Shawn Langdon claimed the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel on Friday at a weather-shortened opening day of the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Brayden Davis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also posted provisional top qualifying runs during the eighth of 20 races in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Langdon clocked a 3.800, 328.54 pass in his Kalitta Air Careers dragster during Top Fuel’s only session of the day. If it stands, it would mark his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 22nd of his career, ending teammate Doug Kalitta’s run of four straight poles.
“I feel great about that,” Langdon said. “That’s what we were shooting for and that coincides with what the crew chief (Brian Husen) was shooting for. This car got away from us the last few races, so we re-addressed a few areas. We found a couple little issues. We came here and set it up like a 3.80 run and it ran 3.80. I’d call that dead-on.
“Not everything goes to plan all the time. In a perfect situation, that’s what it was going to do. That run was super safe. They also did a good job on the track here in Bristol. Afterwards it looked like a pretty effortless run.”
Josh Hart ran a 3.860, 324.67 to sit second, with Justin Ashley third at 3.886, 323.35.
DeJoria moved to the top of the Funny Car order with a 3.948, 328.14 before rain halted the session with one pair remaining.
“After Q1, I was surprised that we were going to get another run. We ran a 3.94 and that was a great run. That was exactly what we planned on. We had one pair left and it started raining so here we are,” DeJoria said. “This is my favorite race track not just because of my past success. The acoustics here, nothing compares to it. The scenery and the fans; It’s all so great. Today, we dealt with a lot of humidity and heat. We didn’t want to put too much into it and lose a run.
Ron Capps is second with a 3.960, 324.51, and Jack Beckman third with a 3.971,323.74.
In Pro Stock, Glenn jumped to the top spot with a 6.645, 205.60 during the second qualifying session.
“In Epping on the Friday run, we hurt my main engine and got behind the rest of the weekend, and that cost me a little bit,” Glenn said. “We went back to the shop and the engine guys hustled this week and fixed up the old bullet. We came here and didn’t put down a good run (in Q1), and on the second one we threw kitchen sink at it and it stuck.
“From week to week, there is not a lot of time to sulk from your wounds after losing early. You swallow really quick, put your head down and get back to work.”
Glenn is seeking his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and the seventh of his career. He enters the weekend ranked second in points behind KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson, who qualified second at 6.655. Aaron Stanfield is third after posting a 6.666, 204.32 mph.
Making just his second career Pro Stock Motorcycle start, Brayden Davis surged to the top of the class with a 6.870, 197.22.
“It was definitely unbelievable to be with a powerhouse team like Vance & Hines and get the No. 1 spot,” Davis said. “I ran 6.89 and 6.87, and that proves the bike is deadly consistent. Andrew (Hines, crew chief) is helping me as a rider.
“This isn’t a bad start, but I’ve now got a target on my back – but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I’ve always been the kind of person where pressure doesn’t get to me, and I’ve raced in some pretty bizarre situations.”
Teammate Richard Gadson is second with a 6.879, 195.93, followed by Angie Smith with a 6.907, 196.53.
Qualifying resumes Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at Bristol Dragway.
