Antron Brown Leads Top Fuel Q2; Matt Hagan Tops Funny Car at Thunder Valley Nationals as Brief Weather Delay Fails to Halt Action

Bristol Dragway, Bristol, TN — Friday qualifying at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals delivered strong runs and intense battles across the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series classes, even with a brief weather interruption. Rain paused action momentarily, requiring the Safety Safari to dry the track, but crews resumed under the lights and completed Qualifying Round 2.

The postponed Top Fuel and Funny Car finals from the rain-affected New England Nationals were also contested as part of the busy Bristol program.

Top Fuel Q2

Antron Brown in the Matco Tools dragster took the top spot in Q2 with a strong 3.801-second pass at 329.50 mph. Tony Schumacher slotted into second just 0.002 seconds behind at 3.803/326.16, while Tony Stewart’s 3.807/332.10 kept him close in third.

Billy Torrence posted the fastest speed of the session at 338.17 mph en route to fourth (3.814). Josh Hart (3.815/327.03) and Shawn Reed (3.821/319.60) rounded out the top six. Doug Kalitta sat seventh at 3.927/311.99 after leading earlier sessions.

Top Fuel Q2 Top 10 (selected):

Antron Brown (123) — 3.801 / 329.50

Tony Schumacher (15) — 3.803 / 326.16

Tony Stewart (14) — 3.807 / 332.10

Billy Torrence (474) — 3.814 / 338.17

Josh Hart (77) — 3.815 / 327.03

Shawn Reed (8) — 3.821 / 319.60

Doug Kalitta (1) — 3.927 / 311.99

Maddi Gordon (100) — 3.965 / 311.77

Keith Murt (355) — 3.968 / 295.79

Leah Pruett (777) — 4.237 / 213.23

Funny Car Q2

Matt Hagan grabbed the Q2 lead in the Mopar Dodge Charger with a solid 4.009 at 319.60 mph. Spencer Hyde followed closely in second at 4.030/319.07. Chad Green’s 4.189/242.84 put him third, though several later qualifiers posted lower speeds consistent with early shutoffs or tire shake on the fresh Bristol surface.

Austin Prock (4.382/238.34) and Cruz Pedregon (4.484/207.11) held positions in the top five.

Funny Car Q2 Top 8 (selected):

Matt Hagan (14) — 4.009 / 319.60

Spencer Hyde (9) — 4.030 / 319.07

Chad Green (7) — 4.189 / 242.84

Austin Prock (1) — 4.382 / 238.34

Cruz Pedregon (71) — 4.484 / 207.11

Daniel Wilkerson (5) — 4.503 / 201.04

Jeff Arend (170) — 4.810 / 171.29

JR Todd (373) — 5.127 / 153.13

Pro Stock Q2 — Tightest Battle of the Night

Pro Stock produced one of the closest qualifying sessions of the weekend so far. Greg Anderson edged Matt Latino by just 0.003 seconds for the top spot (6.673/204.11 vs. 6.676/205.04). Dallas Glenn (6.687), Greg Stanfield (6.688), and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.689) were all within 0.016 seconds of the leader in a razor-thin top five.

Cody Anderson posted the class’s best speed at 205.60 mph in sixth place.

Pro Stock Q2 Top 10:

Greg Anderson (2) — 6.673 / 204.11

Matt Latino (16) — 6.676 / 205.04

Dallas Glenn (1) — 6.687 / 203.83

Greg Stanfield (445) — 6.688 / 204.29

Jeg Coughlin Jr. (8) — 6.689 / 203.03

Cody Anderson (17) — 6.691 / 205.60

Aaron Stanfield (4) — 6.691 / 203.55

Matt Hartford (3) — 6.700 / 203.71

Stephen Bell (439) — 6.709 / 204.35

Erica Enders (6) — 6.714 / 203.37

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2

Gaige Herrera posted the fastest valid time in Q2 at 6.867/196.59 mph to lead the class. A data anomaly placed Jianna Evaristo in the top spot with no valid time recorded. Ryan Oehler (6.898/198.52) and Angie Smith (6.899/197.54) followed closely behind Herrera.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2 Top 6 (valid times):

Gaige Herrera (79) — 6.867 / 196.59

Ryan Oehler (3284) — 6.898 / 198.52

Angie Smith (4) — 6.899 / 197.54

Brayden Davis (5) — 6.903 / 197.08

Richard Gadson (1) — 6.908 / 194.13

Top Sportsman Q2

John Benoit paced the Top Sportsman field with a strong 6.369/218.80. Allen Firestone (6.397/217.63) and Jeff Brooks (6.480/213.98) followed in second and third. Vince Hoda (6.508/215.24) and Michael Chitty (6.684/208.07) completed the top five.

Top Sportsman Q2 Top 5:

John Benoit (1357) — 6.369 / 218.80

Allen Firestone (4695) — 6.397 / 217.63

Jeff Brooks (5) — 6.480 / 213.98

Vince Hoda (4864) — 6.508 / 215.24

Michael Chitty (6) — 6.684 / 208.07

With Q2 in the books and a brief weather delay navigated successfully, the field is set for continued qualifying and eliminations Saturday and Sunday at Bristol Dragway. The tight Pro Stock battle and strong nitro runs set the stage for an exciting weekend of Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action in Thunder Valley.