder Valley

As the track dried at Bristol Dragway, the remaining Top Fuel contenders delivered another round of strong performances, proving once again that the speed teams anticipated from the newly repaved surface has arrived in Thunder Valley.

Former world champion Doug Kalitta continued his charge through eliminations with one of the best runs of the round, defeating eight-time champion Tony Schumacher with a stout 3.784-second pass at 331.77 mph. Kalitta was nearly perfect on the starting line and steadily pulled away to secure his semifinal berth.

Antron Brown also looked every bit the championship contender, powering to a 3.799-second run at a booming 336.57 mph—the fastest speed of the round. Brown easily dispatched Shawn Reed after Reed's dragster lost performance early and slowed to a 4.549-second pass.

In a battle between rising stars, Tony Stewart continued his impressive weekend by defeating rookie Maddi Gordon. Stewart's 3.805-second effort at 320.05 mph held off Gordon's competitive 3.826-second run in one of the closest races of the session.

The biggest upset came when points leader Shawn Langdon advanced after No. 1 qualifier Leah Pruett encountered immediate trouble with the throttle again. Pruett's dragster lost traction and she throttled the engine to regain control, but the car slowed dramatically, allowing Langdon to cruise to a 3.977-second run at 315.12 mph and move into the semifinals.

When the quarterfinal round concluded, Kalitta, Brown, Stewart, and Langdon remained standing, setting up a semifinal lineup loaded with world champions, race winners, and title contenders. More importantly, the elapsed times and speeds continued to tell the story of the weekend: the speed is here in Thunder Valley.

Funny Car Round Two: The Speed Is Here as Three-Second Runs Dominate Thunder Valley

The newly dried Bristol Dragway surface continued to shine in Funny Car's second round of eliminations, where three-second runs became the norm and the battle for a spot in the final four produced some of the quickest side-by-side racing of the weekend. As conditions improved following a weather delay, the message remained clear: the speed is here in Thunder Valley.

Austin Prock delivered one of the strongest runs of the round, powering to a 3.986-second pass at 323.50 mph to defeat Spencer Hyde in a matchup between two of the quickest cars in the field. Hyde was impressive with a 4.001 at 321.96 mph, but Prock's superior elapsed time and reaction-time advantage secured the victory.

Veteran Ron Capps turned in the quickest run of the round, blasting to a 3.980-second pass at 327.43 mph to stop the Cinderella run of Jordan Vandergriff. Capps' NAPA Auto Care Toyota was outstanding from start to finish, delivering the fastest elapsed time among the semifinalists.

Daniel Wilkerson continued his strong race-day performance by upsetting Jack Beckman in a close contest. Wilkerson's 4.041-second pass at 319.52 mph held off Beckman's 4.065 effort by just .0426-second at the finish line.

No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan advanced with a solo pass. Hagan guided his Funny Car to a 4.673-second run to earn a place in the semifinals without incident.

When the quarterfinals concluded, Prock, Capps, Wilkerson, and Hagan remained in contention for the Bristol title. With Capps and Prock leading a parade of three-second performances and track conditions continuing to improve, Thunder Valley once again proved what teams had suspected all weekend: the speed is here.

Alert: Pro Stock Motorcycle Round One—Gadson and Herrera Lead Charge Into Quarterfinals

The opening round of Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals featured close racing, quick elapsed times, and a few surprising upsets as the class began its march toward a Bristol victory.

No. 1 qualifier Richard Gadson showed why he entered eliminations as the favorite, powering to a strong 6.846-second run at 196.82 mph to defeat Wesley Wells. Gadson's Vance & Hines Suzuki was among the quickest motorcycles of the round and continued the momentum he built throughout qualifying.

Gaige Herrera also advanced without issue, making a solo pass after his scheduled opponent was unable to make the call. Herrera made the most of the opportunity, posting a stout 6.840-second run at 198.03 mph, the fastest speed of the opening round.

Veteran Joey Gladstone opened eliminations with a victory over John Hall, using a 6.894-second pass at 196.53 mph to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Angie Smith followed with a convincing win over Geno Scali, running 6.904 seconds at 196.30 mph.

One of the round's biggest surprises came when Chase Van Sant eliminated Brayden Davis after Davis left before the starting tree and was charged with a red-light foul. Van Sant advanced with a 6.970-second run at 195.68 mph.

The closest race of the session belonged to Chris Bostick, who edged Jianna Evaristo by just .0442-second at the finish line. Bostick's 6.934-second effort at 194.55 mph was enough to hold off Evaristo's competitive 6.938.

Kelly Clontz scored an upset over Ryan Oehler after Oehler fouled at the starting line. Clontz advanced with a 6.996-second pass at 193.57 mph, while Steve Johnson used a sharp .008 reaction time and a 6.969-second run to defeat Marc Ingwersen.

With Gadson and Herrera both running in the 6.84-second range and several contenders close behind, the opening round set the stage for a highly competitive battle as eliminations continued in Thunder Valley.

Top Fuel Semifinals: Langdon and Brown Set Up Championship-Caliber Final in Thunder Valley

The Top Fuel semifinals at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals featured two heavyweight showdowns, and when the smoke cleared, Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown had earned their places in the final round.

Langdon continued his march through eliminations with perhaps his best run of the day, defeating Tony Stewart with a blistering 3.791-second pass at 338.09 mph. Langdon left first with a sharp .045 reaction time and never looked back, recording the quickest elapsed time and fastest speed of the semifinal round. Stewart, appearing in his first Bristol semifinal as a Top Fuel driver, slowed to a 3.925-second run after surrendering valuable ground at the starting line.

The second semifinal paired two former world champions in a battle between Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta. Brown delivered another consistent run, powering to a 3.798-second pass at 330.88 mph while Kalitta encountered trouble shortly after the launch. Kalitta's dragster lost momentum and slowed dramatically to a 5.164-second run, allowing Brown to cruise into the final round by more than a second.

The victories set up a marquee final-round matchup between two of the category's most accomplished drivers. Langdon enters the final with lane choice after posting the quickest run of the round, while Brown brings the confidence of a team that has been one of the strongest performers throughout eliminations. With both drivers running in the 3.7-second zone, Thunder Valley is poised for a Top Fuel final worthy of its reputation for speed.

Funny Car Semifinals: Hagan and Wilkerson Advance to Bristol Final

The Funny Car semifinals at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals produced a pair of impressive performances and set the stage for an intriguing final-round matchup between veteran star Matt Hagan and rising contender Daniel Wilkerson.

Hagan continued his strong Bristol weekend by defeating reigning world champion Austin Prock. Hagan's Dodge Charger blasted to a 4.079-second pass at 311.05 mph, using both a starting-line advantage and superior elapsed time to secure his place in the final round. Prock's car slowed to a 4.212-second run at 268.97 mph, unable to match Hagan's pace on a track that has continued to reward consistency throughout eliminations.

In the second semifinal, Daniel Wilkerson continued his impressive march through the field by knocking off four-time world champion Ron Capps. Wilkerson posted a strong 4.023-second run at 320.51 mph, defeating Capps' 4.058-second effort by .0668-second. Wilkerson's combination was sharp from the starting line and remained strong all the way to the finish stripe, earning him a shot at the Bristol title.

The victories set up a compelling final-round battle between one of the sport's most accomplished veterans and one of its emerging stars. Hagan brings four world championships and extensive final-round experience, while Wilkerson continues to build momentum with the biggest race-day performance of his Funny Car career. With both teams running consistently and track conditions continuing to improve, Thunder Valley is set for a memorable Funny Car final.

Pro Stock Round Two: Hartford, Anderson, and Latino Survive Tight Battles in Thunder Valley

The razor-thin margins that have defined Pro Stock racing all season were on full display in the quarterfinal round at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, where thousandths of a second separated winners from losers and every lane choice proved critical on Bristol's improving racing surface.

Matt Hartford continued his strong race-day performance with a victory over Cody Anderson. Hartford's Total Seal Camaro delivered a sharp 6.654-second run at 205.82 mph to defeat Anderson's 6.704 effort, securing a semifinal berth and keeping his Bristol hopes alive.

Six-time world champion Greg Anderson advanced on a solo pass. Anderson made the most of the opportunity, recording a 6.676-second run at 204.48 mph to maintain momentum heading into the semifinals.

One of the closest races of the day belonged to Matt Latino, who edged Greg Stanfield in a classic Pro Stock finish-line battle. Latino's 6.676-second pass at 205.26 mph was just enough to hold off Stanfield's quicker 6.671-second run, with Latino's reaction-time advantage producing a winning margin of just .0088-second.

The fourth quarterfinal pairing between Dallas Glenn and Aaron Stanfield went to Stanfield after Glenn ended up pushing too hard and red-lit.

With Hartford, Anderson, Stanfield, and Latino locked into the final four, the stage is set for a championship-caliber finish in Thunder Valley, where every hundredth—and sometimes every thousandth—continues to matter.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Round Two: Herrera Leads Charge Into Thunder Valley Semifinals

The Pro Stock Motorcycle quarterfinals delivered a mix of close races, quick elapsed times, and championship-caliber performances as the field narrowed to four riders at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Gaige Herrera continued to look like the rider to beat, posting the quickest run of the round with a strong 6.804-second pass at 198.67 mph to defeat Joey Gladstone. Herrera paired a stellar .017 reaction time with the fastest elapsed time of eliminations, earning lane choice heading into the semifinals.

Richard Gadson also advanced in impressive fashion, dispatching Chase Van Sant with a 6.851-second run at 197.45 mph. Gadson gained the advantage at the starting line and never looked back, securing a semifinal matchup with Chris Bostick.

Steve Johnson continued his surprising Bristol run, using a razor-sharp .016 reaction time and a 6.915-second pass at 193.85 mph to defeat Kelly Clontz. Johnson's starting-line advantage proved decisive as he advanced to face Herrera in the semifinals.

One of the biggest moments of the round came when Chris Bostick advanced after Angie Smith left before the tree, turning on the red light. Bostick capitalized on the opportunity, riding to a 6.986-second pass at 194.58 mph to move into the final four.

With Herrera, Gadson, Johnson, and Bostick advancing, the semifinal round features a blend of championship experience and underdog determination. Herrera owns the quickest bike remaining, Gadson continues to lead the field as the No. 1 qualifier, and both Johnson and Bostick have proven they can capitalize on every opportunity. The result is a semifinal lineup worthy of Thunder Valley's growing reputation for speed.

Pro Stock Semifinals: Anderson and Hartford Earn Spots in All-KB Titan Final

The Pro Stock semifinals at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals delivered exactly what fans have come to expect from the class—close racing, razor-thin margins, and finish-line battles measured in hundredths of a second. When the dust settled, Greg Anderson and Matt Hartford emerged victorious to set up an all-KB Titan Racing final round in Thunder Valley.

Anderson continued his pursuit of another Bristol victory with a strong 6.682-second run at 206.45 mph to defeat Matt Latino. Both drivers were nearly identical through the run, but Anderson's quicker .041 reaction time helped secure a narrow .0211-second victory margin at the finish line.

The second semifinal was even tighter. Matt Hartford used a stellar .015 reaction time and a 6.676-second pass at 205.54 mph to edge Aaron Stanfield. Stanfield left nearly alongside Hartford and posted a competitive 6.687-second run, but Hartford's advantage on the starting line proved decisive in a race separated by just .0141-second.

The victories set up a championship-caliber final between two of the category's most accomplished racers. Anderson brings decades of success and unmatched Bristol experience, while Hartford has been one of the quickest and most consistent drivers throughout eliminations. With both drivers running in the 6.67-second zone and lane choice hanging on thousandths, the Pro Stock final promises to be another classic Thunder Valley showdown.