• The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway hosts the ninth event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ 22-race calendar. Tony Stewart Racing(TSR) brings its two fulltime entries – one in Top Fuel for nine-time event winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan.
• Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster carries the colors of Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand.
• The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will mark Pruett’s 180th career Top Fuel start and her ninth at Bristol.
• Pruett is looking for her first victory at the Thunder Valley Nationals. She has advanced to the finals once at Bristol in 2017, where her 3.881 ET at 307.09 mph run was bested by Clay Millican (3.825 ET at 316.38 mph). Pruett is seeking her first No. 1 qualifier at Bristol.
• DYK? Bristol Dragway is a 30,000 capacity drag racing facility located next to Bristol Motor Speedway. It was originally built in 1965, making 2022 its 57th anniversary. It is often called “Thunder Valley” due to the acoustics created by its location between two mountains. This season marks the first time all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – have appeared together at Thunder Valley during the same weekend.

From Leah:

With Bristol Dragway being located between two mountains, is that what makes the track so special? 

Experiencing a nitro race at Bristol is like none other. It might be a two-wide track, but it sounds and feels like a four-wide track with how intense the sounds of our Dodge HEMIs are firing off in the valley, echoing off the mountains. The pro pits are very close to the entire length of the track, with the main grandstands on the opposite side, so there’s not a time where you’re not feeling and hearing the action as if you’re on the line.

How critical is lane choice at Bristol Dragway? 

Lane choice has been crucial in the past, for different reasons in different classes. A problematic area in one lane may give challenges to fuel cars, where pro stock sees challenges elsewhere. We know there have been some recent, great efforts to supply us with the smoothest surface possible, and I feel good about what we have to work with.

How does Bristol’s unique environment affect the car’s tuning and setup? 

It’s no secret Bristol Dragway has some unique racing surface characteristics, which makes this even more of a tuner’s race when it comes to navigating where and when power is added in regard to the conditions.

Contact: Ashley Wilson, (303) 594-8147, Ashley.Wilson@TrueSpeedCommunication.com