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Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Review

Thunder Valley Nationals 2016

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

1 Doug Kalitta 3 926
2 Antron Brown 2 874
3 Steve Torrence 2 846
4 Brittany Force 2 754
5 Tony Schumacher 675
6 Shawn Langdon 1 595
7 J.R. Todd 562
8 Clay Millican 540
9 Richie Crampton 535
10 Leah Pritchett 1 412
11 Terry McMillen 407
12 Scott Palmer 270
13 Dave Connolly 217
14 Troy Buff 188
15 Terry Haddock 186
16 Chris Karamesines 144
17 Smax Smith 134
18 Pat Dakin 115
19 Morgan Lucas 84
20 Steven Chrisman 82
21 Luigi Novelli 63
22 Steve Faria 57
22 Rob Passey 57
22 Kyle Wurtzel 57
25 Dominick Lagana 54

FUNNY CAR – TOP 25 STANDINGS

RANK DRIVER WINS POINTS
1 Ron Capps 3 841
2 Jack Beckman 786
3 Courtney Force 1 741
4 Matt Hagan 2 710
5 Del Worsham 701
6 Tim Wilkerson 2 691
7 Tommy Johnson Jr. 1 675
8 Robert Hight 1 643
9 John Force 615
10 Alexis DeJoria 1 588
11 Chad Head 465
12 Cruz Pedregon 432
13 John Hale 344
14 Jeffrey Diehl 303
15 James Campbell 233
16 Dave Richards 135
17 Terry Haddock 98
18 Bob Tasca III 93
19 Bob Bode Jr. 72
20 Dale Creasy Jr. 41
21 Gary Densham 37
22 Blake Alexander 31
22 Todd Simpson 31
22 Brian Stewart 31
22 Jeff Arend 31
22 Daniel Wilkerson 31

PRO STOCK – TOP 20 STANDINGS

RANK DRIVER WINS POINTS
1 Jason Line 6 1,263
2 Greg Anderson 5 1,170
3 Bo Butner III 758
4 Allen Johnson 668
5 Drew Skillman 625
6 Vincent Nobile 535
7 Chris McGaha 524
8 Jeg Coughlin Jr. 496
9 Shane Gray 458
10 Alex Laughlin 445
11 Erica Enders 438
12 V Gaines 343
13 Kenny Delco 259
14 Deric Kramer 213
15 John Gaydosh Jr. 206
16 Aaron Strong 128
17 Matthew Hartford 124
18 Joey Grose 94
19 David River 62
20 Mark Hogan 31
20 Shane Tucker 31
20 Charlie Westcott Jr. 31

 

Written by Erik the Hun

Erik's love of sports and passion for handicapping dates back over 25 years.

In fact, his handicapping angles and fantasy knowledge separates him from your common savant.

As the co-host of Get more Sport's College Football Throwdown, The Hun also brings his spirit and tenacity to the college football industry, and can fill all your Handicapping and Fantasy needs. He is currently covering the automotive and the college football sections at getmoresports.com

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