Day One: NHRA Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals from Bristol Dragway
Dickenson Media and Augusta Free Press continuing updates from Thunder Valley for the weekend of June 6-8.
(BRISTOL, Tenn) - Welcome to Dickenson Media and Augusta Free Press coverage of the National Hot Rod Association and the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals.
I’ll be providing updates throughout the next three days in regard to qualifying, results, weather and hopefully a chance to talk to some of the sport’s greatest and up and coming drivers in the sport.
You can follow our comments and updates here to keep up with what is going on in the media center or on the track.
7:34 PM - And that is a wrap on today’s qualifying from Thunder Valley. The weather forecast shows a cel that has moved over the track and it looks like it is going to be here for a while. We’re packing it up for the night and heading back to office to complete our summary rundown for Friday. We’ll see you back here on Dickenson Media tomorrow for more qualifying and the Mission Foods Challenge.
7:15 PM - Funny Car Round 2 Qualifying has been halted due to precipitation lightly falling at the track.
6:40 PM - Track cleaning has just concluded. We are now getting set for Nitro action in Funny Car - Round 2 Qualifying.
6:32 PM - We’ve just finished Pro Stock Qualifying Round 2.
Click here to see the Round 2 Results
6:13 PM - We’ve just finished up Pro Stock Motorcycle Qualifying Round 2 from Bristol. Click here to see Round 2 results.
5:34 PM - Top Fuel Dragster has concluded for the afternoon.
Nitro round two will roll off at 7:00 PM due to the rain delay earlier.
Click here to see Round 1 Results
5:20 PM - Top Fuel Dragster qualifying is now underway at Bristol.
5:10 PM - After about a half hour delay, we’ve resumed Funny Car qualifying and completed Funny Car Qualifying Round 1 from Bristol Dragway. Click here to see Round 1 Results.
4:18 PM - We are on hold at Bristol with racing as rain has stopped qualifying but not at the start line. It’s down near the finish line. J.R. Todd beat out Ron Capps and as he begins his slow down, he drives into a downpour at the cool down end of the track. Crews are currently working to dry that end of the track and resume qualifying.
3:52 PM - We have just concluded with Pro Stock Qualifying Round 1. The standings after one round provided by NHRA Live Timing. Moving on now to Funny Car Qualifying. Click here to view Round 1 Results
3:25 PM - We have just concluded Pro-Stock Motorcycle Qualifying Round 1.
Click here to see Round 1 Results3:05 PM - We’re underway with Pro-Stock Motorcycle Qualifying Round 1.
2:28 PM - Since our last update on weather, cloud cover is rapidly moving in from where I am sitting in the media center. Track crews are working on both lanes to get ready for first round qualifying scheduled for later this afternoon.
2:06 PM - The weather here at the Dragway is good for the time being. Weatherology.com is looking at about a 50/50 chance of storms moving into Thunder Valley around 4:00 PM. To the west, showers and storms are developing, small cels but with a potential for heavier storms later this evening.
1:55 PM - Media Center - Del Worsham speaks to the media on his addition to the Legends of Thunder Valley. “Bristol is a track I didn’t know a lot about, growing up in Southern California. But coming here, I saw what the talk was all about,” commented Worsham adding that the big thing he noticed about Bristol was the fans. “The fans knew racing, and the fanbase is so big on racing here.” Worsham has now moved from the track to calling the shots as a crew chief for Alexis Dejorna and Shawn Langdon. He’s back at Bristol coaching a rookie in her first appearance at Thunder Valley. He adds that “it’s huge being included with some of these drivers that followed and also raced.” Worsham’s official induction takes place on Sunday during pre-race events.
1:18 PM - Media Center - Tony Stewart Racing
Matt Hagan from Blacksburg, VA is now in the media center discussing the rough start they have had to the 2025 season. “The wins are coming,” replied Hagan as he discussed about a new crew chief but changed gears to express the excitement that team owner Tony Stewart has won two races on the season. “I’m hoping the work they have done in the off season will payoff this weekend (Hagan referring to the work on the bumps where the pedestrian tunnel use to be, that has caused issues in the past). Hagan added that he had drove his Durango on the track a couple of weeks ago at the Media Challenge and said that it felt better but he would have to wait and see. “I think the biggest thing is we have to be our crew chief’s biggest cheerleader,” commented Hagan. “We have to be positive and bounce back.”
12:55 PM: Media Center: John Force Racing Team
Brittany Force, Jack Beckman and Austin Prock from John Force Racing are in the media center now taking questions from the media. Brittany Force has commented on her big win out of the gate at Effing, NH. All three drivers are talking about the different conditions at Bristol as opposed to last week. Austin Prock related to the media that he was really frustrated at Effing last week but that he’s looking forward to redeeming himself and the team effort at Bristol. Force added that she is looking at consistency and that the team is pumped coming to Bristol. Beckman added that all three of them are so incredibly blessed to be a part of the sport and to be at Bristol.
