Bristol NHRA Results, Updated Standings: How Ron Capps, Justin Ashley Are Putting Heat on Points Leaders

Brittany Force, Matt Hagan Stumble at Thunder Valley Nationals as points races tighten.

• Justin Ashley Finally Finds Perfect Fathers Day Gift
• No New-Owner Growing Pains for Ron Capps
• Aaron Stanfield Wins ‘Mondo Bizarro’ Pro Stock Final
• Shawn Langdon ‘Bummed’ He Didn’t Win Two Trophies at Bristol
• Jerry Savoie Overcomes Last-Minute Engine Swap in Pro Stock Bikes
• Results, Updated Points Standings
• NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

• Top Fuel, Funny Car points leaders eliminated early.
• Wild Pro Stock finish sees dominator Erica Enders’ chances go up in smoke.
• Langdon barely misses historic double.

In the NHRA nitro ranks, points leaders Brittany Force (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) dropped out of the Thunder Valley Nationals eliminations early Sunday at Bristol, Tenn., and allowed winners Justin Ashley and Ron Capps to make serious cuts to their margins.

Aaron Stanfield in Pro Stock and Jerry Savoie in Pro Stock Motorcycle joined Ashley (Top Fuel) and Capps (Funny Car) in the winners circle at Bristol Dragway.

Justin Ashley took care of business in the Top Fuel class.

NHRA/National Dragster

Justin Ashley Finally Finds Perfect Fathers Day Gift

Justin Ashley’s father, Mike, retired with an NHRA Pro Mod championship and multiple Funny Car victories, including one at this storied East Tennessee venue. And at this Fathers Day classic, restored to its June time slot for the first time since 2019, provided the perfect gift for the 27-year-old Phillips Connect/Vita C Dragster driver to present his dad.

“You know what? You are impossible to shop for on holidays like Fathers Day,” Justin Ashley told Mike Ashley. Then he handed him his “Wally” trophy (that’s named for the late NHRA founder, Wally Parks) and said, “You’re welcome. Here’s something I can give you.

“I’m really happy to win this on Fathers Day for my dad and winning on track that he won on before but [also] for all our team’s fathers. We have so many fathers on the team, and they deserve this one. I feel like I shouldn’t even be taking home a Wally,” Ashley said. “I should give it to them, and they should keep it collectively.”

In winning, Ashley improved from fourth place to third, passing Steve Torrence to sit just 52 points behind Force as the Camping World Drag Racing Series heads north to Norwalk, Ohio, this coming weekend.

Torrence sliced Force’s lead over him from 99 points to 71. Mike Salinas, the No. 1 qualifier at Bristol who was gunning for a third straight victory here, is in second place, 25 points off the pace.

Ron Capps is closing in on the points leaders in Funny Car after his win on Sunday.

NHRA/National Dragster

No New-Owner Growing Pains for Ron Capps

Ron Capps made a switch from a Dodge Funny Car body to Toyota’s new Supra recently and gave Toyota Gazoo Racing its first triumph.

“GR. That badge isn’t just given out, so thank you, Toyota. The NAPA people, I love representing you. When I wear this NAPA Auto Care shield, I feel like Superman,” Capps said. “This is unbelievable. Ron Capps Motorsports . . . to have two wins already is crazy.

“I’m living the American dream as a small business owner,” he said.

He has given a few of his 70 trophies to his father, John Capps. But this one, he said, he will give to his father-in-law, Bob. “My in-laws, my wife’s family, they changed their lives and became fans when I married Shelley. They’ve given up their whole lives to follow us around this racing circuit, and I love them for it.”

Capps’ achievement Sunday came after his engine detonated in the opening round. He received help from Tony Schumacher’s Top Fuel crew and returned to knock off No. 2 contender and three-time champion Robert Hight in the quarterfinals, then Alexis De Joria in the semifinals to reach his 134^th final round.

Leader Matt Hagan and Hight remain 1-2 in the standings, separated by only 42 points. Capps is third, 106 behind Hagan.

Aaron Stanfield, right, beat teammate Erica Enders in the Pro Stock final.

NHRA/National Dragster

Aaron Stanfield Wins ‘Mondo Bizarro’ Pro Stock Final

Funny Car winner Ron Capps was sitting behind the Pro Stock finalists, and he called it a “mondo bizarro” finish to the Pro Stock eliminations Sunday. And he was right.

Dominator Erica Enders and her Elite Performance Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield were meeting in the final round for the third time this season, and her bid for a fifth 2022 victory and a third straight over Stanfield went up in smoke. Meanwhile, Stanfield’s car conked out on him, but he heard his crew chief urging on the radio to “Go! Go! Go!” And he got it to hook back up for the victory, his second of the season after a win in February at Phoenix.

Stanfield won for the first time from the No. 1 starting position.

Shawn Langdon ‘Bummed’ He Didn’t Win Two Trophies at Bristol

By the time Shawn Langdon pulled his Kalitta Motorsports-owned CMR/Toyota Dragster to the starting line to face Justin Ashley in the final round, he already had won one trophy Sunday.

It’s not unusual for Langdon to compete in a second class, a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series category. And this weekend he aced the Super Comp eliminations ladder. He defeated John Labbous in the final round of the sportsman-level class just minutes before buckling into his Top Fuel dragster.

“It’s so hard to not be mad about today, and I’m not mad. I’m bummed. I wanted that double-up so bad,” Langdon said. “Haven’t doubled up at a national event before and [was excited] to have the opportunity and just lucky to have the opportunity. But when you have the opportunity there, you don’t want to give it away. All in all, great weekend to have the CMR group on board. We’ve had the last two races where the car has been running good, so no complaints there. It’s only looking up from here.”

Jerry Savoie was a big winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle on Sunday.

NHRA/National Dragster

Jerry Savoie Overcomes Last-Minute Engine Swap in Pro Stock Bikes

Crew chief Tim Kulungian oversaw 25-minute engine swap and raced owner-rider Jerry Savoie to the starting line for his final-round all-Louisiana match-up with Angelle Sampey, who, incidentally, used to babysit his daughter many years ago. His engine blow-up was just another hurdle this year for Savoie, who missed the previous race two weeks ago with a broken toe.

Sampey, the No. 1 qualifier, was aiming for back-to-back Bristol victories. But Savoie used his first final round – and her red-light disqualification to claim his 14^th overall victory.

The alligator farmer from Cut Off, La., racing for his White Alligator Racing (W.A.R.) team, credited his lucky pink alligator socks. He said he had the advantage: “They eat everything.”

Results, Updated Points Standings

NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Results

Sunday’s final results from the 21st annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the ninth of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Justin Ashley, 3.813 seconds, 325.30 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.841 seconds, 320.51 mph.

Funny Car — Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.984, 324.36 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.075, 315.86.

Pro Stock — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 8.033, 184.98 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 8.801, 103.98.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.929, 194.30 def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light.

Super Stock — Mike Crutchfield, Pontiac G5, 9.061, 148.54 def. Scott Libersher, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Daren Poole-Adams, Chevy Camaro, 9.667, 136.66 def. Todd Ewing, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Shawn Langdon, Dragster, 8.893, 161.38 def. John Labbous Jr., Dragster, 8.862, 165.68.

Super Gas — Chris Lewis, Dadbod, 9.902, 166.27 def. Ausby Brewington, Mercury Zephyr, 9.897, 146.99.

Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Tyler Caheely, Chevy Cavalier, 6.811, 198.64 def. Cole Prejean, Pontiac GTO, 7.222, 190.54.

Factory Stock Showdown — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 7.889, 174.28 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 7.930, 173.92.

Round-By-Round

Final round-by-round results from the 21st annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Leah Pruett, 3.835, 324.36 def. Austin Prock, 4.107, 298.27; Justin Ashley, 3.824, 322.50 def. Josh Hart, 3.827, 318.69; Antron Brown, 3.863, 313.88 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.401, 199.94; Mike Salinas, 3.754, 329.99 def. Cameron Ferre, 9.524, 78.28; Steve Torrence, 3.943, 261.07 def. Lex Joon, 3.943, 286.01; Brittany Force, 3.844, 312.42 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.065, 282.60; Doug Foley, 4.704, 245.14 def. Clay Millican, 6.293, 122.64; Shawn Langdon, 3.809, 322.50 def. Spencer Massey, 4.484, 181.40;

QUARTERFINALS — Brown, 3.930, 305.36 def. Force, 6.338, 96.38; Ashley, 3.917, 293.98 def. Foley, 3.942, 311.85; Langdon, 3.853, 318.92 def. Salinas, 3.816, 321.04; Torrence, 3.891, 315.86 def. Pruett, 3.960, 306.74;

SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.816, 323.35 def. Torrence, 3.873, 319.98; Langdon, 3.847, 317.87 def. Brown, 3.896, 307.93;

FINAL — Ashley, 3.813, 325.30 def. Langdon, 3.841, 320.51.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.134, 259.41 def. Jack Wyatt, Dodge Charger, Broke; Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 4.114, 273.00 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.686, 178.83; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.085, 268.65 was unopposed; John Force, Camaro, 4.138, 265.38 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 6.760, 102.48; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.169, 279.79 def. Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.915, 76.96; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.148, 302.89 def. J.R. Todd, Supra, 4.168, 283.25; Chad Green, Mustang, 4.259, 229.74 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.442, 205.69; Ron Capps, Supra, 4.052, 311.63 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.023, 112.08;

QUARTERFINALS — Wilkerson, 4.823, 194.58 def. Green, Broke; DeJoria, 4.068, 317.12 def. Hagan, 4.914, 201.70; Force, 4.096, 300.60 def. Pedregon, 4.177, 289.88; Capps, 4.031, 319.45 def. Hight, 4.526, 194.74;

SEMIFINALS — Wilkerson, 4.135, 306.67 def. Force, 4.395, 263.41; Capps, 4.016, 318.99 def. DeJoria, 4.050, 321.50;

FINAL — Capps, 3.984, 324.36 def. Wilkerson, 4.075, 315.86.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.679, 206.35 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 7.411, 141.22; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.656, 205.51 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.672, 207.05; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.651, 206.42 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.655, 207.66; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.613, 206.51 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.682, 206.29; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.643, 206.45 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.664, 207.08; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.637, 206.76 def. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.671, 206.16; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.614, 206.99 def. Wally Stroupe, Camaro, 7.609, 129.22; Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.636, 205.07 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.736, 204.17;

QUARTERFINALS — Enders, 6.668, 205.91 def. Hartford, 6.689, 205.54; Glenn, 6.688, 205.54 def. Caruso, 13.570, 61.48; Stanfield, 6.641, 207.24 def. Cuadra Jr., Foul – Red Light; Koretsky, 6.678, 206.16 def. Anderson, 6.653, 205.91;

SEMIFINALS — Enders, 6.657, 205.98 def. Glenn, 6.678, 206.29; Stanfield, 6.637, 206.80 def. Koretsky, 6.691, 205.85;

FINAL — Stanfield, 8.033, 184.98 def. Enders, 8.801, 103.98.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Ryan Oehler, 6.967, 192.99 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Angie Smith, 6.820, 197.59 def. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 7.033, 193.40; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.891, 195.05 def. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.880, 195.05; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.971, 194.55 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, Broke – No Show; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.884, 195.62 def. Ron Tornow, 7.072, 184.30; Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.882, 192.82 def. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.229, 178.05; Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.866, 195.53 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.931, 193.46; Marc Ingwersen, 6.935, 193.65 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.998, 191.97;

QUARTERFINALS — A. Smith, 6.803, 198.47 def. Johnson, 6.888, 194.58; Ingwersen, 6.894, 194.02 def. M. Smith, 6.985, 195.05; Savoie, 6.916, 196.19 def. Gladstone, 6.965, 193.52; Sampey, 6.900, 194.80 def. Oehler, 10.003, 86.49;

SEMIFINALS — Sampey, 6.907, 197.54 def. Ingwersen, 7.558, 135.80; Savoie, 6.979, 193.74 def. A. Smith, 6.984, 196.56;

FINAL — Savoie, 6.929, 194.30 def. Sampey, Foul – Red Light.

Updated Point Standings

Point standings (top 10) following the 21st annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

1. Brittany Force, 724; 2. Mike Salinas, 699; 3. Justin Ashley, 672; 4. Steve Torrence, 653; 5. Austin Prock, 459; 6. Shawn Langdon, 435; 7. Clay Millican, 430; 8. Josh Hart, 414; 9. Doug Kalitta, 405; 10. Antron Brown, 370.

Funny Car

1. Matt Hagan, 854; 2. Robert Hight, 812; 3. Ron Capps, 748; 4. John Force, 588; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 507; 6. J.R. Todd, 435; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 434; 8. Bob Tasca III, 420; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 411; 10. Chad Green, 373.

Pro Stock

1. Erica Enders, 690; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 607; 3. Kyle Koretsky, 482; 4. Dallas Glenn, 439; 5. Greg Anderson, 401; 6. Mason McGaha, 383; 7. Camrie Caruso, 369; 8. Bo Butner, 306; 9. Deric Kramer, 302; 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 300.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Steve Johnson, 453; 2. Karen Stoffer, 374; 3. Matt Smith, 326; 4. Angie Smith, 320; 5. Angelle Sampey, 314; 6. Eddie Krawiec, 313; 7. Joey Gladstone, 290; 8. Jerry Savoie, 271; 9. Marc Ingwersen, 261; 10. Jim Underdahl, 227.

Keyword: Bristol NHRA Results, Updated Standings: How Ron Capps, Justin Ashley Are Putting Heat on Points Leaders