NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series arrives at Bristol Dragway for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, competitors find themselves facing one of the most unusual and compelling days of the 2026 season. An iconic track with a brand new racing surface. Teams spent Thursday inspecting the fresh pavement and preparing for what many expect could become one of the quickest and smoothest tracks on the tour. Nestled among the Tennessee mountains and long regarded as one of drag racing's most picturesque venues, Thunder Valley enters a new era this weekend.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1 Notes: Fast Bikes, Tight Margins, and Early Drama in Bristol

The opening round of Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations at the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals delivered exactly what fans expect from the two-wheel category: razor-thin margins, standout reaction times, and a few unexpected turns before the ladder even reached the quarterfinals.

The quickest pass of the round belonged to Angie Smith, who powered her Denso-backed Buell to a 6.916-second run at 196.99 mph to best Richard Gadson's run. Smith’s motorcycle was consistently strong through every increment of the track, and her .006 reaction time was staggering. Gadson stayed close with a 6.939 at 194.58 mph, but Smith’s combination of starting-line excellence and top-end speed made her one of the strongest performers of the session.

Gaige Herrera continued to look every bit like a championship contender. Herrera left well with a .027 light and marched to a 6.867-second pass at 196.59 mph next to Joey Gladstone. Herrera’s 6.867 was also the quickest elapsed time of the opening round and establishes him as an early favorite in Q1.

One of the most dramatic runs of the round came from Ryan Oehler and John Hall. Hall left early with a red-light foul. Hall still ran a competitive 6.953 at 196.73 mph. 

Kelly Clontz also displayed a strong starting-line advantage. Clontz used a .070 reaction time to leave Geno Scali trailing and then posted a 7.003-second run at 193.82 mph.

In another close matchup, Wesley Wells and Marc Ingwersen were working on their reaction times. Wells’ .205 reaction time was not ideal, but Ingwersen’s .109 light and slower elapsed time of 7.310 seconds allowed Wells to move forward with a 7.188-second pass.

The most disappointing pairing of the round came between Jianna Evaristo and Chase Van Sant. Timing data indicates Evaristo did not make a run, while Van Sant advanced after a delayed pass, recording a 39.597-second elapsed time.

Q1 Highlights

• Quickest ET: Gaige Herrera, 6.867 seconds
• Fastest Speed: Brayden Davis, 197.08 mph
• Best Reaction Time: Angie Smith, .006
• Closest Competitive Pairing: Angie Smith vs. Richard Gadson (6.916 to 6.939)
• Notable Upset/Incident: John Hall red-lighted against Ryan Oehler

With Herrera setting the pace, Smith showing race-winning-caliber consistency, and several riders separated by only a few hundredths of a second, the Pro Stock Motorcycle ladder remains wide open as qualifying continues in Thunder Valley.

Pro Stock Car Q1 Notes: Anderson Leads a Fierce Opening Session in Thunder Valley

The opening qualifying session for Pro Stock at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals immediately reminded fans why the category remains one of the most competitive in motorsports. Seven hundredths of a second separated much of the field, and several contenders opened the weekend with runs capable of challenging for the provisional No. 1 position.

Greg Anderson wasted no time making his intentions known. The multi-time Pro Stock champion powered his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to a stout 6.687-second pass at 204.45 mph, edging KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn for the quickest run of the session. Glenn was right there with a 6.711 at 204.66 mph, giving the powerhouse KB Titan operation an early one-two punch atop the standings.

The matchup between Anderson and Glenn also produced some of the best incremental numbers of the session, with both drivers reaching the finish line separated by just .024-second.

Matt Latino continued his recent surge with a strong 6.693-second run at 204.91 mph, placing himself firmly in the hunt for a top-half qualifying position. Latino’s KB Titan machine showed excellent consistency throughout the run and finished just .006-second behind Anderson’s provisional pace.

Not far behind was Jeg Coughlin Jr., whose 6.700 at 205.16 mph narrowly besting Aaron Stanfield in one of the tightest side-by-side runs of the session. Stanfield matched Coughlin nearly increment for increment before posting a 6.706 at 205.41 mph. The pair were separated by just six thousandths of a second at the stripe, underscoring the razor-thin margins that define modern Pro Stock competition.

Greg Stanfield also turned in a noteworthy run, driving to a 6.702-second pass at 205.26 mph. While Matt Hartford was slightly quicker off the starting line, Stanfield’s top-end charge allowed him to post one of the quickest elapsed times of the session.

Cody Anderson quietly delivered one of the stronger runs of Q1. The young standout ran 6.691 seconds at 205.60 mph. His 205.60 mph was one of the fastest speeds recorded during the opening round.

Elite Motorsports teammates continued to cluster near the top of the order. Erica Enders opened with a solid 6.746 at 206.04 mph, the fastest speed of the session. Although none of the runs threatened Anderson’s elapsed-time lead, Elite demonstrated the horsepower necessary to challenge as track conditions evolve.

One of the session’s biggest surprises came in the pairing between Stephen Bell and Shane Tucker. Bell made a clean 6.764-second pass at 204.14 mph, while Tucker encountered immediate trouble and slowed to a 13.424-second run at just 65.64 mph.

Q1 Highlights

• Provisional No. 1: Greg Anderson, 6.687 seconds, 204.45 mph
• Fastest Speed: Erica Enders, 206.04 mph
• Closest Pairing: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.700) vs. Aaron Stanfield (6.706)
• Top Team Performance: KB Titan Racing placed Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn first and second in the session.
• Notable Performer: Matt Latino’s 6.693-second pass put him within striking distance of the provisional pole.
• Session Storyline: Less than two hundredths of a second separated the top four qualifiers, setting the stage for an exceptionally competitive battle as qualifying continues at Thunder Valley.

If Q1 is any indication, Pro Stock fans are in for a weekend where every thousandth counts and no qualifying position will come easy.

Funny Car Q1 Notes: New Bristol Surface Shows Promise as Prock Leads Early Charge

The first Funny Car qualifying session at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals offered a glimpse into the potential of Bristol Dragway's brand-new racing surface, but it also confirmed what many crew chiefs suspected coming into the weekend: there is considerably more performance still waiting to be unlocked.

Jason Galvin reports from the starting line that he's talked to every crew chief he could and he was told, "the Bristol race surface is now 'Charlotte-esque [zMax] on the quality of the concrete,' and 'among the best racing surfaces [NHRA] has.'" 

Cruz Pedregon had an oil leak in his Funny Car and had to back the machine off the starting line and the Safety Safari moved into action to clean up the slick.

No driver reached the 300-mph barrier in the opening session, a rarity in modern Funny Car competition, as teams worked through a combination of fresh pavement, changing track conditions, and limited data. The result was a cautious but highly competitive opening round that left crew chiefs eager for another crack at the track.

Austin Prock emerged as the provisional leader after guiding his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet to a strong 4.382-second run at 238.34 mph. Prock paired a solid .077 reaction time with the quickest elapsed time of the session, outrunning in the other lane Daniel Wilkerson and giving John Force Racing an early foothold atop the field.

Jordan Vandergriff posted a 5.357-second effort at 136.07 mph to defeat Matt Hagan and position himself near the top of the qualifying order. While the elapsed time reflects a run that was not representative of the team's full potential, Vandergriff's performance reinforced the confidence the team has shown throughout the season.

Ron Capps also showed encouraging signs, defeating J.R. Todd with a 5.346-second pass at 137.82 mph. Todd crossed the stripe in 5.507 seconds as both teams gathered valuable information from the new surface.

One of the strongest side-by-side races came between Alexis DeJoria and Spencer Hyde. DeJoria used an excellent .064 reaction time and a 5.455-second run at 133.67 mph to hold off Hyde's 5.596-second effort. Both teams made clean passes and added another important data point to what remains a rapidly evolving track surface.

The most eye-opening run of the session belonged to Chad Green. Green powered to a 4.189-second pass at 242.84 mph, the quickest and fastest full pull recorded in the session, while Jack Beckman encountered trouble and slowed dramatically to a 5.889-second run at 117.80 mph. Green's performance suggests there may already be more speed available than the overall session numbers indicate.

Dave Richards also made a clean run, posting a 5.512-second pass at 130.82 mph after Cruz Pedregon was unable to make a representative run in the pairing.

Earlier in the session, Jeff Arend recorded a 4.810-second run at 171.29 mph on a single pass, another indication that teams were focused as much on learning as they were on outright performance.

Q1 Highlights

• Provisional No. 1: Austin Prock, 4.382 seconds, 238.34 mph
• Quickest Full Run: Chad Green, 4.189 seconds
• Fastest Speed: Chad Green, 242.84 mph
• Best Reaction Time: Alexis DeJoria, .064
• Notable Performer: Jordan Vandergriff continued to show consistency on an unfamiliar surface.
• Session Storyline: No Funny Car exceeded 300 mph, underscoring how much performance remains available as teams learn Bristol's newly repaved racing surface.

The Big Picture

The opening session felt less like a battle for the pole and more like the first chapter of a weekend-long engineering exercise. Thunder Valley's new racing surface appears smooth, consistent, and full of potential, but crew chiefs are still discovering where the edge lies. As more rubber is applied, temperatures evolve, and teams gain confidence in the track's characteristics, the expectation throughout the pits is clear: the elapsed times will drop, the speeds will climb, and Bristol's new surface will begin to reveal just how fast it can be.

Top Fuel Q1 Notes: Torrence and Kalitta Break the 300-mph Barrier as Thunder Valley's New Surface Comes Alive

If Funny Car spent its opening session learning Bristol Dragway's brand-new racing surface, Top Fuel spent Q1 proving just how much potential is already hiding beneath it.

The opening qualifying session of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals produced two runs beyond the 300-mph barrier, led by Billy Torrence's impressive 3.956-second blast at 312.64 mph. Doug Kalitta quickly answered with a 3.927-second run at 311.99 mph, giving fans an early indication that Bristol's fresh pavement may soon produce some of the quickest and fastest performances in track history.

Kalitta's run ultimately stood as the quickest pass of the session. The Mac Tools dragster left with a stellar .042 reaction time and charged to a 3.927-second elapsed time at 311.99 mph while teammate Shawn Langdon lost traction and slowed to a 6.924-second pass. The performance immediately established Kalitta as the provisional No. 1 qualifier and reinforced the strength of the Kalitta Motorsports operation.

Not to be overlooked was Torrence's outstanding run against four-time world champion Antron Brown in the other lane. Torrence blasted to a 3.956-second pass at 312.64 mph, the fastest speed of the session and the first 300-plus-mph run recorded during Q1. Brown made a respectable 4.732-second run at 166.79 mph but was unable to match Torrence's pace.

The two 300-mph performances stood out, but several other teams also showed flashes of championship-caliber speed.

Leah Pruett opened her weekend with a strong 4.237-second pass at 213.23 mph to best Josh Hart. Pruett's run came after a clean launch and provided valuable data as teams continued to explore the limits of the new racing surface.

Tony Stewart also continued his impressive rookie campaign in Top Fuel. Stewart used a .077 reaction time and a 5.295-second pass to get down the track cleanly while Maddi Gordon posted a 5.463-second effort in the opposite lane.

One of the strongest performances among the independent teams belonged to Shawn Reed. Reed drove to a 4.069-second run at 287.11 mph against Jasmine Salinas, producing one of the quickest full pulls of the session and positioning his team well heading into the evening qualifying rounds.

Veteran Tony Schumacher also delivered a promising run. Schumacher posted a 4.530-second effort at 176.07 mph while Will Smith slowed to a 7.504-second pass after encountering problems during the run.

Elsewhere, Keith Murt made a pass during the session but was unable to complete a representative run, recording a 12.397-second elapsed time.

The most dramatic struggles of the session came in the pairing between Clay Millican and Justin Ashley. Neither team was able to make a competitive run, with Millican slowing to 8.563 seconds and Ashley crossing the finish line in 8.741 seconds, indicating both teams encountered issues almost immediately after launch.

Q1 Highlights

• Provisional No. 1: Doug Kalitta, 3.927 seconds, 311.99 mph
• Fastest Speed: Billy Torrence, 312.64 mph
• 300-mph Club: Doug Kalitta (311.99 mph), Billy Torrence (312.64 mph)
• Quickest Non-300 Run: Shawn Reed, 4.069 seconds at 287.11 mph
• Best Reaction Time: Doug Kalitta, .042
• Notable Performer: Billy Torrence delivered the session's fastest speed and one of only two runs beyond 300 mph.

The Big Picture

The first Top Fuel session offered the strongest evidence yet that Bristol's new racing surface is headed in the right direction. While several teams struggled to complete full pulls and many combinations remain conservative as crew chiefs gather data, Kalitta and Torrence demonstrated that elite performance is already available. With additional rubber being laid down, temperatures changing, and teams gaining confidence in the surface, Q1 felt less like a finished product and more like the opening chapter of what could become a very fast weekend in Thunder Valley.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2 Notes: Herrera Extends His Lead as Thunder Valley Surface Picks Up Speed

The second qualifying session for Pro Stock Motorcycle at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals showed exactly what teams hoped to see from Bristol Dragway's new racing surface: more grip, quicker elapsed times, and increased confidence from riders and crew chiefs alike.

After leading the category in Q1, Gaige Herrera backed it up with another stellar run in Q2, improving to a 6.884-second pass at 195.73 mph. Herrera bested Brayden Davis in a side-by-side matchup and became the first rider to post multiple runs in the 6.88-second range, strengthening his hold on the provisional No. 1 position.

Herrera wasn't alone in finding speed.

Angie Smith continued her impressive Friday performance, running 6.899 seconds at 197.54 mph beside Richard Gadson. Smith's run was one of only three passes in the six-second zone during the session and produced one of the fastest speeds of the round. Gadson also made a solid pass at 6.908 seconds, giving the pair one of the closest and most competitive races of Q2.

Ryan Oehler delivered one of the biggest improvements of the session. Oehler posted a 6.898-second pass at 198.52 mph, the fastest speed of the round, to edge Joey Gladstone's respectable 6.935-second effort. Oehler's performance moved him firmly into the conversation among the weekend's top contenders.

John Hall also made a strong statement after his Q1 red-light mishap. Hall bounced back with a clean 6.958-second run at 196.56 mph, defeating Geno Scali and giving his team a valuable data point heading into Saturday.

Kelly Clontz continued to show consistency, recording a 6.966-second pass at 194.38 mph against Wesley Wells. While Wells slowed to a 7.524-second run, Clontz stayed within striking distance of the category's quickest riders.

One of the more intriguing performances came from veteran Steve Johnson. Johnson improved to a 7.003-second run at 191.92 mph, narrowly surpassing Chris Bostick's 7.075-second effort in a matchup separated by just a few hundredths.

Elsewhere, Chase Van Sant recorded a clean 7.021-second pass at 194.63 mph, while Jianna Evaristo posted a 7.815-second run as teams continued to work through varying track conditions.

Q2 Highlights

• Quickest Run: Gaige Herrera, 6.884 seconds
• Fastest Speed: Ryan Oehler, 198.52 mph
• Only Riders in the 6.8s: Gaige Herrera (6.884), Ryan Oehler (6.898), Angie Smith (6.899)
• Closest Competitive Pairing: Angie Smith (6.899) vs. Richard Gadson (6.908)
• Notable Improvement: Ryan Oehler jumped into the top tier with a 198.52-mph pass.
• Friday Storyline: The new Bristol surface continued to improve as temperatures cooled and more rubber was applied, allowing multiple riders to step up from their Q1 performances.

Friday Takeaway

Through two sessions, the battle for the top spot remains centered on Gaige Herrera, whose consistency has been unmatched. But Angie Smith, Ryan Oehler, and several others continue to close the gap as Thunder Valley's fresh racing surface comes around. With cooler conditions expected and teams now armed with two sessions worth of data, Saturday's qualifying rounds could produce the quickest and fastest motorcycle runs of the weekend.