For the first time in the 10-year history of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series, the all-eighth-mile series will head to Tennessee’s Bristol Dragway this weekend for the Thunder Valley Throwdown. Set for Aug. 22-24, the Thunder Valley Throwdown is the sixth of eight championship events on the 2024 PDRA schedule. All 14 of the PDRA’s professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster divisions will be in competition at the legendary track known as “Thunder Valley.”
“Everyone in the series has been excited about our first trip to Bristol Dragway since the Thunder Valley Throwdown was first announced,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “This is such a historic, prestigious facility, especially when you think about the history of Pro Modified racing and the role this track played in it. Legends were made in Thunder Valley, and this weekend, 14 PDRA class winners will add their names to the Bristol Dragway history books.”
Two-time and reigning Drag 965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle world champion Chris Garner-Jones holds a solid points lead going into Bristol with a win and two runner-up finishes aboard his nitrous-fed T.T. Jones Racing ‘18 Hayabusa. Brunson Grothus, who returned to the class after a brief hiatus, is two rounds behind Garner-Jones with one win on Robert Varela’s turbocharged Dallas Flat Glass Distributors ’19 Hayabusa. Multi-time world champion Eric McKinney is also in the championship hunt in third with a season-opening win on his nitrous-assisted McKinney Motorsports ’14 Hayabusa.
The Thunder Valley Throwdown at Bristol Dragway will start with Thursday testing from 10 a.m. to around 5:30 p.m. Sportsman qualifying will begin Thursday at 5:45 p.m. Friday qualifying will begin at 9 a.m. starting with Jr. Dragster and sportsman sessions, with professional qualifying sessions set for 12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. On Saturday, Jr. Dragster final qualifying will kick off at 9 a.m. before going into sportsman and Jr. Dragster eliminations. Professional eliminations will begin at 2 p.m.
