Exciting Updates and Highlights from Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Friday

Fans packed the stands at Bristol Dragway for the opening day of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, eager to see which drivers would start strong in Friday’s qualifying sessions. The historic Tennessee track, which first hosted races in 1965 and rejoined the NHRA tour in 1999, was once again filled with excitement as the nation’s best drag racers took to the lanes.

Tony Schumacher and Ron Capps hold seven wins apiece in Top Fuel and Funny Car at Bristol, but fresh faces and new stories are unfolding this season.

Before the first round began, Del Worsham received a special honor. His name was added as a Legend of Thunder Valley thanks to his Funny Car victories in 2003 and 2009 and his earlier success during the track’s IHRA days.

This year, Worsham returned as a team owner, with 2023 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world champion Julie Nataas making her nitro Funny Car debut. The ceremony reminded many why Bristol remains one of the sport’s most iconic and challenging venues, with its unique mountain setting and shifting weather conditions.

On the track, Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying opened with a surprise. Richard Gadson took the provisional No. 1 spot after running his RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a 6.894.

Defending event winner Gaige Herrera and past champion Matt Smith missed the top three. Rookie Brayden Davis impressed by powering to a 6.899 for second on a leased Vance & Hines bike, while Angie Smith was third at 6.907.

Herrera slotted into fourth at 6.915, and Matt Smith landed fifth with a 6.924.

In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford grabbed the early lead by making a 6.682 pass in the Total Seal Camaro. Competition was close, with eight drivers posting 6.703 or better, including Cory Reed at 6.692 and Cristian Cuadra at 6.693.

The session saw familiar names like Erica Enders and Aaron Stanfield running in the 6.69-second range. Dallas Glenn secured eighth with a 6.703, while current points leader Greg Anderson found himself 15th after a 6.721.

Out of 19 cars, only 16 will make Sunday’s eliminations, leaving tension high for the remaining runs.

Funny Car teams struggled early as the tricky Bristol surface caused several to lose traction. Daniel Wilkerson topped the charts at first with a 4.095 before a rain delay interrupted the session.

After a 20-minute pause, Matt Hagan briefly moved ahead with a 4.060, drawing cheers from Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage supporters. The session ended with championship leaders Jack Beckman and Austin Prock posting side-by-side three-second runs.

Beckman went quickest at 3.971, and Prock trailed closely with a 3.995, giving the fans the dramatic racing they hoped to see.

Top Fuel qualifying required a few pairs before drivers found the right setup. Josh Hart made an early standout run at 3.860 and over 324 mph.

Clay Millican and Justin Ashley followed with 3.889 and 3.886, while Brittany Force managed a quick 3.899 despite shutting off early. Doug Kalitta showed off new Aflac colors and ran 3.909, but it was Shawn Langdon who ended the session on top with his 3.800 at 328.54 mph.

Championship leader Tony Stewart smoked the tires and shut off before the finish.

With more qualifying rounds set for Saturday, the competition remains tight. Drivers and crews will look to improve their positions and secure a spot in Sunday’s final eliminations.

The Bristol event continues to highlight new stars and seasoned veterans, keeping fans watching closely as the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rolls on.

Meanwhile, the challenges posed by changing weather conditions at the Tennessee track are reminiscent of the unpredictable elements faced in high-level motorsport events like Monaco, where adaptability is key.

Fans and teams alike hope for clean runs that could set the stage for a breakthrough performance, similar to the kind seen when Hamilton and Ferrari found a breakthrough in F1.

As the weekend progresses, anticipation builds with every lap, mirroring the intensity surrounding top-tier racing events worldwide.

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.