Don Prudhomme is already a legend in drag racing. Next Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Bristol Dragway, the facility formerly known as Thunder Valley, will induct him into their ring of honor equivalent, the Legends of Thunder Valley.

Prudhomme remains an icon in the sport, long after his days of driving the U.S. Army Funny Car when he won four consecutive championships starting in 1974 and completed his career with 49 national event titles. He joins such names as Speedway Motorsports executive chairman Bruton Smith, NHRA Founder Wally Parks, Top Fuel legend Don Garlits, Funny Car champ John Force and NHRA team owner Don Schumacher, among others.

Prudhomme, 81, retired from driving and also earned two more world championships and 55 victories as an NHRA team owner in the late 1990s-2000s.

Prudhomme won once in Bristol, after scoring six final-round appearances. His most memorable moment came at the 1985 IHRA Springnationals when he posted a jaw-dropping speed of 266.27 mph, then faster than the Top Fuel speed record.

Prudhomme is one of an exclusive list of drivers who have competed at legendary Bristol Dragway in all three of the top drag racing sanctioning bodies, including the NHRA, IHRA, and AHRA.

As a team owner at Bristol, Prudhomme’s drivers captured two NHRA victories, including one by Miller Lite Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon (2002) and one by Skoal Racing Funny Car driver Ron Capps (2001).

Guests are invited to come out and celebrate with “The Snake” on Father’s Day. He will be featured in a fan autograph session later that afternoon between pro elimination rounds in the pit area.

Qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begins Friday, June 17 with the pro session beginning at 7 p.m., which will include the nitro qualifying at night, which starts at 8 p.m. The final two rounds of qualifying are set for Saturday, June 18, at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for noon on Sunday, June 19.

LEGENDS OF THUNDER VALLEY

2022 – Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Funny Car/Top Fuel

2021 – Scotty Cannon, Pro Mod / Funny Car

2019 – Ted Jones, promoter / drag racing visionary

2018 – Mark Oswald, Funny Car / Top Fuel

2017 – Doug Herbert, Top Fuel

2016 – John Force, Funny Car

2015 – Carl Moore, Bristol Dragway founder and Connie Kalitta, NHRA pioneer

2014 – Don Schumacher, NHRA team owner / Funny Car pioneer

2013 – Warren Johnson, Pro Stock

2012 – Gene Fulton, 5-time sportsman champion, Engine Builder

2011 – Jeff Byrd, Bristol President and GM / RJ Reynolds marketing 2010 – Shirl Greer, Funny Car

2009 – Dale Pulde, Funny Car

2008 – Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin, Pro Stock

2007 – Bruton Smith, Speedway Motorsports / Bristol Dragway owner Wally Parks, NHRA founder

Don Garlits, Top Fuel

Larry Carrier, Bristol Dragway founder

Rickie Smith, Pro Stock / Pro Mod / Super Mod