NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After two weeks in the Northeast, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series headed south to Bristol Dragway for Father’s Day weekend, and the 2016 edition of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals did not disappoint. From a pair of drivers who got their first wins of the season to a legend being honored, the event featured many highlights.

In qualifying, the Funny Cars once again put on a performance showcase with several eclipsing the incoming track e.t. record. Tops among them was the entry driven by Ron Capps, who powered to a track record 3.884 to qualify No. 1. It was the third straight race at which Capps, who also won the previous two events, nabbed the top spot.

Sunday began with John Force’s induction into the Legends of Thunder Valley hall of fame and was capped by wins by Shawn Langdon, Tommy Johnson Jr., and Jason Line. Langdon defeated fellow Don Schumacher Racing pilot Tony Schumacher, who, after a tough Friday, had perhaps the best car in the field, to win Top Fuel. It was Langdon’s first win since last year’s season finale. Though he did not win, Doug Kalitta also made some noise during Top Fuel eliminations when he blasted to a speed of 329.34 mph. The run was nearly 6 mph better than the incoming mark.

Johnson gave DSR a nitro sweep after he got the better of another Don Schumacher driver, Matt Hagan, in the Funny Car final, doing so on a slight holeshot. Johnson’s win could not have come at a better time because it earned him the final win-to-get-in NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout spot.

Like the nitro finals, the Pro Stock title round was a battle of teammates, and, to the surprise of no one, those teammates were Jason Line and Greg Anderson. After watching his stablemate win the last two, Line went the distance this time, completing a dominant performance that included pacing all four qualifying sessions en route to a No. 1 start, by outrunning Anderson in the final and winning his second Bristol Wally.

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