{"id":52648,"date":"2025-06-07T18:58:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T23:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=52648"},"modified":"2025-06-08T00:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T05:12:15","slug":"smoke-sweeps-saturday-in-bristol-winning-mission-2fast2tasty-challenge-and-qualifying-no-1-todd-stanfield-and-herrera-win-bonus-race-at-super-grip-nhra-thunder-valley-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/07\/smoke-sweeps-saturday-in-bristol-winning-mission-2fast2tasty-challenge-and-qualifying-no-1-todd-stanfield-and-herrera-win-bonus-race-at-super-grip-nhra-thunder-valley-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke sweeps Saturday in Bristol, winning Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and qualifying No. 1; Todd, Stanfield and Herrera win bonus race at Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Stewart, TF Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Courtesy of the NHRA<\/em><\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 In a year of firsts for racing legend Tony Stewart, the Top Fuel points leader added two more on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, picking up his first career No. 1 qualifier and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge specialty race for the first time during the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Tony Stewart, Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, while Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Brayden Davis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the eighth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.<\/p>\n

In the final of the specialty race against Doug Kalitta, Stewart went a strong 3.803-seconds at 324.05 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Johnson\u2019s Horsepowered Garage dragster to cap off a thrilling day for the NASCAR Hall of Famer. It snapped Kalitta Motorsports\u2019 Top Fuel undefeated streak in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge this year as well, as they had remarkably won the first six of the season.<\/p>\n

But Saturday in Thunder Valley belonged to Stewart, as he also qualified No. 1 for the first time in his Top Fuel career, going an impressive 3.755 at 325.77 during the first session of the day. Making a pair of consistent passes could bode well for Sunday, too, as Stewart looks to add to his impressive streak. Along with a pair of wins this year, Stewart has advanced to five straight final rounds and will open eliminations on Sunday against Cody Krohn, looking for his first NHRA win at Bristol.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is great, obviously. We\u2019ve been in the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and haven\u2019t been able to finish it. Now, to win one and get our first low qualifier is big,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cFor our team it\u2019s a huge accomplishment. We keep checking boxes off. We\u2019ve got a car that is repeatable and consistent. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got tricky conditions out here. I know a lot of work has gone on here of since last year and I appreciate the effort that Bristol has put into it. That plays into our hands. We don\u2019t have a car that can go 3.64 or that runs 340-mph. I\u2019m actually encouraged about last week. In Epping, we were able to throw down and we were respectable. To see what we did in these conditions, we feel like our program is just getting stronger and stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Justin Ashley qualified second with a 3.762 at 330.80 and Shawn Langdon took the third spot thanks to Friday\u2019s run of 3.800 at 328.54.<\/p>\n

\"\"

J.R. Todd, FC Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd continued to pick up steam after last weekend\u2019s win in Epping, securing his first victory of the year in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge with a run of 4.004 at 326.24 in his 12,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra to defeat Jack Beckman. It\u2019s another welcome sign for the former world champion, as Todd and his team, led by crew chief Dickie Venables, made two solid runs on Saturday in ever-changing weather conditions.<\/p>\n

He took down Alexis DeJoria in the opening round of the bonus race with a 3.987 and then raced past Beckman in the final as Todd looks to go on a hot streak during a busy stretch in June. It also ensured Kalitta Motorsports has secured a win at every Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge event in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said all along the more runs we make the more data Dickie [Venables] can collect. You can\u2019t learn if you don\u2019t go down the tack. We just didn\u2019t put a time line on it. But the car has been trying to run well for a while going back to Chicago,\u201d Todd said.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we wanted to run better than 4.00, but stupid things happened, especially yesterday. The car is responding to what Dickie is trying to do with it. This is definitely the track with the most character. You have to fight the car from half-track on. We\u2019ve also had to dodge the weather. Hopefully, tomorrow the weather holds off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Austin Prock, Funny Car No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Bristol Dragway continues to be good to defending event winner Austin Prock, who qualified No. 1 in Thunder Valley for the second straight year in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, going 3.931 at 328.30. It\u2019s the third No. 1 spot of the season for Prock and 21st in his career as he looks for an impressive back-to-back at Bristol. He made the quickest run in both sessions amidst tricky conditions on Saturday and Prock will open raceday against Buddy Hull, who scored the upset win in round one over the defending world champion last weekend in Epping.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came out today on a mission and made two nice runs. Our Q3 run was incredible,\u201d Prock said. \u201cThe success rate in the right lane was small but we went to the top. We ran low [E.T.] of both sessions, picked up six points, and had low E.T. and that makes us feel good going into Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast week we had more of an edge. This time, there are a lot more cars close to us and the ladder stacking is tight. We had all four seasons here today. The weather changed every five minutes. It\u2019s tricky but I\u2019m looking forward to tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexis DeJoria qualified second with a 3.948 at 328.14 and Ron Capps\u2019 3.960 at 324.51 from Friday puts him third.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gaige Herrera, PSM Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Pro Stock\u2019s Aaron Stanfield victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge marked another step in Elite Motorsports\u2019 turnaround, as Stanfield went 6.668 at 204.85 in his Johnson\u2019s Horsepowered Garage car to slip past Matt Hartford by a razor-thin margin at the finish line. Hartford was after his fourth specialty race win in the past five events, but Stanfield got the best of him to collect a much-needed victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis does feel good. It\u2019s the first thing we\u2019ve won all year,\u201d Stanfield said. \u201cThat was a really good race against Matt and it shows how hard the Elite guys have worked and how much they\u2019ve sacrificed. Hopefully we can get a little momentum rolling. Our guys are getting us to within fighting distance. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis meant a lot. To win the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, it looked like we\u2019d won the whole race. We\u2019re close enough to do some damage. We just need to keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Dallas Glenn stayed in the No. 1 spot, earning the GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award in the process thanks to Friday\u2019s run of 6.645 at 205.60 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. It is the seventh career top qualifier for Glenn, who has already won three races this season. He\u2019ll look to make it a fourth, opening eliminations against Fernando Cuadra Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur last run was a really nice run but we\u2019re still just picking away at it. The conditions are tricky so it was great to go out on the last one and put down a really solid run. We put about .018-second on the field and that\u2019s pretty substantial in Pro Stock. I knew it was on a good one, and I just tried not to mess it up,\u201d Glenn said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter so many runs, you can tell when you\u2019re on a good one. It picks the front end up and sets you back in the seat, and then when you hit the first couple of shift points, which are the most critical, you know it\u2019s going to be good, and that one was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Greg Anderson is second with a run of 6.652 at 205.98 and Hartford took third after going an identical 6.652 at 203.98.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Brayden Davis, Pro Stock Motorcycle No. 1 qualifier. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Brayden Davis continued his magnificent weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle, picking up his first career No. 1 qualifier in just his second NHRA start with a standout run of 6.834 at 197.59 on a Powertrain\/RevZilla\/Vance & Hines Suzuki. He was the best bike on Friday and got challenged on Saturday, but lowered the boom to end the day with a standout run. It was a surreal moment for the young Davis, who showed his skills on an impressive bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to even believe to come out here and run with the best of the best,\u201d Davis said. \u201cComing in here, I knew I had a good bike, and it was left up to me to see how well I could ride. Honestly, before my first run, I was nervous. Me and Andrew [Hines crew chief] are getting closer. Before the last pass, he said it\u2019s going to hit me a little harder, and if it makes it you\u2019re going to the top. I definitely could feel the difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a dogfight tomorrow and I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teammate Richard Gadson is currently second with a 6.859 at 197.62 and Matt Smith is third thanks to a run of 6.871 at 199.46.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gaige Herrera, PSM Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Winner. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Herrera, the back-to-back world champion, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for the second time this season, going 6.891 at 196.30 on his RevZilla\/Mission Foods\/Vance & Hines Suzuki to defeat Steve Johnson, who ran into trouble almost immediately. He was thrilled with the win, while also enjoying seeing Davis\u2019 success on Saturday as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome seeing him doing so well. I might be taking that bike back for tomorrow. He\u2019s young and doing a phenomenal job,\u201d Davis said. \u201cFor Brayden to qualify No. 1 and me to get the Mission win, it\u2019s awesome for the whole Vance & Hines team. It\u2019s amazing what our guys are able to do with three different bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliminations for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday at Bristol Dragway.<\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the eighth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.<\/p>\n

Top Fuel — 1. Tony Stewart, 3.755 seconds, 325.77 mph vs. 14. Cameron Ferre, 8.295, 80.35; 2. Justin Ashley, 3.762, 330.80 vs. 13. Antron Brown, 4.699, 164.37; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.800, 328.54 vs. 12. Cody Krohn, 4.078, 252.47; 4. Clay Millican, 3.812, 328.86 vs. 11. Shawn Reed, 4.047, 282.78; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.834, 329.50 vs. 10. Dan Mercier, 3.941, 309.70; 6. Josh Hart, 3.860, 324.67 vs. 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.909, 289.01; 7. Brittany Force, 3.899, 288.95 vs. 8. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.904, 322.88. <\/p>\n

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.931, 329.10 vs. 16. Buddy Hull, Dodge Charger, 5.230, 143.75; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.948, 328.14 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.078, 315.78; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.960, 326.56 vs. 14. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.060, 319.75; 4. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.969, 323.74 vs. 13. Julie Nataas, GR Supra, 4.037, 317.05; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.977, 325.92 vs. 12. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.022, 320.20; 6. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.987, 327.03 vs. 11. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.014, 319.98; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.988, 322.11 vs. 10. Hunter Green, Charger, 4.004, 294.75; 8. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.996, 319.22 vs. 9. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.998, 323.43. <\/p>\n

Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.645, 205.66 vs. 16. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.710, 206.01; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.652, 205.98 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.708, 203.40; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.652, 205.16 vs. 14. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.706, 205.26; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.666, 206.32 vs. 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.697, 205.16; 5. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.667, 205.32 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.690, 205.13; 6. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.669, 205.63 vs. 11. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.686, 206.13; 7. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.670, 205.88 vs. 10. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.681, 205.19; 8. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.674, 205.01 vs. 9. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.679, 206.01. <\/p>\n

Did Not Qualify: 17. Troy Coughlin Jr., 6.714, 205.29; 18. Chris McGaha, 6.731, 205.60; 19. Brandon Miller, 6.774, 203.34; 20. Jerry Tucker, broke. <\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.834, 197.59 vs. Bye; 2. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.859, 197.83 vs. 13. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 7.229, 188.31; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.871, 199.46 vs. 12. John Hall, Beull, 6.993, 195.59; 4. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.876, 197.39 vs. 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.992, 193.99; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.907, 196.53 vs. 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.967, 192.91; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.911, 195.48 vs. 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.967, 193.79; 7. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.941, 190.89 vs. 8. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.952, 194.52. <\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Saturday’s final results from the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.<\/p>\n

Top Fuel Challenge — Tony Stewart, 3.803 seconds, 324.05 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 11.082 seconds, 86.78 mph.<\/p>\n

Funny Car Challenge — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.004, 326.24 def. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 5.387, 137.75.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Challenge — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.688, 204.85 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.685, 203.55.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle Challenge — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.891, 196.30 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, Broke. <\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.<\/p>\n

TOP FUEL CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.755, 325.77 def. Antron Brown, 11.591, 99.53; Doug Kalitta, 4.610, 269.51 def.<\/p>\n

Brittany Force, 4.814, 155.13;<\/p>\n

FINAL — T. Stewart, 3.803, 324.05 def. D. Kalitta, 11.082, 86.78. <\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.969, 321.96 def. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 4.014, 319.98; J.R.<\/p>\n

Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.987, 327.03 def. Alexis DeJoria, Dodge Charger, 5.864, 118.99; FINAL — J. Todd, 4.004, 326.24 def. J. Beckman, 5.387, 137.75. <\/p>\n

PRO STOCK CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.676, 204.29 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.880, 204.91; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.652, 203.98 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.652, 205.98; FINAL — A. Stanfield, 6.688, 204.85 def. M. Hartford, 6.685, 203.55. <\/p>\n

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE: <\/p>\n

ROUND ONE — Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.974, 192.91 def. Matt Smith, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.876, 197.39 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.992, 193.99; FINAL — G. Herrera, 6.891, 196.30 def. S. Johnson, Broke.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Courtesy of the NHRA BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 In a year of firsts for racing legend Tony Stewart, the Top Fuel points leader added two more on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, picking up his first career No. 1 qualifier and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge specialty race for the first time during the 24th annual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":52653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[799,761,1100,262,829,886,195,6,1099,68],"class_list":["post-52648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhra","tag-aaron-stanfield","tag-austin-prock","tag-brayden-davis","tag-bristol-dragway","tag-dallas-glenn","tag-gaige-herrera","tag-j-r-todd","tag-nhra","tag-super-grip-nhra-thunder-valley-nationals","tag-tony-stewart"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Stewart_Mission_JF-768x512-1.webp?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dHa","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52648"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52660,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52648\/revisions\/52660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}