Bristol Showdown Delivers Thrilling Finals at Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

The 2026 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway wrapped up with high-stakes eliminations on June 14, producing several close finishes and milestone victories across the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series classes.

Top Fuel: Antron Brown Edges Langdon in Nail-Biter

In one of the closest Top Fuel finals of the weekend, Antron Brown (No. 123) defeated Shawn Langdon (No. 2) with a 3.788-second pass at 331.61 mph to Langdon’s 3.801 at 334.07 mph. Brown held a slight starting line advantage (.055 to .057) and never trailed, taking the win by just 0.0156 seconds (roughly 8 feet).

It marked Brown’s first Wally of the 2026 season and his 20th career victory. Historical notes from the event highlight that Langdon has now lost 35 times to Brown — the most against any single opponent.

Funny Car: Matt Hagan Dominates

Matt Hagan (No. 14) cruised to victory in Funny Car over Daniel Wilkerson (No. 5), posting a 4.125 at 310.91 mph while Wilkerson slowed to a 6.317 at 128.89 mph. Hagan’s strong reaction time (.032) and consistent run gave him the win by over two seconds.

Pro Stock: Matt Hartford Claims Third Win of Season

Matt Hartford (No. 3) took down veteran Greg Anderson (No. 2) in Pro Stock. Hartford’s 6.672-second effort at 205.60 mph overwhelmed Anderson, who suffered severe tire shake and clicked off early. Hartford had the starting line advantage (.046 to .071) and never looked back, securing his third Wally of 2026 and 11th of his career.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gaige Herrera Chases Down Gadson

Gaige Herrera (No. 79) earned his second win of the season and 30th career victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle, defeating Richard Gadson (No. 1). Herrera ran 6.838 at 198.47 mph to Gadson’s 6.883 at 196.36 mph. Despite giving up the tree (.033 to .018), Herrera made the pass by half-track for a 0.0308-second margin.

Top Alcohol Dragster & Funny Car

(Note: Detailed final round data for these classes mirrored Top Fuel results in available reporting, with Antron Brown listed over Shawn Langdon. Further verification may be needed for official TA/TAFC outcomes.)

Top Sportsman: Gerard Milette Takes the Win

In Top Sportsman, Gerard Milette (No. 1393) defeated Jeff Brooks (No. 5) with a 7.204 at 187.76 mph (0.054 over his dial) to Brooks’ 6.462 at 209.43 mph (-0.008 under). Milette’s excellent .001 reaction time proved decisive in the close matchup.

Overall, the Thunder Valley Nationals delivered classic Bristol action with packed stands and competitive racing under warm conditions (air temp 82°F, track temp 127°F). The event continues to solidify its reputation for producing dramatic, high-speed battles.