BRISTOL, TN – Top Fuel veteran Clay Millican made the quickest pass on Friday at Bristol Dragway, racing to the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Austin Prock (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the eighth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Millican went 3.786-seconds at 325.06-seconds in his 11,000-horserpower Parts Plus/Rick Ware Racing dragster in Thunder Valley, holding off points leader Justin Ashley under the lights to take the top spot. Millican, whose first career NHRA win came at Bristol Dragway in 2017, is seeking his first No. 1 qualifier of 2024 and 26th in his career. Friday also marked another special moment at Millican’s favorite and home track on the NHRA tour.

“It’s always something at this place,” Millican said. “This team has absolutely been incredible. We were struggling a little after testing, and then the next thing you know we start going rounds, go to a final at Charlotte, go to the semis last week. I’m excited to do this for a lot of reasons. When you qualify No. 1 against the monsters that we’re racing against these days you’ve accomplished something. But this is the first time I’ve qualified No. 1 with Mr. Rick Ware present. We are here because this guy loves drag racing. The biggest thing he hasn’t been a part of yet is a win on Sunday, so that’s on my agenda, just in case you’re wondering. Continue reading →

BRISTOL, TN – Daniel Wilkerson has already enjoyed a great start to his first full season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, sitting sixth in Funny Car points after a final round in Charlotte and back-to-back semifinal appearances at the last two races.

But the rising star in the loaded Funny Car ranks and the son of former standout Tim Wilkerson can take another big leap at this weekend’s 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

With Tim now tuning and Daniel driving the 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Summit Racing Equipment Ford Mustang, the team has made consistent improvements all year. It’s put Wilkerson on the verge of a victory as he has set career-best marks at seemingly every race.

In Epping, he went 3.899-seconds at 329.91 mph to qualify a career-best fourth in Funny Car, making him even more excited to race in Thunder Valley and at Bristol Dragway, a facility he has always enjoyed.

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BRISTOL, TN – If you’re NHRA Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley, it would be hard not to love Bristol Dragway. Ashley has won back-to-back races in scenic Thunder Valley, including last year when he swept the weekend in incredible fashion, including the postponed Epping event, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

It may be hard to top that at this weekend’s 23rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, but Ashley will try as he seeks an impressive third straight victory at Bristol Dragway. Only Top Fuel legend Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock’s Mike Edwards have won three straight times in Thunder Valley, meaning Ashley will try to join some rarified air.

He’s enjoyed another banner year thus far in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, entering the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals as the points leader on the strength of two wins in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster. As expected, the annual trip to Bristol is one Ashley enjoys a great deal.

“It’s one of the more challenging places we race, but it’s been a complete team effort there,” Ashley said. “Our team’s experience tuning and navigating this track has played a big part in it. Last year in Bristol was a weekend I’ll never forget and every time I go to Bristol from now on, it’s going to be something I think about. They absolutely pack the place in Bristol and it’s such a special place to race. With all the sounds that are so unique to that facility, I just have so many fond memories of racing there.” Continue reading →

EPPING, NH – John Force finished off an impressive double-up weekend in front of another sellout crowd on Sunday at New England Dragway, as the 16-time Funny Car world champion outran teammate Austin Prock in the final round of the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) also won the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. It was the second straight sellout for the NHRA this weekend.

In an all-John Force Racing Funny Car final round, Force went 4.081-seconds at 319.29 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS in the finals to slip past Prock’s 4.096 at 316.38. It gave the legendary driver his second victory of the season, third at New England Dragway and 157th in his career.

He reached the finals by defeating Buddy Hull, Blake Alexander and J.R. Todd, holding off Prock in a thrilling side-by-side duel. Force also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, with Sunday’s double-up victory pushing him to second in points in what has truly been a remarkable season for the longtime star. Continue reading →

EPPING, NH – NHRA and New England Dragway teamed up to announce a second day of sellout crowds at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals on Sunday.

The New England-based NHRA fans came in droves all weekend and sold out New England Dragway both Saturday and Sunday. Fans were treated to qualifying and the popular Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday as well as a thrilling race day on Sunday for the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series season.

“I’m grateful for all these fans to pick New England Dragway as the place they want to spend their Sunday,” New England Dragway President Paul Lorenti said. “The crowd is awesome. They are so dedicated to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

It is the fourth sellout crowd of the 2024 NHRA season and second two-day sellout including the Phoenix race.

Sunday’s race day coverage will be broadcast at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

EPPING, NH – Funny Car’s Austin Prock claimed his fifth No. 1 qualifier in the first seven races of the 2024 season in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday at New England Dragway, powering to the top spot at the 11th annual NHRA New England Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the seventh of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock’s rocket run of 3.837-seconds at 336.23 mph in his 11,000-horsepower AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS from Friday stayed on top to close out qualifying, as the first-year Funny Car continued to roll in qualifying. It’s also the eighth career top qualifier for the young standout, who is seeking his sixth career victory and second this year on Sunday. He’ll open raceday against Mike Smith on Sunday.

“It’s been great. To be low at five of seven races is unreal,” Prock said. “I really want to get the job done for AAA tomorrow. We struggled in Pomona with these colors on and I want to fix that. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Continue reading →