Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Review

The NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series brought its power to the Thunder Valley National at Bristol Motor Speedway over the weekend. The track made so famous for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races also doubles as a drag strip. The Thunder Valley Nationals that are held here every year is one of the highest attended venues on the circuit. Shawn Langdon took home the glory in the Top Fuel division and Tommy Johnson Jr. drove to victory in the Funny Car category. Jason Line guided his hot-rod to another win in the Pro-Stock Series event.

NHRA dragster Tommy Johnson Jr. ran a 4.038 second quarter mile at 313.22 miles per hour in his Make-A-Wish Foundation Dodge Charger R/T and out dueled his fellow teammate Matt Hagan to sit atop the Funny car field. Hagan, who was going for his third win in the 2016 NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series, sped to a 4.030 second pass at 317.57 miles per hour in his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T in the final round.

The victor out-dragged the two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, as well as Robert Hight and Alexis Dejoria to reach the finals. It was Johnson Jr.’s, second win at the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol. Johnson Jr. now sits seventh in the points standings after his efforts on Sunday.

“We’re just slow starters, but we’re strong finishers,” said Johnson Jr., who has one win in two final round appearances this year. “The guys kept working hard and have kept their heads down. We got hot in Epping with a runner-up finish and we are on a roll now and we’re looking good.”

Shawn Langdon won the Top Fuel division in his first final round event of the year. Langdon sped to a 3.838 second run at 322.19 miles per hour in his Red Fuel hot-rod sponsored by Sandvik Coromant/Schumacher Racing, outrunning his teammate and owner Tony Schumacher. The runner-up drove a  3.934 second blast at 310.70 miles per hour in the final race. Langdon, earned his 12th NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series victory and moved into sixth place in the points standings.

The eventual event winner battled his way past the two-time 2016 winner Brittany Force, fellow racer Terry McMillen and the Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series points leader Doug Kalitta to reach the final round at the Thunder Valley Nationals.

“We really did struggle at the beginning of the year,” said Langdon, the 2013 Top Fuel world champion. “Everybody at Don Schumacher Racing came together and everybody there helped out; it’s a big team. I have to thank all the other crews and our Red Fuel crew. This is a big win for us at the Thunder Valley Nationals and we are extremely excited.”

NHRA’s Pro Stock division’s most dominate dragster Jason Line, once again charged his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to his sixth triumph of the year and 43rd of his career. He powered past his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson in the final round.

Line posted a 6.668 second run at 207.59 miles per hour to beat Anderson’s 6.694 second time at 207.62 miles per hour. Line won at the Thunder Valley Nationals in 2006 and was the No. 1 qualifier for this years series stop. It was the speedster’s tenth final round appearance of the year. The win pushed Line even farther ahead in the points lead over partner in crime Greg Anderson.

The points leader advanced Line won in the first round when fellow racer Dave River’s car had a mechanical problem. Line then received a bye in the second round and shot past rookie Drew Skillman in semi-finals to cement his spot in the finals at the Thunder Valley Nationals against Greg Anderson. Anderson has collected five wins on the 2016 Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series circuit and sits second behind line in the point standings. Combined, the two have won nearly every quarter-mile race that the year has offered up.

“It’s been amazing,” said Line, who has raced to every final round this season except one. “I am so thrilled to be up here, you just can’t imagine. I am living my dream. The fact that I am getting to do this and have been so successful this year is awesome.”

The 2016 NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series Point standings:

TOP FUEL – TOP 25 STANDINGS