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SUNDAY FINAL – BROWN BREAKS THROUGH AT BRISTOL AS HAGAN, HARTFORD AND HERRERA SCORE THUNDER VALLEY WINS
Antron Brown has won championships, the U.S. Nationals, and some of the other biggest races in drag racing. Bristol Dragway wasn’t on that list.
He took care of that Sunday.
The four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion crossed another track off his career checklist, defeating points leader Shawn Langdon in a side-by-side final-round duel to claim his first Thunder Valley Nationals victory and the 82nd win of his career.
Brown’s 3.788-second pass at 331.61 mph in the Matco Tools dragster was enough to hold off Langdon’s 3.801 at 334.07. The victory capped Brown’s strongest weekend of the season and moved him to fifth in the Top Fuel standings.
The win didn’t come easily.
Brown defeated Will Smith, Shawn Reed, and reigning NHRA champion Doug Kalitta to reach the final round. Against Langdon, he left first – by a miniscule 2/1,000ths of a second – and never surrendered the advantage.
“We’ve been struggling at the beginning of the year, but we kept our heads down, kept grinding and kept working. Today, it all came together,” Brown said. “The Kalitta cars are the giants out here right now. To sneak around them and get a win, that says a lot about what our team accomplished today.
“The only way you beat resistance is with persistence. You’ve got to stay the course. We know we’re capable of winning another championship, but we’re not there yet. We still have to keep improving. Getting my first Bristol win after 82 career victories is pretty special. This place has always been tough on me. To get a Diamond Wally during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, they can never take that away from you; that’s something special. To be standing here with this trophy is unbelievable.”
Langdon advanced to his seventh final round of the season with victories over Jasmine Salinas, Leah Pruett, and Tony Stewart. Despite the loss, he maintained a 114-point lead over Kalitta.
Funny Car belonged to Matt Hagan.
The four-time champion used consistency to earn his second victory of the season, defeating Daniel Wilkerson, whose car went up in a cloud of tire smoke almost immediately.
Hagan posted a 4.125-second run at 310.91 mph in collecting career win No. 57. He reached his 100th career final round after defeating Jon Capps and reigning champion Austin Prock.
“I always call myself an old plow horse – hook me up to the plow and I’ll just go out there and get the job done,” Hagan said. “For Leah [Pruett] to finish off the New England win here on Friday, and for us to come back and win on Sunday, it was a special weekend” for Tony Stewart Racing.
“Bristol is a special place for me. I’ve got a lot of home tracks, but this one has always felt like home. The last time I won here was Father’s Day weekend, and I was crying like a kid. That one was emotional, and this one means a lot, too. This weekend was challenging. Daniel Wilkerson was driving his butt off. His day is coming.”
Wilkerson reached the third final round of his career by defeating J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman, and points leader Ron Capps. Capps remains atop the Funny Car standings, 24 points in front of Hagan.
Matt Hartford continued one of the strongest stretches of his Pro Stock career.
One day after winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Hartford defeated Greg Anderson in the final round with a 6.672-second run at 205.60 mph. The victory was his third of the season and the first Bristol triumph of his career.
“I’ve been racing at Bristol since the early 2000s and never managed to win here. To finally get a Bristol trophy is an awesome feeling,” Hartford said. “We had a great race car all weekend. Winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and then winning the race is about as good as it gets.”
Anderson advanced to the final round and moved into the Pro Stock points lead by 11 points over teammate Dallas Glenn.
Gaige Herrera completed a near-perfect weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The two-time NHRA champion earned his second victory of the season and the 30th of his career, defeating teammate Richard Gadson in the final round with a 6.838-second run at 198.47 mph.
“After Maryland, me and Andrew [crew chief Hines] were beating our heads against the wall trying to figure out what happened. It felt like we had some bad luck hanging over us, but it feels good to come here and get the win,” Herrera said.
“I wouldn’t say, ‘I’m back,’ but it definitely feels good to get the win and build some confidence heading into Norwalk. As we get closer and closer to the Countdown, I feel like my bike is back where it needs to be. Winning with Richard in the final was pretty cool. It reminded me of last year when he got his first win. We’ve got a lot of fun with it, but I’m glad to be the one taking home the trophy this time.”
The next NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series event is June 25-28 at Norwalk, Ohio.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING – THUNDER VALLEY REWARDS EXPERIENCE AS PRUETT, HAGAN, ANDERSON AND HERRERA CLAIM NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS
Thunder Valley Dragway has a habit of rewarding racers who know how to finish a weekend.
Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, and Gaige Herrera put themselves in position to do exactly that Saturday, locking down No. 1 qualifying positions and taking control of the fields before eliminations begin Sunday morning.
For Pruett, the accomplishment capped one of the strongest stretches of her return season.
Less than 24 hours after winning the delayed New England Nationals final, Pruett backed it up by securing the Top Fuel pole position with Friday’s 3.794-second run at 332.43 mph in her Rush Truck Centers dragster. The performance delivered her second No. 1 qualifier of the season, and reinforced what has become increasingly apparent over the last month; i.e., she and crew chief Neal Strausbaugh have found a rhythm.
The speed has been there for much of the season. The consistency is starting to catch up.
“This is probably the No. 1 qualifier we’re most proud of all season,” Pruett said. “We raced for a final-round win Friday night, took everything the track had to give us, and still put up the number.
“The momentum is tangible right now. Winning races and proving you can beat the points leader reinforces what we already believed about this team. We’ve got a hot rod, a first-round bye, and in my opinion, one of the most consistent race cars out here. That’s a great place to be heading into race day.”
Antron Brown qualified second with a 3.801 at 329.50 mph, while Tony Schumacher’s 3.803 at 326.16 placed him third.
If Pruett carried the momentum, Matt Hagan carried the gratitude.
The four-time Funny Car champion locked down his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 55th of his career with Friday’s 4.009-second run at 319.60 mph in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge. The result completed a nitro qualifying sweep for Tony Stewart Racing and provided validation for a team that has spent much of the season searching for consistency.
Hagan directed the attention away from the cockpit and toward the crew members working behind it.
“These No. 1 qualifiers mean a lot because they’re really for the crew guys,” Hagan said. “They’re the ones working over a 3,000-degree race car in brutal heat and putting a great machine underneath us.
“When you can hand those guys a yellow hat and a little bonus money, it goes a long way because they’re the true workhorses of this sport.”
Alexis DeJoria qualified second with a 4.010 at 326.00 mph, while Jack Beckman’s 4.017 at 318.54 secured the third position after a weekend in which he already collected victories in both Epping (New England Nationals) and Bristol (#2Fast#2Tasty).
The story in Pro Stock looked familiar. The racetrack changed but Anderson didn’t.
One day after discussing how Bristol’s rebuilt racing surface removed many of the challenges veteran racers once used to their advantage, Anderson climbed back to the top of the qualifying sheet. His 6.651-second run at 206.86 mph in the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro delivered his sixth No. 1 qualifier in nine races this season.
The run came after a frustrating start to Saturday.
“I’ve had a good run here,” Anderson said. “I messed up this morning, made a bad run, but we dug deep and got her back on the last run.
“These weren’t quite as good of conditions and we got her back so I know the car is fast.HendrickCars.com is looking good and I’ve got a great shot tomorrow.”
Matt Hartford stayed close with a 6.658 at 206.95 mph, while points leader Dallas Glenn qualified third at 6.661 and is positioned for another deep Sunday run.
Herrera rounded out the No. 1 qualifiers by finally checking off a box that had remained empty through the first half of the season.
The two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion entered Bristol without a single No. 1 qualifier in 2026. He left qualifying with one after improving to a 6.831 at 197.88 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
The run pushed Herrera to the top spot ahead of teammate Richard Gadson and gave the Vance & Hines organization the top two positions on the ladder.
Gadson qualified second with a 6.839, 197.74, while Angie Smith’s 6.858, 198.17 placed her third heading into eliminations.
Eliminations for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin at 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday at Bristol Dragway.
SATURDAY #2FAST2TASTY – KALITTA KEEPS CASHING SATURDAY CHECKS AS BECKMAN, HARTFORD AND GADSON SCORE BRISTOL #2FAST2TASTY WINS
At some point, Doug Kalitta may need to stop calling it a bonus race.
The reigning Top Fuel champion continued his stranglehold on the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. He added another victory at Bristol Dragway in a season where Saturday has become almost as important as Sunday.
Kalitta defeated Leah Pruett in the Top Fuel final of the specialty event during the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. He led a group of winners that also included Jack Beckman in Funny Car, Matt Hartford in Pro Stock, and Richard Gadson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The victory continued what has become one of the quiet storylines of the season. While everyone focuses on Sunday trophies, Kalitta keeps stacking Mission Challenge points and paychecks.
Kalitta covered the distance in 3.922 seconds at 314.90 mph. Pruett ran a competitive 3.918-second pass at 325.45, but Kalitta’s .065 reaction time allowed him to hold the advantage from start to finish.
“Whatever we’ve got going on for Saturdays, we’ve just got to keep it going,” Kalitta said. “The Mission Challenge points are important, and we’re going to keep collecting as many of them as we can.
“It’s just so competitive out here. Some days you need a little luck, but mostly it’s about assembling a great team and continuing to do what we’re doing. This place has been good to me, and I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow.”
Funny Car once again belonged to Jack Beckman.
Less than 24 hours after completing his delayed New England Nationals victory over Jordan Vandergriff, Beckman beat the John Force Racing rookie – his teammate – again when Vandergriff crossed the centerline and struck a timing block in the final round.
The win leaves Beckman in position to accomplish something rarely seen in the sport — three victories in one weekend. He already owns the completed New England Nationals title, added the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge trophy Saturday, and entered Sunday eliminations with a chance to win the Thunder Valley Nationals as well.
“Sometimes these cars are amazing to drive, and sometimes they’ll do anything except what you ask them to do. I think both of us experienced that in the final,” Beckman said.
“To close out the Epping race, win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and still have a shot at the Bristol trophy tomorrow — it’s an unbelievable opportunity. I’ve never been in a position where I could win three trophies in one weekend.”
In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford found a measure of payback.
One week after Dallas Glenn beat him in the New England Nationals final round with a nearly perfect .002-second reaction time, Hartford watched the points leader leave too soon and turn on the red light. Hartford responded with a 6.671-second run at 206.95 mph in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro and collected his first Mission Challenge victory of the season.
“The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is one of the best things NHRA has done,” Hartford said. “The drivers love it, the fans love it, and it adds a whole new level of adrenaline on Saturday.
“It’s really hard to win a round in Pro Stock. To win this race and beat the world champion in the final round makes me incredibly proud of our team.”
Richard Gadson rounded out the winners by returning to the racetrack where his professional career changed direction a year ago.
The reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion defeated Jianna Evaristo with a 6.855 at 197.65 mph aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki, earning his first Mission Challenge victory of the season and reinforcing his status as the rider everyone continues to chase. Evaristo was the No. 1 qualifier for Sunday’s race.
“This Challenge is a favorite among the racers because you go to sleep Saturday night feeling really good, and you wake up Sunday feeling really good,” Gadson said.
“When your bike is running this well and you’re solid on the tree, this Challenge gives you a real boost of confidence heading into race day. This place is special to me because everything changed here.”
FRIDAY QUALIFYING – PRUETT, HAGAN, ANDERSON AND HERRERA LEAD FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
The names atop the leader sheets Friday at Bristol Dragway were familiar ones.
Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, and Gaige Herrera claimed the provisional No. 1 qualifying positions in their respective categories as the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals opened on Bristol’s rebuilt racing surface. For four drivers with multiple championships and a combined 129 national-event victories, it was a reminder that while the track may be different, the contenders remain much the same.
Pruett led the way in Top Fuel with a 3.794, 332.43, in her Dodge/SRT dragster, giving her a chance to secure her first No. 1 qualifier of the season.
The run capped a memorable Friday for Pruett, who earned a delayed New England Nationals victory earlier in the day. More importantly for this weekend, it reinforced the progress her team has made through the first half of the season.
“I’m happier than I thought I would be,” Pruett said. “Now I finally get to take a breath and enjoy it. This race didn’t come by accident. It didn’t come by somebody falling short or smoking the tires. We earned this.
“To see the smiles on my crew and my crew chiefs’ faces — that’s all-time. The Diamond Wally is super cool, but seeing what this means to my team means even more. We’re chipping away at it and that’s what gave us confidence coming into this final round. I think I’m in a better spot than I’ve ever been as a driver.”
The performance put Pruett ahead of Shawn Langdon and gave Tony Stewart Racing control of the Top Fuel category heading into Saturday’s final qualifying sessions.
In Funny Car, Hagan delivered a statement run of his own.
The four-time champion posted a 4.009, 319.60, in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge to take over the provisional top spot. The run puts him in position for his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 55th of his career. More than the number on the scoreboard, Hagan was impressed by the dramatic transformation of Bristol’s racing surface.
“The racing surface itself is a massive improvement from what we’ve had in the past. I couldn’t even feel the bumps for the tunnel or anything like that,” Hagan said. “Hats off to the whole group that put a really good racetrack under us.
“I think it will only get better as we go. As the rubber comes around and we’re able to apply more power to it, you can really see those lanes starting to fill in. This track is a really good track now, and as these crew chiefs get more runs under their belt with it, you’ll see faster numbers.”
Jack Beckman sits second after his 4.017-second run, while Spencer Hyde is third at 4.030.
The story in Pro Stock looked much like it has throughout most of the season.
Anderson continued his dominance by racing to the provisional No. 1 position with a 6.673 at 204.11 mph in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The six-time champion is seeking his sixth No. 1 qualifier in nine races, and once again showed why Bristol remains one of his favorite stops on the tour.
“I don’t care how much we did it by, we squeaked by, but we did it,” Anderson said. “It was a perfect day and you can chalk it up to Bristol.
“You really don’t feel anything going down the racetrack anymore. We asked for a smooth racetrack, we begged for a smooth racetrack, and now we’ve got it. We’re going to run well all weekend here.”
Matt Latino continued his strong season by qualifying second with a 6.676, 205.04, while points leader Dallas Glenn sits third.
Herrera rounded out the provisional leaders by pacing Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 6.667, 196.59, aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
The two-time champion arrived in Bristol looking to rebound from a rare, first-round loss in Maryland. Judging by Friday’s performance, he found the response he wanted.
“This whole season, I would say luck has not been on my side for a lot of things,” Herrera said. “It’s been a rough go this season for us, as far as me, with parts-wise and just failures, little mishaps. I’m glad to be on the pole at the moment, but it could change at any minute.
“The first run for me was picture perfect, really. I had to make very little corrections. I kind of adjusted the bike too much in Q2 and had to ride it quite a bit. I didn’t think it was going to run an .88 or .80 anything, so I was happy with that.”
Ryan Oehler qualified second, while Angie Smith held the third position entering Saturday.
Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
