LANGDON, JOHNSON JR., ENDERS-STEVENS WINNERS IN BRISTOL

Tommy Johnson Jr. won in Funny Car for the first time since 2007 on Sunday at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, joining Shawn Langdon, who won for the first time in 2014, along with Erica Enders-Stevens and first-time Pro Modified winner Pete Farber.

NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon broke through for his first victory of the season Sunday at the Bristol Dragway, defeating a tire-smoking Doug Kalitta in the money round by a 3.90 to 4.12 count. Tommy Johnson Jr., winless on the NHRA trail since 2007, earned his eighth career win in Funny Car and his tenth overall by downing Tim Wilkerson in the final, and Erica Enders-Stevens scored her third win on the year in Pro Stock, running 6.69 in the final as opponent Jonathan Gray had troubles and slowed. Pete Farber and Steve Matusek both advanced to their first Pro Modified final of the season, with Farber taking the 6.08-second victory.

Event Winners:

Top Fuel: Shawn Langdon
Funny Car: Tommy Johnson Jr.
Pro Stock: Erica Enders-Stevens
Pro Modified: Pete Farber
Top Fuel Harley: Tommy Grimes
Super Stock: Larry Miller
Stock: Drew Skillman
Super Comp: Jeff Taylor
Super Gas: Scott Lawton
Top Dragster: Anthony Bertozzi

NMRA Norwalk

Andy Manson was the last man standing in Street Outlaw on Sunday at the NMRA’s McLeod Supernationals at the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, as he outran Phil Hines in the final round, running 7.34 at 194.10 MPH to a slowing 7.57. In Renegade, Bart Tobener cranked off low elapsed time of the race, a 7.96, in the final round to take down Alton Clements. Coyote Modified top qualifier Frank Varela cruised to the class victory with an 8.52 in the final to defeat Craig Baldwin, while Joe Charles scored a big holeshot win in Coyote Stock, taking down Shane Stymeist, 10.43 to 10.38. 

Event Winners:

Street Outlaw: Andy Manson
Renegade: Bart Tobener
Coyote Modified: Frank Varela
Pure Street: Teddy Weaver
Coyote Stock: Joe Charles
Factory Stock: James Meredith
Modular Muscle: Gary Parker
Open Comp: Woody Pack
Truck & Lightning: Randy Conway
Super Stang: Kent Nine
Bracket 1: John Gregory
Bracket 2: Jon Lowery
Bracket 3: Joe Stretch
Bracket 4: Ron Lenarth
King Ford Race: John Gregory
All Female Shootout: Brandy Cisco
Killer Clutch Shootout: Johnnie Kinter

IHRA President’s Cup

After struggling to begin the year and with not a single round win to his credit in the season’s first four races, John Hale turned around his fortunes over the weekend as the IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Series returned to the Maryland International Raceway for the traditional President’s Cup Nationals. Hale scored his first win on the season in the Nitro Funny Car class when he downed Peter Gallen in 6.31-seconds in his ’69 Camaro-bodied flopper. He was joined by Pro Stock champ John Konigshofer, who cruised to victory over Todd Hoerner with a lap of 6.29-seconds, and Nitro Harley winner Mike Scott, who blazed to a 6.35 in the money round when opponent Randal Andras encountered mechanical troubles. Don Blackshear (Nitro Altered) and Elaine Larsen (Jet Dragster) were also winners.

Event Winners:

Nitro Funny Car: John Hale
Pro Stock: John Konigshofer
Nitro Harley: Mike Scott
Nitro Altered: Don Blackshear
Jet Dragster: Elaine Larsen
Top Sportsman: Kenny Gallo
Top Dragster: Bobby Spence
Super Stock: Kevin Clark
Stock: Bill Pricker
Quick Rod: Jake Milstead
Super Rod: Keith Mayers
Hot Rod: Robert Robertson

NHRA Division 5

Mike Strasburg and Clint Thompson took home wins at the Thunder on the Mountain NHRA Lucas Oil Series event at the Bandimere Speedway near Denver, Colorado — and both did it on a holeshot. Strasburg strapped a light on Mark Taliaferro in the Top Alcohol Dragster final and took a 5.46 to 5.43 victory, and Thompson did the same in Top Alcohol Funny Car, edging out Annie Whitely, 5.786 to 5.783. Local racer Lou Ficco Jr., the defending event champion, defended his title in Competition Eliminator, defeating Alan Ellis in the finale.

Event Winners: 

Top Alcohol Dragster: Mike Strasburg
Top Alcohol Funny Car: Clint Thompson
Competition Eliminator: Lou Ficco Jr.
Super Stock: Phil Unruh
Stock: Scott Burton
Super Comp: Trevor Larson
Super Gas: Scott Rollins
Super Street: John Bianco
Top Dragster: Matt Driskell
Top Sportsman: Gerry Lockman
Sportsman Motorcycle: Mike Voss
Super Rod: Jason Hobbs
Pro Dragster Harley: David Larson
Pro Gas Harley: Clint Rabb
Street Pro Harley: Donnie Doubleday
Draggin Bagger Harley: Darrell Schwalbach
Hot Street Harley: Matt Bluett
SEP Harley: Eddie Golson

NHRA Division 7

Doug Lambeck led the list of winners at the NHRA Pacific Division Lucas Oil Series meet at the Top Gun Raceway in Nevada over the weekend, taking Competition Eliminator honors over Aaron Strong. Dennis Pax scored a double-breakout win over Ken Etter in Super Stock, and Earl Blake did likewise over reigning world champ Justin Lamb in Stock Eliminator to close out the third race on the Division 7 series schedule.

Event Winners: 

Competition Eliminator: Doug Lambeck
Super Stock: Dennis Paz
Stock: Earl Blake
Super Comp: Steve Casner
Super Gas: Steve Parsons
Super Street: Dave Hall
Top Dragster: Moe Trujillo
Top Sportsman: Gary Forkner
Super Pro: Justin Morgan
Pro: Summer Black
Sportsman: Steve Melson
Sportsman Motorcycle: Tom Medlin