Langdon, DeJoria, Glenn, and Davis Secure Top Provisional Positions at NHRA Thunder Valley

Shawn Langdon topped Friday’s qualifying during a rain-shortened day at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The Top Fuel driver ran 3.800 seconds at 328.54 mph in his Kalitta Air Careers dragster during the only qualifying session for his class.

If his time holds through the weekend, Langdon will get his first No. 1 qualifier this season and the 22nd of his career. This strong outing also ended his teammate Doug Kalitta’s run of four straight No. 1 starts.

Langdon and his team overcame a disappointing early exit in the previous race at Epping. He credited the crew for resolving issues and matching their target tune, calling the run “dead-on.”

Josh Hart posted the second-fastest Top Fuel run of 3.860 at 324.67 mph, while Justin Ashley sits third with a 3.886 at 323.35 mph. Rain disrupted Friday’s schedule, wiping out Top Fuel’s second session and cutting Funny Car qualifying short with one pair left to run.

Alexis DeJoria led Funny Car with a time of 3.948 seconds at 328.14 mph in the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra. This puts her in position for her first top qualifier spot since 2021, which was also the year she won at Bristol.

DeJoria mentioned the team’s momentum after joining JCM Racing and highlighted the track’s unique features and loyal fans in Bristol. The Funny Car field saw Ron Capps clock a 3.960 at 324.51 mph for second place.

Jack Beckman is third at 3.971 and 323.74 mph. In the Pro Stock category, Dallas Glenn jumped to No. 1 with a run of 6.645 seconds at 205.60 mph in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro.

Glenn is chasing his second top qualifying spot this year and already has three wins this season. He rebounded from engine trouble at the last race in Epping, relying on quick efforts from his shop team to return with a solid pass in Bristol.

Glenn currently sits second in points, just behind teammate Greg Anderson. Anderson put up a 6.655, while Aaron Stanfield is close behind at 6.666 and 204.32 mph.

Pro Stock Motorcycle saw Brayden Davis make only his second career race start in the class but topped the field by riding the Powertrain/RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a 6.870 at 197.22 mph. Davis, making his first event appearance for the Vance & Hines team after debuting earlier in Gainesville, made back-to-back fast runs.

Crew chief Andrew Hines is helping him adapt quickly, and Davis expressed excitement at getting strong, consistent results. Teammate Richard Gadson followed closely with a 6.879 at 195.93, and Angie Smith posted a 6.907 at 196.53 for third.

Qualifying continues on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET as teams look to secure or defend their provisional No. 1 spots ahead of elimination rounds. Track conditions, weather, and team adjustments will play key roles as the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals moves deeper into the weekend.

The event is the eighth stop in a 20-race season for the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, attracting a strong lineup and enthusiastic fans to Bristol once again.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.