Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
NHRA’s 75th Anniversary Season Ignites Bristol’s 25th Thunder Valley Celebration
Highlights
- NHRA commemorates 75th anniversary at Bristol Dragway event
- Qualifying runs Friday with special night session under lights
- Sunday eliminations start noon ET, broadcast live on FS1
- Legend Clay Millican featured on special commemorative ticket
- Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon leads 2026 season with record speed
- Fans receive limited-edition NHRA pennant, first 4,000 attendees Sunday
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series marks its 75th anniversary at Bristol Dragway for the 25th Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14, the ninth round of 2026.
Fans get three days of 12,000-horsepower action, with qualifying opening Friday. Two sessions run, including a showcase under lights, targeting performance windows as track temperature drops.
Eliminations start at noon ET Sunday, with live FS1 coverage from 3 p.m. ET.
Saturday brings final qualifying, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and an autograph session at the Welcome Tent. Sunday features eliminations across pro categories, deciding mid-season momentum.
Legend Clay Millican appears and features on a commemorative on-site ticket for Bristol’s 25th edition.
The anniversary program includes a limited-edition NHRA pennant for the first 4,000 Sunday attendees. Last year’s winners were Steve Torrence, Ron Capps, Greg Anderson, and Richard Gadson.
The first 4,000 fans on Sunday receive a limited-edition NHRA pennant.
Top Fuel headlines the season narrative. Points leader Shawn Langdon owns four wins and the NHRA speed record at 345.00 mph, challenging reigning champion Doug Kalitta at Bristol.
Tony Stewart, Antron Brown, Leah Pruett, Clay Millican, Josh Hart, and rookie Maddi Gordon all shape the chase.
Shawn Langdon’s 345.00 mph pass stands as the NHRA’s fastest on record.
In Funny Car, Ron Capps leads the standings and defends his position as Bristol’s most successful driver with eight wins. Key opposition includes J.R. Todd, Matt Hagan, Chad Green, Alexis DeJoria, and Jordan Vandergriff.
Pro Stock carries its own narrative. Greg Anderson logged his 1,000th round win at Bristol last season. He now pursues reigning champion and points leader Dallas Glenn, with Aaron Stanfield, Erica Enders, and Matt Hartford.
Pro Stock Motorcycle remains open. Since arriving in 2021, the class has not produced a repeat winner, giving Richard Gadson and Angie Smith a chance to set the mark.
The event also features Lucas Oil Sportsman racing, JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod presented by Elite Motorsports, and the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, ensuring deep fields and varied setups.
Fan engagement remains central. Driver introductions, the SealMaster Track Walk, and winners’ circle celebrations add access, complementing Bristol’s amphitheater setting and the sensory shock of nitro cars.
Bristol’s valley layout influences strategy. Cooler night air improves density and power, while daytime heat stresses clutch tuning and track prep, making Friday night runs crucial benchmarks for crew chiefs.
Context from recent form also matters. Capps’ consistency remains notable after his latest semifinal run, while Anderson’s improvements mirror gains seen since New England.
Qualifying times are 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, and 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon ET on Sunday, aligning with FS1’s afternoon window.
Visual Summary
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.
