NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The first pair of Top Fuelers come to the line to kick things off, and the 94-degree Fahrenheit track temp is the coolest it's been all weekend. Freshly christened Legend of Thunder Valley Tony Schumacher fires the first shot, and although Dan Mercier has lane choice, he can't quite keep up with the SCAG Power Equipment rail. Schumacher's 3.76 defeats a 3.87. 

Schumacher's pass is low elapsed time of the event. It's quick out there. 

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After climbing out of a too-long slump with a Chicago win, Tennessee's own Clay Millican, who claimed his first NHRA Top Fuel win here in 2017, had high hopes for Sunday at Bristol Dragway. He's a tick ahead as he and Doug Kalitta leave the starting line, but his Rick Ware Racing Parts Plus dragsters falls back as they approach the final stripe. Kalitta advances, 3.72 to 3.99

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This is a close one! Brittany Force launches the Monster Energy dragster in .078-second, but Antron Brown's .056 in the Matco Tools rail is the decider at the top end. His 3.76 defeats a 3.74 by .004. 

"We were all over the place in qualifying trying to nail it," said Brown. "But there's nothing like raceday when everything just lines up. We snuck that one through, now we have something to build off of." 

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No. 1 qualifier Leah Pruett has lately seen flashes of brilliance with her Rush Truck Centers dragster over the last two races, but when her engine suffers a spark plug failure, No. 16 qualifier Spencer Massey is able to get around her and win on a 3.78 to 3.82. Massey had problems of his own in qualify and didn't bump in until the final session.

"This round win is very important for us," said Massey. "We want to see this car go down the track every time, and to smoke the tires three times in qualifying was very uncommon. We got in the show, but it wasn't pretty, and it got us to race Leah. She's a fierce competitor, but I did what I could and the win light came on for our team." 

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The Phillips Connect dragster is used to getting a nose out on its competitors as Justin Ashley is a typically efficient leaver, and this time it's no different. Ashley's .040 to Doug Foley's .098 sets the tone for their match, and Ashley – who won the weather-delayed Epping race at Bristol Dragway on Saturday – notches another round win, 3.76 to 3.87.

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Steve Torrence and his CAPCO Contractors dragster flies to a 3.69 at 330 mph for a new elapsed time of the event. Shawn Langdon showed his Sportsman roots and reacted quick – but a .027 reaction paired with a 3.77 simply wasn't enough. 

On the starting line, original "CAPCO boy" Bobby Lagana Jr. celebrated. He's been out of commission and away from the team for a few races as he healed from a medical condition, and this is his first race back. 

"We just love each other like brothers," he said through a wide grin. "This is all about family." 

At the top end, Torrence showed renewed enthusiasm. 

"Bobby and Richard Hogan and Justin Crosslin and every one of those CAPCO guys, they're bad-to-the-bone," said Torrence. "Sometimes I forget – we didn't become the four-time champions by going up there and racing scared. You have to get that confidence. You need to get that swagger back." 

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When Mike Salinas leaves the starting line with a .113-second reaction time, he's all but done-for. A 3.83 can't hold up next to Josh Hart's cool .052 reaction and 3.79 in the R+L Carriers dragster. 

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Austin Prock makes his best run of the weekend in the Montana Brand/ Rocky Mountain dragster, a 3.77, and that's one of his best of the weekend. It's also good enough to keep ahead of So Cal racer Cameron Ferre's 3.88. 

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Top Fuel pairings for round two (lane choice first): Austin Prock vs. Spencer Massey; Justin Ashley vs. Josh Hart; Antron Brown vs. Tony Schumacher; Steve Torrence vs. Doug Kalitta

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The first pair of Funny Cars take to the track, and Chad Green has exactly what he needs with his Dan Wilkerson-tuned Bond-Coat Funny Car. Both he and Terry Haddock – who is making his 150th raceday start – make good runs right down the groove, but Green has the advantage at the hit and never lets it go. Haddock makes his best run of the weekend, a 4.06, but it's Green all the way. He finalizes his triumph with a 3.966. 

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After winning the New England Nationals on Saturday in Bristol, Bob Tasca III was on a mission to bring both trophies home to the Northeast. It was not to be, however, as his PPG-branded Ford proved a bit more temperamental than the Arbee's Transparent Products Funny Car driven by Bobby Bode. Bode, a former Jr. drag racer who made his debut in a nitro Funny Car at the Houston race in 2020, had to pedal alongside Tasca as both cars lost traction in their match. Bode was on and off the throttle like a pro for the win light. It was the fourth round win of his career, and it came at a racetrack where he had raced many times as a Jr.

"I can't believe I just did that," said Bode breathlessly at the top end. "Bob is one of the best drivers out there. When I saw my win light come on, I started screaming in the car. I just couldn't believe it."

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No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight makes a true and clean 3.96 pass straight down the dragstrip as opponent Alex Laughlin's car slows. Hight, who exited in the first round in Chicago and the second round of the Epping race, is certainly looking to build back some of the momentum that they held earlier this year. 

Decorated crew chief Jimmy Prock, unexcitable by nature and known for tremendous results on the racetrack, said, "We're just trying to take it one run at a time, learn some stuff, and not overdo it. That was decent for us." 

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Defending event champion Ron Capps has some solid history at Bristol Dragway, and with six previous wins, he leads the class. He stays on course here in his NAPA Toyota, launching ahead of Dave Richards and keeping the lead all the way down the track for a 3.96 to 4.22 victory. From the Fun Facts to Know and Share files: Capps is the No. 2 qualifier, and the No. 2 qualifier in Funny Car hasn't lost in round one at the Thunder Valley Nationals since 2013. 

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Things go south real quick here for Cruz Pedregon, who has had some serious troubles this weekend. After barely busting into the field and only on the last qualifying pass, he gets way sideways on the burnout as something seems to have gone wonky inside his Snap-On Dodge Hellcat. Pedregon attempts to back it up into the groove, but it is apparent that he is battling something unknown inside the car. With something clearly out of sorts, the team shuts the car off and will not make the pass. Alexis DeJoria makes her best run of the weekend, a 3.98.

DeJoria, who fouled out next to Pedregon in the Chicago first round, was perplexed but pleased to advance. 

"That was weird, man," she said. "We don't usually get breaks like that. But that was a hell of a great run for our team."

***

Dale Creasy Jr. strikes the tires about 300 feet into the run, and Tim Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Funny Car will get to line up next to Chad Green in the car his son, Dan, tunes in the second stanza. Wilk goes 3.98 and will have to give up lane choice to his kid. 

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Yesterday, John Force and J.R. Todd met in the semifinals of the New England Nationals, and today, they meet in the first round. Both times, Force nabbed the advantage at the starting line and kept hold of it to advance. Todd's DHL Toyota was making up ground here until it got out of shape about 800 feet out, and Force sailed by for a 3.99 to 4.13 victory. 

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Incoming points leader Matt Hagan, the 2015 winner here, reached the second round of Epping eliminations yesterday, and he's moving ahead to round two of Bristol as well. Mike McIntire Jr. begins to haze the tires with a cylinder out, and Hagan pilots the Operation Healing Forces JHG Dodge to a safe and steady 4.02.

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Funny Car pairings for round two (lane choice first): Robert Hight vs. Matt Hagan; Alexis DeJoria vs. Bobby Bode; Ron Capps vs. John Force; Chad Green vs. Tim Wilkerson

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Aussie Shane Tucker and his Rob Tucker Racing URPay Payment Solutions Camaro are making their second raceday start of the year, and they come to the starting line with a dose of confidence as they are starting from mid-pack rather than the bottom of the heap. Tucker is raring to go and clocks a crisp .026 reaction time, but "Kid Chaos" Kyle Koretsky is right there with a .034 and a 6.652 in his Lucas Oil Chevy that handily defeats a 6.67. Koretsky, No. 10 in the Pro Stock points, is looking to rebound from a first-round loss in Chicago. 

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Deric Kramer hasn't had the best record against Troy Coughlin Jr. – he was 0-6 heading into this round – but his GetBioFuel.com Chevy is the decider here. It takes him to a 6.65 that knocks out T.J.'s 6.69 by a smidge. Kramer was runner-up at the last Pro Stock race on tour to climb to No. 3 in the Pro Stock points. 

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A weekend of swinging emotions continues for Butner, who had the quickest car on Friday with his JHG Camaro but fell down to No. 9  by the time the field was set. Here, he's first to leave the starting line but then gets out of shape as the tires rattle. He tries to reels it back in but has to pop the 'chutes early, and Camrie Caruso picks up her first round win since the Winternationals on a  6.65.

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The incoming points leader, Dallas Glenn, and the guy right behind him in the standings, Matt Hartford, line up here. They're evenly matched leaving the starting line, just .003 separates them, but Glenn gets the edge at the finish-line stripe, 6.66 to a 6.69. 

"We made a pretty good run there, but Matt's really, really tough," said Glenn. "We had to go up there swinging and hope it got the job done." 

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Rookie Jerry Tucker and the most winning driver in Pro Stock line up against one another here. Greg Anderson doesn't have to throw down – Tucker goes red by -.013 – but he matches Koretsky's currently standing low elapsed time of raceday with a 6.65. 

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It's brother-to-brother here as twins Cristian and David Cuadra square off. Cristian, who made his Pro Stock debut in Denver 2019, nabs the starting line advantage over David, who is making just his second start. David has to lift as his Corral Boots Chevy drifts toward the centerline, and Cristian wins on a 6.68. 

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Defending event winner Aaron Stanfield won the #2Fast2Tasty title here on Saturday and is gaining steam as he gets the win light over Fernando Cuadra Jr. (big brother to twins Cristian and David). Fernando Jr. was taking absolutely zero chances against Elite Motorsports teammate Stanfield, but even a .014 couldn't compete to Stanfield's .007 and new low elapsed time of raceday 6.64. Fernando Jr. was 6.71 at the stripe. 

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Fresh off her 30th No. 1 qualifier award, reigning champion Erica Enders and her JHG Camaro are moving on to round two with her third round-win of the year with a 6.65 to beat Mason McGaha's 6.72. Enders entered the event No. 14 in the Pro Stock points, but this weekend she appears on-pace to change that trajectory. 

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Pro Stock pairings for round two (lane choice first): Kyle Koretsky vs. Erica Enders; Greg Anderson vs. Dallas Glenn; Aaron Stanfield vs. Deric Kramer; Camrie Caruso vs. Cristian Cuadra

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It sounds a bit as though Angie Smith's DENSO Buell bogs as she leaves the starting line, but if it does, she recovers quickly and stretches her lead as she and Jianna Evaristo race down the quarter-mile. Smith is collecting her first round win since she was runner-up at the season-opener in Gainesville, 6.91 to 6.98. 

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Chip Ellis gets a big break here as he launches with a sleepy .103 reaction time yet wins it as John Hall, the 49th rider to face him in eliminations, gets out of the groove. Ellis goes 6.89 aboard the Matt Smith Racing DENSO Buell. 

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There's trouble for reigning and six-time world champion Matt Smith as he cannot get his DENSO machine to fire up for round one. He is off the bike and watching Chase Van Sant race toward the win light, which flashes next to a 6.92 on the scoreboard. 

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Marc Ingwersen's -.044 red light hands Ryan Oehler and his El Bandido Tequila Buell a freebie to the next round. After back-to-back first-round exits at the last two events, Oehler has a chance to make up some ground today in Bristol. 

***

Joey Gladstone's weekend does not improve here. While a coil wire caused them to push his Precision Service Equipment Suzuki in qualifying on Saturday, the No. 11 qualifier get out of the groove next to Steve Johnson and the and can't recover. Johnson's strong 6.88 gets the nod over a 6.93 and is low elapsed time of raceday for now. 

***

In just his second start, Marcus Hylton is giving Hector Arana Jr. a run for his money early in their match. Arana launches first on his GETTRX Buell, but at the 60-foot timer, Hylton moves ahead. Arana gets back around him quickly, though, and is long gone. Hylton stumbles and goes 16.313 while Arana resets low e.t. of raceday with a flashy 6.88. 

"We've got this GETTRX Buell hauling the mail," he says at the top end. 

***

Arana doesn't get to remain the quickest of the day for long as Eddie Krawiec records a tidy 6.86 aboard his Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki in his defeat of Kelly Clontz. Clontz launched first by a bunch, .033 to .098, but it doesn't take long for her opponent to buzz by to defeat her 7.03. 

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Jaw-dropper. Gaige Herrera's reign of absolute terror on the class continues as he drops a 6.81 to close the round. Ron Tornow leaves before the tree is activated and will have no time.

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Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings for round two (lane choice first): Gaige Herrera vs. Chase Van Sant; Angie Smith vs. Chip Ellis; Hector Arana Jr. vs. Ryan Oehler; Eddie Krawiec vs. Steve Johnson

***

After a couple hours of down-time due to rain and track-drying, we're back in action. Austin Prock and Spencer Massey show that this racing surface is ready to rock and roll – both go straight down the track and Prock gets the win in his Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster, 3.73 to 3.87. So far this year, if Prock has made it to the semis, he has also advanced to the final. 

***

Tony Schumacher's hope for a seventh Bristol Dragway win goes up in tire smoke, and Antron Brown records a 3.76 in his Matco Tools dragster. Brown had been in a tiny slump heading into this weekend, but with a round win claimed in Epping eliminations and now another round win on Sunday in Bristol, his luck may be turning. 

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A great side-by-side race here as Justin Ashley and Josh Hart leave the starting line quite quickly and almost in unison. Ashley has a slight advantage in his Phillips Connect Top Fueler and adds to it as they race toward the finish line, ultimately winning on a 3.75 to a 3.78. Ashley continues his hot streak after winning the Epping match yesterday, and he remains alive in the hunt for a rare double-up. That being said, but the young driver isn't willing to admit looking that far ahead.

"I know everybody is focused on the double, but we're not. We're focused on round three," said Ashley.

***

Doug Kalitta is a quick .046 at the hit in his Mac Tools dragster and kept the advantage all the way to the finish line to put up a 3.73 next to a charging Torrence, who was .053 and clocked a 3.74. Kalitta is advancing to the semifinals for the first time since Gainesville. 

***

Top fuel pairings for round three (lane choice first): Austin Prock vs. Justin Ashley; Doug Kalitta vs. Antron Brown

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This one pits father vs. son as Tim Wilkerson, driver and tuner of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford, squares off with Chad Green and his Dan Wilkerson-tuned Bond-Coat machine. Green gets a jump on Wilkerson, .053 to .098, and it matters at the other end. He wins on a holeshot, 3.97 to 3.96, and will advance to the semifinals for the sixth time in eight races. 

"It's a little bittersweet," said Dan Wilkerson. "That thing don't run a 3.97 without Tim Wilkerson's help." 

***

Robert Hight wheels the Cornwell Tools Chevy to a massive 3.91 at 324 mph, low e.t. of the event, to send Matt Hagan home early. Hagan's 3.95 was a great pass, it just couldn't compare to what Hight and tuner Jimmy Prock brought to the table. 

***

John Force and Ron Capps have raced one another 121 times before, Force with the upper-hand in a 68-53 advantage. This time, though, Force smokes the tires early in the run and has to shut off. Capps sails on in his NAPA Toyota with his quickest pass of the weekend, a 3.94. After a first-round loss in the Epping race, Capps is advancing to the semifinals with eyes on the opportunity to race for his first win of the season. The reigning champ has been a three-time finalist so far this year. 

"In Guido we trust," said Capps at the top end in a nod to crew chief Dean "Guido" Antonelli.

***

Chaos on the racetrack! Bobby Bode and his Arbee's Funny Car get out of shape and make contact with the left guard wall, and although Alexis DeJoria gets the win light, the engine in her Bandero Tequila Toyota gives way and lights up the race track. 

***

Funny Car pairings for round three (lane choice first): Robert Hight vs. Alexis DeJoria; Ron Capps vs. Chad Green

***

For the second time in his career, Cristian Cuadra is advancing to the semifinals in his Corral Boots Chevrolet. He and Camrie Caruso were just about even leaving the starting line, but when she gets out of shape and has to pull the parachutes, he is assured the win. He scoops it up with a 6.71. 

***

Dallas Glenn gets real wiggly down-track and has to pull the parachutes, and Greg Anderson, in the other lane, is also loose on the racetrack. He gets off the throttle but scores a 6.85 win in the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Anderson is advancing to the semis for the first time since the Gatornationals. 

"I had my hands full; I was just trying to find a way to get to the finish line ahead of Dallas. He's red-hot right now, and to get a win over him is big," said Anderson. 

***

Racing is on hold for the moment as NHRA Safety Safari sprays another layer of glue on the track. 

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We're back in action! Erica Enders and Kyle Koretsky line up side-by-side and have an awesome race that lands on the good side for the reigning champ. She gets it done with her left foot as a .021 reaction time to Koretsky's .050 pairs well to boost her 6.677 just above her opponent's quicker 6.671. No. 1 qualifier Enders is going to the semifinals for the first time this year. 

***

Aaron Stanfield's car simply dies on the starting line after the burnout, and there is nothing to be done. He can only watch as Deric Kramer takes the GetBioFuel.com Chevy on a 6.67 victory lap. Kramer has reached the semifinals or better in each of the three most recent races. 

***

Pro Stock pairings for round three (lane choice first): Erica Enders vs. Greg Anderson; Deric Kramer vs. Cristian Cuadra

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Chip Ellis is way red, and Angie Smith will be riding her DENSO Buell to the semifinals. She was a finalist in Gainesville, but between then and now, she's not won a round. 

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Ryan Oehler follows the lead of Ellis and is -.087 red, allowing Hector Arana Jr. to get a very lucky break. His GETTRX Buell goes silent downtrack, but he's going to a second consecutive semifinal round.

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Steve Johnson is cool as a cucumber at the starting line and clicks off a .028 reaction time aboard his Mac Rak Suzuki. It's exactly what was needed to defeat Eddie Krawiec's 6.87. Johnson's slightly slower 6.89 gets the nod on a holeshot. Johnson's scorecard so far this year includes one trip to the semis smooshed between two first-round losses. 

***

The two newest Pro Stock Motorcycle riders in the series go head-to-head here. Rookie Chase Van Sant, aboard the White Alligator Racing Suzuki, is a brilliant .008 at the tree – but Gaige Herrera answers back with a .019 and 6.805 to a 6.97. 

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle pairings for round three (lane choice first): Gaige Herrera vs. Angie Smith; Steve Johnson vs. Hector Arana Jr.

***

Doug Kalitta smokes the tires, and Antron Brown puts a 3.73 on the scoreboard to claim his 800th round win. He'll take the Matco Tools dragster to the final round at Bristol Dragway in an attempt to win his first Thunder Valley Nationals trophy. It will be the 132nd final of his career. He's looking for Top Fuel win No. 73 and to move up from where he currently is in the standings: No. 7.

***

Austin Prock falls into a ton of tire smoke as he launches, and Justin Ashley will get a shot at the double and the chance to defend the title he won here last year. Ashley clocks a 3.72 that will give him lane choice over Brown in the final. 

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Top Fuel final (lane choice first): Justin Ashley vs. Antron Brown

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The NAPA Toyota throws down a 3.91 to beat the 4.00 that flashes on the scoreboard after Chad Green's car dancing its way down the racetrack. The final will be the 144th of Capps' career, and he is seeking his first win of the season and 74th of his career.

"This is huge," said Capps, who is the most winning Funny Car driver as this track with six trophies claimed so far. "I need to buy a house and move here because this race loves me." 

***

Robert Hight is in trouble as soon as he hits the throttle, and Alexis DeJoria races towards the soon-to-be flashing win light. As she pushes towards the finish line, her escape hatch comes loose and flies into the air, landing in the unoccupied grassy area next to the left side of the racetrack. Her time is a 4.15, so she will forfeit lane choice to Capps. She is after a seventh career win and her first of the season. DeJoria won here in 2021. 

"The first time I ever went to a final here, it was against Ron Capps," said DeJoria. "We're hoping this time it goes our way. Patience is a virtue – it's hard out here, but we're doing it." 

***

Funny Car final (lane choice first): Ron Capps vs. Alexis DeJoria 

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When Cristian Cuadra's Corral Boots Chevrolet rattles the tires as soon as he leaves the starting line, he has to give up. Deric Kramer races ahead on a 6.68 that will take him to the final round for the fourth consecutive race. 

***

Greg Anderson's burnout is abnormal and awkward, and as soon as he backs up, he's shut off and officials are dabbing at the racetrack. Erica Enders takes a single in her JHG Melling Chevrolet and records a 6.72. She'll be racing in the final for the first time this year and 74th time in her career, and she's looking for Pro Stock Wally No. 44 and a third Bristol win.

Anderson's crew chief, Rob Downing, explained that they had hurt an engine the previous round and were planning to just come up, stage the car, and hope for the best. 

***

Pro Stock final (lane choice first): Deric Kramer vs. Erica Enders

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Hector Arana Jr. blazes off the starting line with a .006 reaction time, but his bike bogs and shuts off. He sends Steve Johnson ahead to the final round on a 6.89. It will be the 31st final of Johnson's career, and he is aiming for a 12th career win. His most recent final was at the Virginia Nationals in 2022.  

***

Angie Smith is .080 at the tree to Herrera's .010, and from there it's pretty well assured that he's going to the final again – his fourth in four races. It's finalized as he puts a 6.84 on the scoreboard to her 6.93.

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle final round pairing (lane choice first): Gaige Herrera vs. Steve Johnson

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