Despite a rain-shortened Friday at Bristol Dragway, Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, Alexis DeJoria in Funny Car, Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock, and Brayden Davis in Pro Stock Motorcycle all secured provisional No. 1 qualifying spots at the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
The event marks the eighth stop in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The second Top Fuel session was canceled due to rain, while Funny Car almost completed its second session, with only one pair left to run when the rain moved in over Thunder Valley.
Top Fuel: Langdon leads the pack
Shawn Langdon powered his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers dragster to a 3.800-second run at 328.54 mph in Top Fuel’s only qualifying session. If this time holds, it will be his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 22nd of his career. It would also break teammate Doug Kalitta‘s streak of four consecutive No. 1 qualifiers. Langdon was pleased with his team’s bounce-back performance after an early exit in Epping last weekend.
“That’s what we were shooting for and that coincides with what the crew chief (Brian Husen) was shooting for,” Langdon stated. “We came here and set it up like a 3.80 run and it ran 3.80. I’d call that dead-on.” He also commended the Bristol track conditions.
Josh Hart is currently in second place with a 3.860 at 324.67, followed by Justin Ashley in third at 3.886 at 323.35.
Funny Car: DeJoria’s strong showing
Alexis DeJoria made a strong impression in Funny Car, clocking a 3.948 at 328.14 in her 12,000-horsepower Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra before the rain hit. DeJoria, who has a history of success at Bristol, is on track for her first No. 1 qualifier since 2021.
She highlighted her team’s quick cohesion since joining JCM Racing this season. “That was exactly what we planned on,” DeJoria said about her run. She added that Bristol is her “favorite race track not just because of my past success. The acoustics here, nothing compares to it. The scenery and the fans. It’s all so great.”
Ron Capps sits in second with a 3.960 at 324.51, and Jack Beckman is third with a 3.971 at 323.74.
Pro Stock: Glenn bounces back
Dallas Glenn, driving his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro, moved into the No. 1 position in Pro Stock with a 6.645 at 205.60 in the second session. He’s aiming for his second No. 1 qualifier this season and the seventh of his career. Glenn has already secured three wins this season.
After not reaching the final round in Epping last weekend, Glenn quickly refocused. “From week-to-week, there is not a lot of time to sulk from your wounds after losing early,” Glenn commented. “You swallow really quick, put your head down and get back to work.”
Greg Anderson is currently second with a 6.655, and Aaron Stanfield is third with a 6.666 at 204.32.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Davis impresses in debut
In only his second career Pro Stock Motorcycle race, Brayden Davis made a significant impact. Riding the Powertrain/RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki for the first time, he secured the top spot with a 6.870 at 197.22. This weekend marks his debut with the Vance & Hines team, and he’s already making waves.
Davis, who rode the same motorcycle that points leader Gaige Herrera took to victory in Chicago, is in line for his first career No. 1 qualifier. “It was definitely unbelievable to be with a powerhouse team like Vance & Hines and get the No. 1 spot,” Davis said. “This isn’t a bad start but I’ve now got a target on my back but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Teammate Richard Gadson is second with a 6.879 at 195.93, and Angie Smith is third with a 6.907 at 196.53.
Qualifying for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will continue on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET at Bristol Dragway.
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