BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 11, 2026) — SCAG Racing heads to Bristol Dragway this weekend for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the ninth race of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Justin Ashley, Will Smith, Daniel Wilkerson, and Dave Richards will compete at one of the most recognizable stops on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule.
Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel team return to a track that has long been one of Ashley’s favorites. I have so many fond memories of Bristol. It’s always been one of my favorite places to race since I was a young kid.
“I love listening to the sound of nitro as it sits in between the mountains,” said Ashley. “The focus for this weekend is on ourselves. We’re dialed into performance both on and off the racetrack. Each session, from qualifying through race day, is an opportunity to improve. We are making significant progress in a number of different areas. Now we’re ready to turn that progress into consistency and win lights. Our SCAG Power Equipment team is ready. It’ll also be great to spend the weekend with Power Tool Co. and SCAG dealers.”
Will Smith will make his first competitive runs at Bristol Dragway in a Top Fuel dragster this weekend with the Bluebird Turf team.
“We’re really looking forward to heading to Bristol for the Thunder Valley Nationals,” said Smith. “Of all the years I have been coming to Bristol, this will actually be my first time racing at Bristol Dragway, so I’m especially excited for this weekend. Bristol is one of the most iconic facilities in drag racing, and the atmosphere and fans are incredible. To finally have the opportunity to compete there in a Top Fuel dragster is something I’m really looking forward to. Our Bluebird Turf / SCAG Racing team has continued to make progress throughout the season, and it feels like we’re building momentum every race. The guys have been working incredibly hard, and we’re starting to see the results of that effort. The goal this weekend is to keep taking steps forward, qualify well, and give ourselves a chance to make a deep run on Sunday. We’re excited to have Power Tool as our distributor of the race, along with a great group of SCAG dealers, customers, and guests joining us throughout the weekend. Being able to share the NHRA experience with the people who support our program and make all of this possible means a lot to all of us. We’re looking forward to putting on a great show for them and representing Bluebird Turf and SCAG Power Equipment the right way in one of the sport’s most legendary venues.”
Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team are eager to get back on track in Bristol.
“We are always excited to come to Bristol,” Wilkerson said. “This is one of the most beautiful facilities we hit on the tour. I also love not having a week off after a subpar performance, glad to get right back at this thing and restore our car to the competitive machine we all know it is. We’ll have a lot of SCAG dealers and Power Tool Co. guests out there this weekend, so hopefully we can put together a good weekend and give them something to cheer for.”
Dave Richards and the Bluebird Turf Funny Car team look to continue building momentum this weekend at Bristol Dragway.
“Bristol is one of the coolest places we race all year,” said Richards. “The atmosphere is unbelievable and the fans always pack the place. We’ve been making progress with this Bluebird Turf team, and I feel like we’re getting closer to putting together the kind of weekend we know we’re capable of. The goal is to qualify well, make consistent runs, and turn on a few win lights on Sunday with our SCAG dealers that will be hanging out with us.”
Qualifying for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begins Friday with two sessions scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. ET, followed by two qualifying sessions Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations begin Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET. Coverage of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will air on FS1, with qualifying on Friday from 8–9:30 p.m. ET and Sunday from 2–3 p.m. ET. Eliminations will be shown Sunday from 3–6 p.m. ET.
