Three-time Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin secured his third No. 1 qualifier of the season Friday at the PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars. Rain showers canceled the third qualifying session, leaving Franklin and other frontrunners at the top of their classes after two rounds at Bristol Dragway.
Franklin powered his Musi-equipped “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro to a 3.784-second pass at 202.67 mph to lead Pro Nitrous. The Virginia driver, who won at Bristol last year and recently finished runner-up to his daughter Amber Denton at the Northern Nationals, is chasing another Franklin family double-up.
“It’s tricky out here,” Franklin said. “That racetrack’s been really hot, but we made a nice lap in Q1, so we’ll be ready to go for first round.”
Franklin said he’s also motivated by the championship chase. “There’s a younger girl [Denton] in front of me in points that I’m trying to chase down, so I need a little bit of confidence for that right now,” he said. “Our team’s good. I’m always confident in what we can do out there. I’m ready to go.”
Erie, Pennsylvania’s John Vergotz just missed his first career pole with a 3.789 at 199.82, while defending world champion Fredy Scriba qualified third at 3.823 and 201.52 in his “Sorcerer” Camaro.
In Pro Boost, Preston Tanner returned to the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2022. Driving his screw-blown “Sweetheart” ’15 Corvette tuned by Jeff Pierce, Tanner ran a 3.674 at 203.98 after clean Thursday test runs carried over into qualifying.
“We are really excited because we have been working the past couple of years to really get back up on this horse, and it feels nice to finally get one,” Tanner said. “Going into race day No. 1 in this kind of field really doesn’t mean a whole bunch because every racer here is stout. What I plan to do – and what I started in Michigan – was I just gave each racer the same every single time and I just work on myself. I don’t worry about who’s in the other lane.”
Defending event winner Jason Harris was close behind with a 3.679 at 205.98 in his “Party Time” ’69 Camaro, while Randy Weatherford, winner of the Northern Nationals, qualified third at 3.709 at 208.23 in his WS Construction entry.
Blake Denton continued his breakout sophomore season in Pro Street with a 4.036 at 191.73 in his Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro, a rolling tribute to the late Lizzy Musi. It was his third No. 1 of the season.
“Over the break we had to put 110 pounds in the car and we went to work with Jeff [Pierce, tuner] and brainstormed where to put the weight because that’s a lot of weight to disperse in the car and not get it upset,” Denton said. “The car seems really happy. I know a lot of people struggled this weekend with the track, but the car is speaking for itself, and I think what Jeff’s got going right now is great. I’ve got a good car underneath me and I’ve just gotta do my job. It looks like I have Ethan first round, so that’s the championship in the making, hopefully.”
Defending champion Ethan Steding, second in points, will face Denton in the opening round. Chris Tuten recovered from a crash in June to qualify second with a 4.098 at 196.90, and newcomer Adrian Herrera posted a career-best 4.151 at 184.65 to take third.
In Extreme Pro Stock, veteran Elijah Morton made a winning return after skipping the Northern Nationals. He guided his Morton Brothers Motorsports ’19 Mustang to a 4.174 at 173.72 in the first session and held the top spot.
Morton’s engine builder, Allen Competition Engines, is the presenting sponsor for the class this weekend. Points leader Alan Drinkwater was second at 4.179 in his Flatout Gaskets ’08 Mustang, while Jeremy Huffman followed at 4.183 in his ’10 Cobalt.
In other divisions, Nicole Liberty earned her first career No. 1 qualifier in Pro 632 with a 4.253 in her ’99 Firebird. Defending world champion Connor McGee led Super Street with a 4.716 in his ’90 Mustang. Glenn Butcher topped Elite Top Sportsman with a 3.789, Ronnie Proctor set the pace in Top Sportsman 32 at 4.229, and Jody Stroud extended his Top Dragster streak to five with a 3.687. Russ Whitlock was quickest in Top Dragster 32. Jr. Dragster poles went to Chloe Geryes in Pro Jr. and Knox Schween in Top Jr.
Eliminations begin Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with Jr. Dragster rounds. Pre-race ceremonies and professional eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m., with the FuelTech Winner’s Circle celebration set for 6:30 p.m.
