Q2 -> Q3 -> Final Qual; only Final Qual lives in perpetuity)
[ELIM-BLOCK] eliminations ADD round-by-round, then CONSOLIDATE into one complete ladder per class at race end
[WINNERS-BLOCK] add Winners hero once eliminations end
Photos, storylines, quotes, galleries ALWAYS ADD. –>
The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series makes its fifth of seven stops at historic Bristol Dragway for the Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars, August 6-8. With championship battles tightening across the professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster ranks, and the PDRA Sportsman Spectacular raising the stakes, this Drag Illustrated Event Hub will update through the weekend with qualifying, eliminations, photos, and storylines.
Latest Update
The Thunder Valley Throwdown is set for Bristol Dragway this weekend. Thursday testing opens at 9 a.m., the pro classes run three qualifying sessions Friday, and eliminations crown 660 Man winners Saturday. Check back here for live results, photos, and storylines all weekend.
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Latest Update •
Schedule •
Storylines •
Qualifying •
Eliminations •
Photo Gallery •
By the Numbers •
Tickets & Watch •
Track Info
Schedule
All times are local and subject to change on site. The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series competes to the eighth-mile.
| Day | Date | On Track |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Aug. 6 | Testing begins 9 a.m. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Q1 begins around 5 p.m. |
| Friday | Aug. 7 | Pro qualifying at 11:45 a.m., 5:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. |
| Saturday | Aug. 8 | Pre-race ceremonies and pro eliminations begin at 10:50 a.m., continuing into the evening until champions are crowned in the FuelTech Winner’s Circle. |
Storylines
“The Thunder Valley Throwdown has quickly become one of the most anticipated stops on the PDRA tour. Bristol is such an iconic track that holds a lot of memories for our racers with its rich history in Pro Modified, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, and Junior Drag Racing. It’s also one of the most fan-friendly tracks, and its unique location in the hills of Tennessee make it a destination event.”
Tyler Crossnoe, Series Director, PDRA
Franklin defends a thin Pro Nitrous lead
Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin carries the Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars lead into Bristol, but the margin is thin. Franklin, the defending event champion, holds the top spot in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” 1969 Camaro. Fredy Scriba, the 2024 world champion, sits less than a round back in second after debuting his new Musi-powered “Sorcerer” 1969 Camaro at Maryland and winning for the second straight year. Past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Buddy Perkinson is third, just over a round out of the lead, in his Musi-powered LAT Racing Oil 1969 Camaro.
Harris takes over the Pro Boost lead
WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive has a new points leader in Jason Harris, who moved to the top with a Maryland semifinal in his Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” 1969 Camaro as he chases a third class title and fifth series championship. Johnny Camp missed Maryland but dropped only one spot to second in the ProCharged “Hells Bells” 1969 Camaro. Reigning world champion and defending event winner Ty Tutterow moved to third after a No. 1 qualifier at Maryland in Justin Smith’s screw-blown Quik Fuel 1969 Camaro, with Maryland winner Travis Harvey just outside the top three in fourth.
Denton and Wensley Jr. pace Pro Street
Two of the youngest drivers in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing lead the way into Bristol. Past Super Street world champion Blake Denton holds the points lead after a Maryland semifinal in the nitrous-fed “Bonnie” Lizzy Musi tribute 1969 Camaro. Joel Wensley Jr. moved to second after earning his first career win at Maryland in his ProCharged 2014 Camaro. Jerry Morgano hangs onto a top-three spot in his turbocharged “Copperhead” 2002 Mustang after a second No. 1 qualifier of the season, while Tennessee’s own Ron Reagan and Scott Kincaid sit fourth and fifth, only qualifying points out of third.
Pittman brings a new lead to Pro 632
Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises has a new leader for the first time in three races. Jeff Pittman earned his first career class win at Maryland to take the lead by three points in his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales 1968 Chevelle. J.C. Beattie Jr., who won the season’s first two races, slipped to second after a first-round exit at Maryland in his Reher-Morrison-powered ATI Performance Products 2018 Camaro. Rookie David Cook Jr. is third in his Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com 2010 GTO.
McGee chases a Thunder Valley three-peat in Super Street
Defending world champion Connor McGee heads to Bristol chasing a third consecutive Thunder Valley Throwdown title. McGee has two wins in three final rounds and two No. 1 qualifier awards this season in his Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling 1990 Mustang. Austin Vincent sits just over two rounds back in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance 1988 Mustang, and 2024 world champion Dan Whetstine is third in the ProCharged “Red Velvet” 1991 Mustang.
Sportsman Spectacular raises the stakes
Bristol hosts the PDRA Sportsman Spectacular, with boosted payouts from Butcher & Son Demolition, NexGen Race Cars, Fulton Racing Engines, C&C Chemical Co. Inc., and Mike Bos Race Cars raising the stakes for the sportsman and Jr. Dragster ranks. The points leaders entering Bristol are Bryan LaFlam in MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Steve Furr in Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster presented by American Race Cars, Joe Roubicek in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and Steven Boone in ATI Performance Products Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes. Katelyn Page (Pro Jr. Dragster) and Carter Hayes (Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster) lead the Jr. Dragster classes.
Carson Perry makes his Pro Boost debut
Past PDRA Super Street event winner Carson Perry makes his Pro Boost debut at Bristol, adding a third heads-up PDRA class to a resume that already includes Pro 632 and Super Street. The 23-year-old will drive a Redd Topp Motorsports C7 Corvette with a Harts Charger-boosted engine and a Lenco transmission, owned by Vaughn Myles and Eric Holland and tuned by his father, Danny, and brother, Daniel Perry. Perry joins recent Pro Boost winner Travis Harvey as a teammate. “I’m not trying to exaggerate, but I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid, since I can remember,” Perry said.
More Bristol debuts
The Bristol entry brings more fresh faces to the pro ranks. Radial racer Chad Henderson makes his Pro Street debut, and his son, Jackson Henderson, debuts in Super Street. Tony Careccia rolls out a brand-new NexGen Race Cars-built, supercharged Top Dragster.
Pat Musi autograph session and “Back in Black” display
Engine builder Pat Musi, a PDRA fixture since 2014, will host an autograph session at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Musi Racing booth, where his team will display “Back in Black,” a new 1969 Camaro restomod from the Musi Muscle line powered by an Edelbrock Musi 555 crate engine. Musi’s engines have powered PDRA world champions across multiple classes, and his late daughter Lizzy Musi was a multi-time PDRA winner. “I’m always at the PDRA races supporting our customers throughout the season, but this is a cool opportunity to meet the fans,” Musi said.
Qualifying
Qualifying results will post here as sessions complete Friday. Check back for live updates.
Eliminations
Eliminations begin Saturday. Round-by-round results and winners will post here as the action unfolds.
Photo Gallery
Images from Bristol will be added through the weekend. Photos by Tara Bowker.
By the Numbers
| 5 of 7 | Fifth of seven races on the 2026 Red Line Oil PDRA schedule |
| 5 | Professional classes in action: Pro Boost, Pro Nitrous, Pro Street, Pro 632, and Super Street |
| 660 | Distance in feet of PDRA’s eighth-mile competition, the source of the “660 Man” trophy |
| 3 | Consecutive Thunder Valley Throwdown titles Connor McGee is chasing in Super Street |
| 1 | Less than one round separates Pro Nitrous points leader Tommy Franklin from Fredy Scriba |
Tickets & Watch
Tickets are $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Discounted Junior and Kids tickets are available, and kids 5 and under get in free. Tickets are available at PDRA660.com or at the gate. Fans worldwide can watch the live stream on FloRacing.com. Event radio is on 100.9 FM at the track.
Track Info
| Facility | Bristol Dragway |
| Location | Bristol, Tennessee |
| Ownership | Speedway Motorsports LLC |
Coverage of the 2026 PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars will update through the weekend. Photos by Tara Bowker.
This story was originally published on August 6, 2026. 
The post 2026 PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown presented by Larry Jeffers Race Cars: Storylines & Live Coverage first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
