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What Every Accident Victim Should Know About Car Accident Lawsuits

By
SM
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A car accident can leave you dealing with injuries, mounting medical expenses, lost income, and uncertainty about what comes next. What every accident victim should know about car accident lawsuits is that they provide a legal path to recover compensation when someone else’s negligence causes harm and insurance negotiations fail to produce a fair outcome.

These legal issues arise in communities across the country, including St. Louis, where thousands of drivers travel busy roads and highways every day. Known for landmarks like the Gateway Arch and its active transportation network, St. Louis experiences its share of traffic collisions ranging from minor fender benders to serious crashes.

When an accident results in significant injuries or disputed liability, many victims find themselves facing difficult legal and financial decisions. In those situations, working with an experienced auto accident lawyer in St. Louis can help you understand your options and determine the best path toward recovering compensation.

Not Every Accident Leads to a Lawsuit

Many people assume that every accident claim automatically ends up in court. In reality, most claims are resolved through insurance settlements. However, a lawsuit may become necessary when fault is disputed, damages are substantial, or an insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.

A lawsuit provides an opportunity to formally present evidence and pursue damages through the legal system when negotiations reach a dead end.

Proving Fault Is Essential

A successful car accident lawsuit depends on establishing negligence. The injured party must show that another driver acted carelessly and that those actions directly caused the accident and resulting injuries.

Common examples of negligence include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Driving under the influence
  • Running traffic signals
  • Failing to yield

Evidence such as police reports, witness statements, photographs, medical records, and surveillance footage can play a crucial role in proving liability.

Time Limits Matter

Accident victims should not wait too long before exploring their legal options. Every state imposes deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits.

For example, under Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120, personal injury claims generally must be filed within five years of the accident date. Missing the applicable deadline can result in losing the right to seek compensation altogether.

Understanding the Compensation Available

Car accident lawsuits may allow victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages may include the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future treatment costs
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Property damage

Non-economic damages may include the following:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement

The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries and their impact on the victim’s life.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies often attempt to resolve claims quickly and for the lowest amount possible. Accident victims should be cautious when discussing the crash or accepting settlement offers before fully understanding the extent of their losses.

Avoid:

  • Admitting fault
  • Providing unnecessary recorded statements
  • Accepting an early settlement offer
  • Posting accident details on social media

These actions could negatively affect a claim.

Car accident lawsuits involve complex procedures, strict deadlines, and detailed evidence requirements. An attorney can investigate the accident, calculate damages, negotiate with insurers, and represent a victim in court when necessary.

Having skilled legal guidance can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case, particularly when serious injuries or disputed liability are involved.

Key Takeaways

  • Car accident lawsuits help victims pursue compensation when insurance claims do not resolve fairly.
  • Most cases settle before trial, but lawsuits remain an important option.
  • Proving negligence is essential to a successful claim.
  • Strong evidence can strengthen a case and support damages.
  • Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120 generally provides a five-year filing deadline for personal injury claims.
  • Insurance companies may try to minimize payouts.
  • Early legal guidance can help protect your rights and improve your chances of recovering fair compensation.

Technology, Speed, and Entertainment: New Trends in Motorsport Culture

By
SM
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Motorsports have always been a testing ground for everything from the first, clunky engines of the turn of the century to today’s space-age technologies in Formula 1 or Formula E. But let’s be honest: everything has changed dramatically in the last twenty years. While racing used to be a purely «hardware» story about cool engineers and fearless drivers, it’s now a huge entertainment business. It is no longer just horsepower or aerodynamics that matter, but also terabytes of data, analytics, and the way it is beautifully packaged for social media.

Viewers no longer want to be mere observers watching something whizz by. People want more: they demand interactivity, immersion, understanding of real-time strategies, and at least some connection with the drivers. It is worth exploring how technology is changing the very definition of speed, what trends are truly shaking up the industry, and why the line between a real track and virtual reality is blurring before our eyes.

The Age of Big Data – How Algorithms Win Races

In motorsports, everything used to rely on the driver’s intuition and the chief mechanic’s experience. Now, it is the realm of «big data». A modern racing car is more like a powerful computer on wheels than a simple race car.

Every component is equipped with hundreds of sensors, generating terabytes of data over the course of a weekend. They measure everything from tire temperature and brake pressure to suspension microvibrations. This data is sent in real time to the command bridge and team headquarters, where supercomputers digest the information and generate ready-made tactical decisions.

Artificial intelligence now calculates millions of race scenarios: when to expect a safety car, how the weather will change, or when the opponent’s tires will «float». Programs developed in collaboration with IT giants suggest the ideal moment for a pit stop with millisecond precision. Decision-making skills are now as important as the car’s straight-line speed.

Virtual Reality and Sim Racing – Blurring the Boundaries

Among the most popular trends of the last decade is the integration of eSports into traditional motorsports. Sim racing has come a long way from simple arcade games to incredibly complex software packages now used by professional teams to prepare for real-world competitions. 

Today, simulators have become an integral part of motorsports, and the line between virtual racing and real tracks has disappeared. These are no longer just games, but rather full-fledged training platforms that offer a number of unique advantages for both beginners and veterans:

  • Accurate mathematical reconstruction of the physics of car performance, track grip, and tire wear. 
  • The ability to practice reconstruction of the physics of car performance, track grip, and tire wear. 
  • Global reduction in financial costs for real track rental, logistics, and vehicle maintenance.
  • Discovery of new talent through global esports tournaments without the need to invest millions in junior karting.

Thanks to these factors, eSports athletes are increasingly moving from their home seats to the cockpits of real race cars and achieving outstanding results. This trend is changing the traditional and very expensive path of a driver, making motorsports more accessible, mainstream, and open to talent from anywhere in the world.

The Evolution Of Sponsorship And New Horizons In Marketing

The financial model of motorsports is complicated and has gone through major changes lately. People should forget about the days when team budgets were built on the backs of tobacco or alcohol producers. Today, racing series have become a platform for new economic sectors: technology corporations, cloud services, blockchain projects, and the digital entertainment industry. 

Partnership programs and affiliate marketing play a crucial role, connecting millions of devoted fans with modern entertainment platforms. The integration of players like Pin Up Partners enables the creation of unique and highly converting marketing campaigns that attract viewers worldwide and offer them new forms of content engagement. Such collaborations not only provide racing teams with the necessary funding for the constant implementation of expensive innovations but also create an entirely new culture of sports content consumption, where racing viewing is complemented by interactivity, gamification, and real-time analytics.

New sponsors have also changed the way their advertisements are represented, as they are offering their products to teams that are going to provide a prime example of how it all is going to work. Cybersecurity companies protect teams’ communication channels from hacking. Cloud service providers implement their server capacity for aerodynamic computations. It helps them to build a proper reputation surrounding their products and show people that they operate flawlessly in even the most extreme conditions.

Ecology and Electrification – Racing for a Clean Future

For as long as motorsports exist, this discipline has been associated with the roar of powerful engines and endless gasoline. Global trends toward decarbonization and climate change have forced the industry to reshape its priorities. The emergence of the Formula E series was a turning point, proving that environmentally friendly electric racing can be fast, spectacular, and attractive to automakers. 

Formula E has become more than just a sports championship, but a laboratory for developing new technologies for road-going electric vehicles. Innovations in energy recovery, battery management, and electric motor efficiency, tested on street circuits, are quickly migrating to production cars.

Classic series are also not standing aside. The introduction of hybrid powertrains with the transition to completely environmentally friendly synthetic biofuels are traditional motorsport’s response to the challenges of the times. The industry has set a goal of achieving zero carbon footprint in the coming years, combining extreme speed with care for the planet.

Entertainment Industry And New Audience Experience

Motorsports has been completely transformed in recent years. And it is all thanks to series like Netflix’s «Drive to Survive». They have drawn millions of people to their screens who don’t care about dry technical data sheets. They crave drama, behind-the-scenes drama, and genuine human emotion.

Now, race organizers are bending over backwards to retain this audience. Broadcasts have become tech-heavy. Take «Helmet Cam», for example: you see the track through the driver’s eyes, feeling the same vibrations and wild G-forces as they do. And the graphics on the screen now look like they are from a video game: speed, gears, revs, tire temperature, and even the driver’s heart rate are displayed in real time.

FeatureLate 1990sNowadays
CamerasStatic trackside points and helicoptersDrones, 360° views, helmet-mounted cameras
InfographicsPosition and gap to the leader onlyTire wear, braking zones, overtake probabilities
RadioRare, polished/edited phrasesUncensored live radio streams
ViewingStandard televisionStreaming, VR, multi-angle selection, multiple screens

This approach really makes life easier for the viewer. Previously, it was unclear why the driver suddenly started to lose speed and fall apart. Now, neural networks instantly analyze the car’s condition and display the following on the screen: Look, the rear left one has slipped. The viewing experience has transformed from a boring observation of cars into a genuine analytical thriller.

Safety At The Highest Speeds – Life Comes First

Despite the desire for spectacle and speed, the main trend in motorsports in recent decades has been a focus on safety. The increasing performance of cars required adequate measures to protect the lives and health of drivers. In recent years, engineers have developed innovative safety systems that have saved countless lives on the track and have become standard even in commercial automobile manufacturing. Among the elements of safety that were introduced in the last couple of years:

  • The introduction of the Halo head protection system, which can withstand colossal impact forces and protect against flying debris.
  • The use of smart biometric gloves that continuously transmit athlete vital signs – heart rate, oxygen levels to the medical team.
  • The use of new-generation fire-resistant suits capable of withstanding direct exposure to extreme temperatures for extended periods.
  • The replacement of outdated tire barriers with energy-absorbing structures made of modern polymers that effectively dampen the kinetic energy of an impact. 

Each of these technologies has undergone a long and arduous journey from a controversial concept to a mandatory and strictly regulated element of competition regulations. The implementation of such complex and expensive systems clearly demonstrates that in modern motorsports, the absolute value of human life is unconditionally placed above any spectacular accidents, traditions, or the purely commercial interests of the organizers.

The Role Of Social Media And Direct Communications

Racers used to be like celestial beings. Helmet, tinted visor, closed paddock – that is it, you cannot get close to them. Interviews were only for their media outlets, and personal information was strictly under lock and key. But now everything has changed. Social media and streams have simply torn down that wall.

See for yourself: drivers stream sim racing on Twitch, sit in the comments, post their flights and training sessions in stories. And it really works! You do not just root for the car anymore; you start empathizing with the person. You see their jokes, what games they play, where they’re screwing up. It is profitable for the teams, of course, the closer a fan is to a racer, the more willing they are to contribute to sponsors. But for fans, it has become much more interesting to follow all of this.

Future Aerodynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Today, racing is as much about software as it is about driver skill. Previously, to create an effective wing, teams had to spend fortunes on endless wind tunnel testing. Things are different now. Engineers have gone digital: computational fluid dynamics has become the new standard. Instead of physical models, they calculate airflow in virtual space. It is faster, cheaper, and allows for solutions that simply wouldn’t have been possible in reality. Given today’s strict regulations and budget constraints, CFD is no longer about innovation, but about simply surviving on the track.

ANTRON BROWN AND MATT HAGAN LEAD NHRA MISSION FOODS SERIES WINNERS SUNDAY SCORING SUPER GRIP NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS VICTORIES AT HISTORIC BRISTOL DRAGWAY

By
Official Release
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Antron Brown broke through for his first Bristol Dragway victory by racing to the win at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2026) – Four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown won for the first time at Bristol Dragway on Sunday, defeating points leader Shawn Langdon in a thrilling final round of the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the ninth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Brown went 3.788-seconds at 331.61 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster, holding off Langdon’s 3.801 at 334.07 in a spectacular side-by-side duel. It is Brown’s first victory of the season and the 82nd in his career, defeating Will Smith, Shawn Reed and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta to reach the final round.

It was a rough start to the season for Brown, but the team has rebounded in impressive fashion in recent weeks, advancing to the final round in Chicago. But Sunday marked off a huge item for Brown, who had only advanced to the final round at Bristol on two prior occasions.

But he led wire-to-wire against Langdon in Thunder Valley, picking up his first Diamond Wally and moving to fifth in points in the process.

“We’ve been struggling at the beginning of the year, but we kept our heads down, kept grinding and kept working. Today, it all came together,” Brown said. “The Kalitta cars are the giants out here right now. To sneak around them and get a win, that says a lot about what our team accomplished today.

“The only way you beat resistance is with persistence. You’ve got to stay the course. We know we’re capable of winning another championship, but we’re not there yet. We still have to keep improving. Getting my first Bristol win after 82 career victories is pretty special. This place has always been tough on me. To get a Diamond Wally during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, they can never take that away from you. That’s something special. To be standing here with this trophy is unbelievable.”

Langdon reached the final round for the seventh time this season, defeating Jasmine Salinas, No. 1 qualifier Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart. He will continue to enjoy a healthy points lead, which now stands at 114 over Kalitta.

In workmanlike fashion, four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan grinded out the victory at his home track on Sunday, denying Daniel Wilkerson his first career victory thanks to a run of 4.125 at 310.91 in his 12,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Funny Car.

It is Hagan’s second win of the season and the 57th in his career. This one wasn’t the most spectacular when it came to performance, but Hagan was on point when he needed to be, defeating Jon Capps and reigning two-time world champion Austin Prock to reach the final round.

He didn’t go quicker than 4.079 on Sunday, but Hagan took advantage of the opportunity for Tony Stewart Racing, reaching his 100th career final round. Wilkerson went up in smoke almost immediately in the championship round, handing Hagan his first victory in Thunder Valley since 2015. After Bristol, Hagan is now second in points and feeling good about the rest of his summer.

“I always call myself an old plow horse. Hook me up to the plow and I’ll just go out there and get the job done,” Hagan said. “For Leah (Pruett) to finish off the New England win here on Friday and for us to come back and win on Sunday, it was a special weekend for TSR.

“Bristol is a special place for me. I’ve got a lot of home tracks, but this one has always felt like home. The last time I won here was Father’s Day weekend, and I was crying like a kid. That one was emotional, and this one means a lot, too. This weekend was challenging. Daniel Wilkerson was driving his butt off. His day is coming.”

Wilkerson defeated J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman and points leader Ron Capps en route to his third career final round. Capps remains the points leader, sitting 24 points ahead of Hagan.

In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford wrapped up an incredibly successful weekend, following up Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory with a win on Sunday, defeating defending event winner Greg Anderson in the final round with a run of 6.672 at 205.60 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro.

It gives Hartford three wins already this season and Sunday marked his first victory in Thunder Valley. He advanced to his second straight final round with victories against Shane Tucker, Cody Anderson and Aaron Stanfield.

He continued to show strong and consistent reaction times on the starting line, which has been a major key for the veteran over the past several weeks. The end result on Sunday was his 11th career victory, as Hartford, who is third in points, remains firmly in the championship conversation.

“I’ve been racing at Bristol since the early 2000s and never managed to win here. To finally get a Bristol trophy is an awesome feeling,” Hartford said. “We had a great race car all weekend. Winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and then winning the race is about as good as it gets.

“Greg’s beaten me a lot more than I’ve beaten him over the years, so I’ll enjoy this one. Winning a round is hard. Winning a race is harder. Winning three races in a season is something really special. This is the best season we’ve ever had at this point in the year.”

Anderson advanced to his fifth final round this season thanks to round wins against Kenny Delco and Matt Latino. Anderson also moved into the points lead, holding an 11-point advantage over reigning world champion Dallas Glenn.

Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera enjoyed a vintage performance on Sunday in Thunder Valley, becoming the first two-time winner in the category at Bristol by taking down his teammate Richard Gadson with a run of 6.838 at 198.47 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

It gives Herrera his second victory of the season and the 30th in his career and plenty of redemption after an ultra-rare first-round loss at the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle race in Maryland.

That is clearly behind him, as Herrera rolled to the No. 1 qualifier and then ousted Joey Gladstone and Steve Johnson to reach the final round. Gadson left first with a stellar .018 reaction time, but Herrera chased him down to get things back on track for the two-time world champion.

“After Maryland, me and Andrew (Hines, crew chief) and I were beating our heads against the wall trying to figure out what happened. It felt like we had some bad luck hanging over us, but it feels good to come here and get the win,” Herrera said.

“I wouldn’t say, ‘I’m back,’ but it definitely feels good to get the win and build some confidence heading into Norwalk. As we get closer and closer to the Countdown, I feel like my bike is back where it needs to be. Winning with Richard in the final was pretty cool. It reminded me of last year when he got his first win. We’ve got a lot of fun with it, but I’m glad to be the one taking home the trophy this time.”

Gadson went to his second straight final round at Bristol and the 13th in his career following wins over Wesley Wells, Chase Van Sant and Chris Bostick. He stays in the points lead, holding a 68-point advantage over Angie Smith, with Herrera in third.

                                                                       * * *

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the ninth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.788 seconds, 331.61 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.801 seconds, 334.07 mph.

Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.125, 310.91 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 6.317, 128.89.

Pro Stock — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.672, 205.60 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 24.484, 29.40.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.838, 198.47 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.883, 196.36.

Super Stock — Jacob Delaune, Dodge Challenger, 9.824, 135.44 def. Hayden Trumble, Chevy Camaro, 9.228, 138.66.

Stock Eliminator — Michael Brand, Ford Mustang, 9.113, 132.09 def. Doug Lambeck, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Chris Childress, Dragster, 8.866, 179.85 def. Colby Fuller, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Super Gas — Lauren Freer, Chevy Camaro, 9.948, 162.47 def. Rob Stigall, Chevy Corvette, 9.887, 154.21.

Top Sportsman — Gerard Milette, Chevy Corvette, 7.204, 187.76 def. Jeff Brooks, Henry J, 6.462, 209.43.

Pro Modified — Jason Collins, Chevy Camaro, 8.681, 98.82 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Factory Stock Showdown — Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 7.851, 176.14 def. Raymond Nash, Dodge Challenger, Foul – Centerline.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 3.799, 330.31 def. Josh Hart, 3.845, 321.12; Tony Stewart, 3.841, 325.53 def. Justin Ashley, 3.912, 320.36; Antron Brown, 3.805, 328.78 def. Will Smith, 3.871, 324.67; Leah Pruett, 3.770, 332.43 was unopposed; Tony Schumacher, 3.866, 328.62 def. Keith Murt, 3.863, 314.39; Maddi Gordon, 3.817, 329.26 def. Billy Torrence, 3.895, 288.03; Shawn Reed, 3.822, 328.30 def. Clay Millican, 4.361, 191.65; Shawn Langdon, 3.764, 335.40 def. Jasmine Salinas, 4.174, 227.77;

QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.805, 320.05 def. Gordon, 3.826, 330.88; Kalitta, 3.784, 331.77 def. Schumacher, 3.898, 287.84; Brown, 3.799, 336.57 def. Reed, 4.549, 206.26; Langdon, 3.977, 315.12 def. Pruett, 12.454, 49.85;

SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.791, 338.09 def. Stewart, 3.925, 266.21; Brown, 3.798, 330.88 def. Kalitta, 5.164, 139.37;

FINAL — Brown, 3.788, 331.61 def. Langdon, 3.801, 334.07.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Austin Prock, Ford Mustang, 4.081, 302.69 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.064, 320.28; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.001, 316.52 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, Broke; Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 4.032, 320.20 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.246, 254.28; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.101, 295.98 def. Jon Capps, Charger, Foul – Red Light; Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.999, 322.88 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 4.028, 326.24; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.045, 321.35 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.744, 175.66; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.989, 324.44 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.196, 305.56;

QUARTERFINALS — Hagan, 4.673, 180.60 was unopposed; Prock, 3.986, 323.50 def. Hyde, 4.001, 321.96; R. Capps, 3.980, 327.43 def. Vandergriff, 4.040, 285.29; Wilkerson, 4.041, 319.52 def. Beckman, 4.065, 319.07;

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 4.079, 311.05 def. Prock, 4.212, 268.97; Wilkerson, 4.023, 320.51 def. R. Capps, 4.058, 299.40;

FINAL — Hagan, 4.125, 310.91 def. Wilkerson, 6.317, 128.89.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Cody Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.664, 204.76 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.678, 205.44; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.667, 204.54 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 7.127, 153.54; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.656, 205.38 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.643, 205.91 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.684, 203.16; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.675, 205.07 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.716, 206.70; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.656, 204.45 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.748, 203.16; Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.662, 203.98 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.680, 206.48;

QUARTERFINALS — Hartford, 6.654, 205.82 def. C. Anderson, 6.704, 204.91; G. Anderson, 6.676, 204.48 was unopposed; M. Latino, 6.676, 205.26 def. G. Stanfield, 6.671, 205.10; A. Stanfield, 6.677, 206.61 def. Glenn, Foul – Red Light;

SEMIFINALS — G. Anderson, 6.682, 206.45 def. M. Latino, 6.692, 205.10; Hartford, 6.676, 205.54 def. A. Stanfield, 6.687, 204.94;

FINAL — Hartford, 6.672, 205.60 def. G. Anderson, 24.484, 29.40.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.894, 196.53 def. John Hall, 6.957, 196.70; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.904, 196.30 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.133, 193.13; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.970, 195.68 def. Brayden Davis, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.934, 194.55 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.938, 196.10; Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.996, 193.57 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.969, 191.05 def. Marc Ingwersen, 7.015, 190.86; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.846, 196.82 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.840, 198.03 was unopposed;

QUARTERFINALS — Johnson, 6.915, 193.85 def. Clontz, 6.963, 195.31; Bostick, 6.986, 194.58 def. Smith, Foul – Red Light; Gadson, 6.851, 197.45 def. Van Sant, 7.616, 134.75; Herrera, 6.804, 198.67 def. Gladstone, 6.908, 196.82;

SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.891, 195.96 def. Bostick, 15.822, 47.56; Herrera, 6.985, 173.43 def. Johnson, 9.452, 91.47;

FINAL — Herrera, 6.838, 198.47 def. Gadson, 6.883, 196.36.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 920; 2. Doug Kalitta, 806; 3. Leah Pruett, 693; 4. Tony Stewart, 533; 5. Antron Brown, 517; 6. Josh Hart, 500; 7. Maddi Gordon, 499; 8. Billy Torrence, 466; 9. Justin Ashley, 419; 10. Clay Millican, 365.

Funny Car

  1. Ron Capps, 691; 2. Matt Hagan, 667; 3. J.R. Todd, 634; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 619; 5. Jack Beckman, 589; 6. Chad Green, 561; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 524; 8. Spencer Hyde, 459; 9. Austin Prock, 437; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 391.

Pro Stock

  1. Greg Anderson, 816; 2. Dallas Glenn, 805; 3. Matt Hartford, 627; 4. Greg Stanfield, 613; 5. Matt Latino, 518; 6. Aaron Stanfield, 505; 7. Erica Enders, 490; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 424; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 387; 10. Eric Latino, 380.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Richard Gadson, 557; 2. Angie Smith, 489; 3. Gaige Herrera, 484; 4. Matt Smith, 460; 5. John Hall, 352; 6. Chase Van Sant, 314; 7. Ryan Oehler, 311; 8. Clayton Howey, 310; 9. (tie) Jianna Evaristo, 276; Steve Johnson, 276.

About Bristol Dragway

Affectionately known as “Thunder Valley,” Bristol Dragway is nestled between two mountains in northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line and sits adjacent to the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2026, the historic dragstrip is celebrating its 61st anniversary and is scheduled to play host to numerous major events including the fan-favorite Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, a marquee event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Other key events at the Dragway in 2026 include the DER Bracket Series, Summit Racing Equipment Thunder Valley Street Fights series, BTE World Footbrake Challenge races, PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown, JEG Summer Fling, RAD Fall Fling 500K, and the NHRA Jr. Drags Eastern Conference Finals. Bristol Dragway also transforms into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers and becomes The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health. With more than 50 event days each season and serving as the longtime starting point for The Food City Speedway in Lights holiday spectacular, Bristol Dragway continues to be one of the busiest drag racing facilities in the nation. For more information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/dragway.

JASON COLLINS GETS JBS EQUIPMENT NHRA PRO MOD SERIES WIN AT BRISTOL AT RACE POWERED BY CARDINAL INSURANCE

By
Official Release
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BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2026) – On a wild day at Bristol Dragway, Jason Collins picked up his second win in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports on Sunday, defeating Mike Stavrinos in the final round to close out the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

This weekend’s event was the sixth of 11 races, closing out the regular season, and it was powered by Cardinal Insurance.

Collins finished out the regular season in fashion, even if it wasn’t necessarily conventional. Stavrinos went red by .005 in the championship round, handing the victory to Collins, who got loose and nearly crossed the centerline. But, in the end, Collins enjoyed his second win in the past three races as he’s advanced to the final round three straight times in the loaded category.

In the second round, Collins got loose during the burnout and struck the center guard wall on the starting line during a wild turn of events. But he recovered, got the car staged and knocked off Travis Harvey with a run of 5.786 at 247.79. A round later, Collins knocked off Stan Shelton with a run of 5.798 at 247.52 to reach the final round and make it into the playoffs.

“I wasn’t supposed to win today, but my car was really good,” Collins said. “I didn’t mean to tear it up and that was a little close in the final. This one is all because of my crew. I had some luck and my crew did a great job. I’m just out here chasing a dream and it was unbelievable. Now, we’re in the playoffs and who knows what can happen.”

Stavrinos, who qualified No. 1, reached the finals for second time this season and seventh time in his career with victories Alex Laughlin, reigning world champion J.R. Gray and Rickie Smith.

The Road to the Championship playoffs for the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports begins June 25-28 as part of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Derek Menholt opens the five-race playoffs in first place, with Stavrinos in second. Justin Bond, Collins and Stan Shelton round out the top five.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the sixth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

  1. Jason Collins; 2. Mike Stavrinos; 3. Rickie Smith; 4. Stan Shelton; 5. JR Gray; 6. Derek Menholt; 7. Aaron Stanfield; 8. Travis Harvey; 9. Tony Wilson; 10. Chip King; 11. Mike Castellana; 12. Alex Laughlin; 13. Lyle Barnett; 14. Kevin Rivenbark; 15. Sidnei Frigo; 16. Mike Thielen.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the sixth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified — Jason Collins, Chevy Camaro, 8.681, 98.82 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the sixth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.804, 249.26 def. Tony Wilson, Chevy Willys, 5.793, 244.60; Jason Collins, Chevy Camaro, 5.787, 247.43 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.816, 246.75; Travis Harvey, Camaro, 5.802, 248.16 def. Mike Thielen, Mustang, 5.974, 207.11; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.790, 248.89 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.818, 244.74; Aaron Stanfield, Chavy Camaro, 5.832, 245.05 def. Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 5.918, 211.36; Derek Menholt, Corvette, 5.843, 245.58 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, Foul – Red Light; Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.906, 202.91 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, Foul – Red Light; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.819, 247.43 def. Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.822, 248.80;

QUARTERFINALS — Shelton, 5.799, 249.67 def. Aaron. Stanfield, 5.831, 246.71; Smith, 5.796, 249.12 def. Menholt, 5.823, 245.67; Collins, 5.786, 247.79 def. Harvey, 7.620, 125.20; Stavrinos, 5.790, 249.63 def. Gray, 5.786, 247.84;

SEMIFINALS — Stavrinos, 5.779, 249.44 def. Smith, 5.799, 249.44; Collins, 5.798, 247.52 def. Shelton, 5.804, 250.23;

FINAL — Collins, 8.681, 98.82 def. Stavrinos, Foul – Red Light.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the sixth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified

  1. Derek Menholt, 475; 2. Mike Stavrinos, 462; 3. Justin Bond, 436; 4. Jason Collins, 382; 5. Stan Shelton, 323; 6. Billy Banaka, 321; 7. JR Gray, 308; 8. Lyle Barnett, 292; 9. Mike Thielen, 290; 10. Sidnei Frigo, 266.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Pocono Raceway

By
Official Release
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Pocono Raceway Proves Tricky for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BetMGM X Survivor Triple Challenge Chevrolet Team

Finish: 25th
Start: 32nd
Points: 28th

“We had a strong No. 3 BetMGM x Survivor Triple Challenge Chevrolet this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Unfortunately, we got too tight during qualifying and had to start the race deeper in the field than we would have liked and then strategy didn’t play to our favor during the race. Still, our Richard Boswell-led team never gave up and we did what we could to gain us positions during the race. Our Chevy started out neutral, but handling turned tight pretty quickly before trending loose later in the race. We had top-10 to 15 lap times throughout the day – just needed the track position. Our right-rear started giving out with 18 to go and we salvaged what we could. We’ll turn our focus to turning left and right the next two races on the schedule in San Diego and Sonoma.” -Austin Dillon

Austin Hill and the No. 33 zone Jalapeño Lime Chevrolet Team Continue to Build Momentum With Second Consecutive Top-20 Result at Pocono Raceway

Finish: 18th
Start: 14th
Points: 27th

“Really proud of the entire zone Jalapeño Lime team. It was a solid weekend from start to finish and these guys deserve to have good runs like this. Qualifying 14th gave us a nice pit stall selection and we put together an entire race, even got a stage point. The balance of our Chevrolet was pretty good, but we were just a little tight on throttle down. It didn’t need much though. We will keep working hard and build off of this.” -Austin Hill

John Hunter Nemechek notches first top-five result of 2026 at Pocono

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

John Hunter Nemechek notched his first top-five result of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season by settling in a career-best fourth place in the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 14.

The 29-year-old Nemechek from Mooresville, North Carolina, rolled off the starting grid in eighth place as he shared the fourth row alongside his Legacy Motor Club teammate, Erik Jones. Nemechek spent the early portions of the event racing within the top-10 mark until he elected to strategically pit his No. 42 Pye-Barker Toyota Camry XSE entry under green flag conditions with three laps remaining in the first stage period. The move dropped him to 32nd place when the first stage concluded, but it enabled him to cycle to the front as most of the field ahead of him pitted during the first stage’s break.

At the start of the second stage period, Nemechek dueled with points leader Tyler Reddick for three consecutive laps before the former was outdueled by the latter through the frontstretch. During a caution period just past the Lap 46 mark amid a multi-car wreck, Reddick was among a handful of front-runners who pitted as Nemechek cycled back to the lead. Despite needing to pit before the second stage’s conclusion, Nemechek led from the start of the second stage period on Lap 52 to Lap 77 before he surrendered the lead to pit under green. As the pit stops cycled through, he worked his way up to third place when the second stage period concluded and garnered eight priceless stage points.

Restarting on the front row for the final stage period with 59 laps remaining, Nemechek quickly returned atop the leaderboard when race leader Chase Briscoe went up the track entering the first turn. Nemechek maintained the lead for the next nine laps before Denny Hamlin overtook him during the next restart with 50 laps remaining. Once Nemechek pitted for a final time with 42 laps remaining, he could only work his way back up as high as fourth place when the checkered flag flew.

Despite ending up three spots shy of notching his first victory in the Cup Series division, Nemechek, who led three times for a race-high 42 laps, was left satisfied with both the result and on-track competitiveness generated by Legacy Motor Club, with teammate Erik Jones, who notched stage points during the first two stage periods, finishing in sixth place and moving above the top-16 cutline to be in Chase contention. Together, both Nemechek and Jones have notched a combined six top-10 results for Legacy Motor Club through 16 events of the 2026 Cup Series season.

For Nemechek, his fourth-place run at Pocono matched his career-best result in a Cup event he generated during the 2025 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway last September and the 42 laps he led are the most he has led in a single Cup event. It also marked his third top-five result and his 17th top-10 result in his 129th Cup career start. Overall, Nemechek improved on his current average-finishing result this season from 22.5 to 21.4. He also picked up two spots in the driver standings from 28th to 26th. He is currently 78 points below the top-16 cutline in the standings as he now has 10 regular-season events remaining to climb up the standings and work his way above the cutline to make his first Chase appearance.

“[Today was a] Really solid day,” Nemechek said on pit road on Prime Video. “Thankful for Pye-Barker, Toyota, everyone at Legacy Motor Club. Everyone is working really, really hard right now. It gives us the solidification that we are working in the right direction, that we’re working on the right areas. The last few weeks, both the No. 43 and the No. 42 have had speed. It’s nice to finally put a decent result on paper, but overall, it was nice to lead laps today and be able to run upfront all day. I don’t know if we’ve necessarily had that type of day at Legacy Motor Club yet…Hopefully we can continue this and keep carrying momentum in.”

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season for John Hunter Nemechek and Legacy Motor Club continues with the inaugural Anduril 250 on San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, June 21, and air at 4 p.m. ET on Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

BROWN, HAGAN, HARTFORD & HERRERA ROLL TO WINS AT SUPER GRIP NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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  • Brown gets first Thunder Valley victory
  • Hagan wins for second time in FC at Bristol
  • Hartford picks up third PS win of 2026
  • Herrera caps off flawless weekend with PSM victory

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2026) – Four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown won for the first time at Bristol Dragway on Sunday, defeating points leader Shawn Langdon in a thrilling final round of the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the ninth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Brown went 3.788-seconds at 331.61 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster, holding off Langdon’s 3.801 at 334.07 in a spectacular side-by-side duel. It is Brown’s first victory of the season and the 82nd in his career, defeating Will Smith, Shawn Reed and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta to reach the final round.

It was a rough start to the season for Brown, but the team has rebounded in impressive fashion in recent weeks, advancing to the final round in Chicago. But Sunday marked off a huge item for Brown, who had only advanced to the final round at Bristol on two prior occasions.

But he led wire-to-wire against Langdon in Thunder Valley, picking up his first Diamond Wally and moving to fifth in points in the process.

“We’ve been struggling at the beginning of the year, but we kept our heads down, kept grinding and kept working. Today, it all came together,” Brown said. “The Kalitta cars are the giants out here right now. To sneak around them and get a win, that says a lot about what our team accomplished today.

“The only way you beat resistance is with persistence. You’ve got to stay the course. We know we’re capable of winning another championship, but we’re not there yet. We still have to keep improving. Getting my first Bristol win after 82 career victories is pretty special. This place has always been tough on me. To get a Diamond Wally during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, they can never take that away from you. That’s something special. To be standing here with this trophy is unbelievable.”

Langdon reached the final round for the seventh time this season, defeating Jasmine Salinas, No. 1 qualifier Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart. He will continue to enjoy a healthy points lead, which now stands at 114 over Kalitta.

In workmanlike fashion, four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan grinded out the victory at his home track on Sunday, denying Daniel Wilkerson his first career victory thanks to a run of 4.125 at 310.91 in his 12,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Funny Car.

It is Hagan’s second win of the season and the 57th in his career. This one wasn’t the most spectacular when it came to performance, but Hagan was on point when he needed to be, defeating Jon Capps and reigning two-time world champion Austin Prock to reach the final round.

He didn’t go quicker than 4.079 on Sunday, but Hagan took advantage of the opportunity for Tony Stewart Racing, reaching his 100th career final round. Wilkerson went up in smoke almost immediately in the championship round, handing Hagan his first victory in Thunder Valley since 2015. After Bristol, Hagan is now second in points and feeling good about the rest of his summer.

“I always call myself an old plow horse. Hook me up to the plow and I’ll just go out there and get the job done,” Hagan said. “For Leah (Pruett) to finish off the New England win here on Friday and for us to come back and win on Sunday, it was a special weekend for TSR.

“Bristol is a special place for me. I’ve got a lot of home tracks, but this one has always felt like home. The last time I won here was Father’s Day weekend, and I was crying like a kid. That one was emotional, and this one means a lot, too. This weekend was challenging. Daniel Wilkerson was driving his butt off. His day is coming.”

Wilkerson defeated J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman and points leader Ron Capps en route to his third career final round. Capps remains the points leader, sitting 24 points ahead of Hagan.

In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford wrapped up an incredibly successful weekend, following up Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory with a win on Sunday, defeating defending event winner Greg Anderson in the final round with a run of 6.672 at 205.60 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro.

It gives Hartford three wins already this season and Sunday marked his first victory in Thunder Valley. He advanced to his second straight final round with victories against Shane Tucker, Cody Anderson and Aaron Stanfield.

He continued to show strong and consistent reaction times on the starting line, which has been a major key for the veteran over the past several weeks. The end result on Sunday was his 11th career victory, as Hartford, who is third in points, remains firmly in the championship conversation.

“I’ve been racing at Bristol since the early 2000s and never managed to win here. To finally get a Bristol trophy is an awesome feeling,” Hartford said. “We had a great race car all weekend. Winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and then winning the race is about as good as it gets.

“Greg’s beaten me a lot more than I’ve beaten him over the years, so I’ll enjoy this one. Winning a round is hard. Winning a race is harder. Winning three races in a season is something really special. This is the best season we’ve ever had at this point in the year.”

Anderson advanced to his fifth final round this season thanks to round wins against Kenny Delco and Matt Latino. Anderson also moved into the points lead, holding an 11-point advantage over reigning world champion Dallas Glenn.

Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera enjoyed a vintage performance on Sunday in Thunder Valley, becoming the first two-time winner in the category at Bristol by taking down his teammate Richard Gadson with a run of 6.838 at 198.47 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

It gives Herrera his second victory of the season and the 30th in his career and plenty of redemption after an ultra-rare first-round loss at the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle race in Maryland.

That is clearly behind him, as Herrera rolled to the No. 1 qualifier and then ousted Joey Gladstone and Steve Johnson to reach the final round. Gadson left first with a stellar .018 reaction time, but Herrera chased him down to get things back on track for the two-time world champion.

“After Maryland, me and Andrew (Hines, crew chief) and I were beating our heads against the wall trying to figure out what happened. It felt like we had some bad luck hanging over us, but it feels good to come here and get the win,” Herrera said.

“I wouldn’t say, ‘I’m back,’ but it definitely feels good to get the win and build some confidence heading into Norwalk. As we get closer and closer to the Countdown, I feel like my bike is back where it needs to be. Winning with Richard in the final was pretty cool. It reminded me of last year when he got his first win. We’ve got a lot of fun with it, but I’m glad to be the one taking home the trophy this time.”

Gadson went to his second straight final round at Bristol and the 13th in his career following wins over Wesley Wells, Chase Van Sant and Chris Bostick. He stays in the points lead, holding a 68-point advantage over Angie Smith, with Herrera in third.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 25-28 with the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Antron Brown; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Tony Stewart; 4. Doug Kalitta; 5. Maddi Gordon; 6. Tony Schumacher; 7. Shawn Reed; 8. Leah Pruett; 9. Josh Hart; 10. Keith Murt; 11. Will Smith; 12. Billy Torrence; 13. Justin Ashley; 14. Jasmine Salinas; 15. Clay Millican.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Matt Hagan; 2. Daniel Wilkerson; 3. Ron Capps; 4. Austin Prock; 5. Spencer Hyde; 6. Jordan Vandergriff; 7. Jack Beckman; 8. Alexis DeJoria; 9. Dave Richards; 10. Chad Green; 11. Jeff Arend; 12. J.R. Todd; 13. Jon Capps; 14. Cruz Pedregon.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Matt Hartford; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Aaron Stanfield; 4. Matt Latino; 5. Dallas Glenn; 6. Greg Stanfield; 7. Cody Anderson; 8. Eric Latino; 9. Jeg Coughlin; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 11. Stephen Bell; 12. Shane Tucker; 13. Kenny Delco; 14. Erica Enders.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

  1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Richard Gadson; 3. Steve Johnson; 4. Chris Bostick; 5. Angie Smith; 6. Joey Gladstone; 7. Kelly Clontz; 8. Chase Van Sant; 9. Ryan Oehler; 10. Brayden Davis; 11. Jianna Evaristo; 12. John Hall; 13. Marc Ingwersen; 14. Geno Scali; 15. Wesley Wells.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the ninth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.788 seconds, 331.61 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.801 seconds, 334.07 mph.

Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.125, 310.91 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 6.317, 128.89.

Pro Stock — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.672, 205.60 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 24.484, 29.40.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.838, 198.47 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.883, 196.36.

Super Stock — Jacob Delaune, Dodge Challenger, 9.824, 135.44 def. Hayden Trumble, Chevy Camaro, 9.228, 138.66.

Stock Eliminator — Michael Brand, Ford Mustang, 9.113, 132.09 def. Doug Lambeck, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Chris Childress, Dragster, 8.866, 179.85 def. Colby Fuller, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Super Gas — Lauren Freer, Chevy Camaro, 9.948, 162.47 def. Rob Stigall, Chevy Corvette, 9.887, 154.21.

Top Sportsman — Gerard Milette, Chevy Corvette, 7.204, 187.76 def. Jeff Brooks, Henry J, 6.462, 209.43.

Pro Modified — Jason Collins, Chevy Camaro, 8.681, 98.82 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Factory Stock Showdown — Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 7.851, 176.14 def. Raymond Nash, Dodge Challenger, Foul – Centerline.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

FINAL — TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 3.799, 330.31 def. Josh Hart, 3.845, 321.12; Tony Stewart, 3.841, 325.53 def. Justin Ashley, 3.912, 320.36; Antron Brown, 3.805, 328.78 def. Will Smith, 3.871, 324.67; Leah Pruett, 3.770, 332.43 was unopposed; Tony Schumacher, 3.866, 328.62 def. Keith Murt, 3.863, 314.39; Maddi Gordon, 3.817, 329.26 def. Billy Torrence, 3.895, 288.03; Shawn Reed, 3.822, 328.30 def. Clay Millican, 4.361, 191.65; Shawn Langdon, 3.764, 335.40 def. Jasmine Salinas, 4.174, 227.77;

QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.805, 320.05 def. Gordon, 3.826, 330.88; Kalitta, 3.784, 331.77 def. Schumacher, 3.898, 287.84; Brown, 3.799, 336.57 def. Reed, 4.549, 206.26; Langdon, 3.977, 315.12 def. Pruett, 12.454, 49.85;

SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.791, 338.09 def. Stewart, 3.925, 266.21; Brown, 3.798, 330.88 def. Kalitta, 5.164, 139.37;

FINAL — Brown, 3.788, 331.61 def. Langdon, 3.801, 334.07.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Austin Prock, Ford Mustang, 4.081, 302.69 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.064, 320.28; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.001, 316.52 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, Broke; Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 4.032, 320.20 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.246, 254.28; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.101, 295.98 def. Jon Capps, Charger, Foul – Red Light; Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.999, 322.88 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 4.028, 326.24; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.045, 321.35 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.744, 175.66; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.989, 324.44 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.196, 305.56;

QUARTERFINALS — Hagan, 4.673, 180.60 was unopposed; Prock, 3.986, 323.50 def. Hyde, 4.001, 321.96; R. Capps, 3.980, 327.43 def. Vandergriff, 4.040, 285.29; Wilkerson, 4.041, 319.52 def. Beckman, 4.065, 319.07;

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 4.079, 311.05 def. Prock, 4.212, 268.97; Wilkerson, 4.023, 320.51 def. R. Capps, 4.058, 299.40;

FINAL — Hagan, 4.125, 310.91 def. Wilkerson, 6.317, 128.89.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Cody Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.664, 204.76 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.678, 205.44; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.667, 204.54 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 7.127, 153.54; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.656, 205.38 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.643, 205.91 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.684, 203.16; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.675, 205.07 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.716, 206.70; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.656, 204.45 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.748, 203.16; Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.662, 203.98 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.680, 206.48;

QUARTERFINALS — Hartford, 6.654, 205.82 def. C. Anderson, 6.704, 204.91; G. Anderson, 6.676, 204.48 was unopposed; M. Latino, 6.676, 205.26 def. G. Stanfield, 6.671, 205.10; A. Stanfield, 6.677, 206.61 def. Glenn, Foul – Red Light;

SEMIFINALS — G. Anderson, 6.682, 206.45 def. M. Latino, 6.692, 205.10; Hartford, 6.676, 205.54 def. A. Stanfield, 6.687, 204.94;

FINAL — Hartford, 6.672, 205.60 def. G. Anderson, 24.484, 29.40.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.894, 196.53 def. John Hall, 6.957, 196.70; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.904, 196.30 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.133, 193.13; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.970, 195.68 def. Brayden Davis, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.934, 194.55 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.938, 196.10; Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.996, 193.57 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.969, 191.05 def. Marc Ingwersen, 7.015, 190.86; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.846, 196.82 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.840, 198.03 was unopposed;

QUARTERFINALS — Johnson, 6.915, 193.85 def. Clontz, 6.963, 195.31; Bostick, 6.986, 194.58 def. Smith, Foul – Red Light; Gadson, 6.851, 197.45 def. Van Sant, 7.616, 134.75; Herrera, 6.804, 198.67 def. Gladstone, 6.908, 196.82;

SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.891, 195.96 def. Bostick, 15.822, 47.56; Herrera, 6.985, 173.43 def. Johnson, 9.452, 91.47;

FINAL — Herrera, 6.838, 198.47 def. Gadson, 6.883, 196.36.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 920; 2. Doug Kalitta, 806; 3. Leah Pruett, 693; 4. Tony Stewart, 533; 5. Antron Brown, 517; 6. Josh Hart, 500; 7. Maddi Gordon, 499; 8. Billy Torrence, 466; 9. Justin Ashley, 419; 10. Clay Millican, 365.

Funny Car

  1. Ron Capps, 691; 2. Matt Hagan, 667; 3. J.R. Todd, 634; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 619; 5. Jack Beckman, 589; 6. Chad Green, 561; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 524; 8. Spencer Hyde, 459; 9. Austin Prock, 437; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 391.

Pro Stock

  1. Greg Anderson, 816; 2. Dallas Glenn, 805; 3. Matt Hartford, 627; 4. Greg Stanfield, 613; 5. Matt Latino, 518; 6. Aaron Stanfield, 505; 7. Erica Enders, 490; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 424; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 387; 10. Eric Latino, 380.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Richard Gadson, 557; 2. Angie Smith, 489; 3. Gaige Herrera, 484; 4. Matt Smith, 460; 5. John Hall, 352; 6. Chase Van Sant, 314; 7. Ryan Oehler, 311; 8. Clayton Howey, 310; 9. (tie) Jianna Evaristo, 276; Steve Johnson, 276.

Beard Motorsports: Casey Mears Pocono Race Recap

By
Official Release
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BEARD MOTORSPORTS
The Great American Getaway 400

Date: June 14, 2026
Event: The Great American Getaway 400 (Round 16 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania (2.5-mile triangle)
Format: 160 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/65 laps/65 laps)

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage No. 1 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage No. 2 Winner: Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports (Ford)

Beard Motorsports Finish:

● Casey Mears (Started 36th, Finished 36th / Accident, completed 105 of 160 laps)

Beard Motorsports Notes:

● Mears took the green flag from the 36th position in the No. 62 Gracie Foundation Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports and reported a loose condition on corner entry, center and exit. He persevered through the opening 30-lap stage that went green from start to finish. He pitted during the break from 38th place, one lap down, took for tires and fuel, and the team made air pressure and wedge adjustments. Mears was the recipient of the free pass back to the lead lap and started the second stage 36th.

● The caution flag flew just four laps later for a single-car incident with Mears running 38th. He came down pit road to top off the fuel tank before restarting 35th on lap 44. He reported that the loose condition improved during the previous four green-flag laps and that rear grip was improved on corner exit.

● On lap 46, Mears avoided a seven-car incident and pitted for four tires and fuel during the caution. He restarted 28th on lap 51.

● Mears made a green-flag pit stop from 28th on lap 85 for right-side tires and fuel after reporting the loose condition was worsening, yet he was turning his fastest laps of the day to that point.

● Stage 2 concluded on lap 95 with Mears running 31st, one lap down but once again the recipient of the free pass back to the lead lap. He pitted during the break for four tires, fuel and further chassis adjustments, and took the green for Stage 3 in 30th place.

● Mears’ day came to an abrupt end on lap 105 when he lost his right-front wheel and made contact with the outside SAFER Barrier. He drove the Gracie Foundation Chevrolet back to the garage and had to settle for a 36th-place finish.

Race Notes:

● Denny Hamlin won The Great American Getaway 400 to score his 64th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third in a row, fourth of the season and his eighth at Pocono. His margin over second-place Tyler Reddick was 1.678 seconds.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 23 laps.

● Only 27 of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Tyler Reddick remains the championship leader after Pocono with a 19-point advantage over second-place Hamlin.

Casey Mears, driver of the No. 62 Gracie Foundation Chevrolet:

“We just ended up having a loose wheel right there, which is a bummer because, me not having a whole lot of experience with these cars and being at this track, now that I look back on it, we started out way too loose. The car was numb and I didn’t have a good feel for it. Then, once we got the car tighter, a little tighter and tighter every run that we ran, we got way more competitive. And there at the end, that last change we made helped me even more, yet. So we had just gotten the car where I feel like I could cruise up there and get inside and break into the 20s and maybe have a solid day, bring some points to Indy. But, when the wheel comes off, your day’s over. It was a hard hit but I’m OK, so, good deal.”

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the inaugural Anduril 250 on Sunday, June 21 at Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The race begins at 4 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Rick Ware Racing: The Great American Getaway 400 from Pocono

By
Official Release
-

RICK WARE RACING
The Great American Getaway 400
Date: June 14, 2026
Event: The Great American Getaway 400 (Round 16 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania (2.5-mile triangle)
Format: 160 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/65 laps/65 laps)

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports (Ford)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 33rd, Finished 30th / Running, completed 159 of 160 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (35th with 138 points)

Race Notes:

● Denny Hamlin won The Great American Getaway 400 to score his 64th career NASCAR Cup Series victory. It was his third win in a row, his fourth of the season, and his series-leading eighth at Pocono. His margin over second-place Tyler Reddick was 1.678 seconds.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 23 laps.

● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Reddick remains the championship leader after Pocono with a 19-point advantage over second-place Hamlin.

Sound Bites:

“We had some silver linings today. I mean, we turned our fastest laps of the race there at the end before we had some engine troubles. But we’ve had a whole month of good progress, from sorting things through at Dover, to the 600, Nashville, Michigan, and now here. Street-course racing next week should be a lot of fun. We had some success in last year’s street race in Chicago before the (brake) rotor blew, so we go into San Diego next week feeling good. I’m proud of our effort. We’re controlling the controllables.”– Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Rocket Doctor AI Chevrolet

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the inaugural Anduril 250 on Sunday, June 21 at Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The race begins at 4 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Winners Crowned at Fourth Annual HSR Classic Watkins Glen 6 Hour Presented by Mission Foods

By
Official Release
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  • Repeat and First-Time “HSR Classic” Winners in Season-Opening Round of The 2026 HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods Saturday at Watkins Glen International
  • Reigning HSR Classic Endurance Champions David Agretelis and Co-Drivers Pierce Marshall and Eric Foss Score Repeat HSR Classic Watkins Glen 6 Hour Victories
  • First Time HSR Classic Endurance Championship Winners Ben Myers and Pawel Pulchaski Break Through in Run Groups C and B Respectively

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 14, 2026) – Under clear skies and summer sunshine, the Fourth Annual HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6 Hour presented by Mission Foods delivered a full day of competition Saturday at Watkins Glen International, crowning the first winners of the 2026 HSR Classic Endurance Championship presented by Mission Foods season.

A pristine lineup of period correct vintage and historic machine from various sports car eras in the last 50 years took to the iconic Watkins Glen Grand Prix circuit throughout Saturday afternoon and into the early evening in four different divisions. Run Groups A/B, C and D each completed two race segments in a symbolic six hours of racing, with the combined results determining the overall winners in the championship-opening contest.

In Group A, heartbreak struck for Todd Treffert aboard the 1972 No. 141 901 Shop Porsche 911 S/T in Race 2 as an engine issue prematurely ended the 2025 Historic GT Endurance Champion’s day after he entered the segment leading and in contention for the group victory.

However, it was Treffert’s 901 Shop teammate David Agretelis – another Endurance Championship reigning titlist in Vintage GT – who stepped up to take the Group A win at The Glen for the second year in a row in his 901 Shop 1972 No. 66 Porsche 911 S/T.

Joining Agretelis on the podium in second place was the pairing of Craig Watkins and former Rolex 24 winner Johannes van Overbeek aboard the 901 Shop 1968 No. 46 Porsche 911 S/T.

Rounding out another all-901 Shop podium, John Deford and Brady Refenning guided the 1973 No. 57 Porsche 914/6 to a third-place finish after running near the front throughout the event, completing the Group A podium.

Run Group B, which ran simultaneously with Group A, saw Pawel Pulchaski rebound from an early spin and charge back into the lead and secure his first HSR Classic Endurance Championship victory in the bright orange No. 241 Klub Sport Racing 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR. A former fencer at Penn State, Pulchaski’s run to the top step of the podium became a duel, as he battled Ricky Park in the 1973 No. 44 AJR Heritage Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR in Race 2.

Ultimately, Park finished second while familiar HSR Classic competitors and Colorado natives Alan Benjamin and Barry Waddell drove the 1912 No. 21 Porsche 964 Carrera Cup to third place in Group B.

In Run Group C, Ben Myers emerged victorious after charging through the pack in in one of the most convincing runs of the race. Racing to the front in the first segment, Myers then led every green-flag lap in Race 2 straight to the class win aboard his 901 Shop 2017 No. 29 Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup. The victory marked Myers’ first career HSR Classic Win.

Another German marque joined the Myers Porsche on the podium as Shannon Herford guided the 2015 No. 515 Autometrics Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a pair of runner-up finishes in both race segments, securing second overall in Group C.

Consistency proved key for Michael Potapow and co-driver van Overbeek, who combined their efforts across both race segments to earn third-place honors aboard the No. 73 DAS Sport 2016 Porsche 991 RSR 4.0. The podium finish capped a busy day for van Overbeek, who recorded run group podium results in a pair of Classic 6 Hour divisions.

Finally, Group D concluded the action-packed day of Classic 6 Hour competition with an all-prototype field. Pierce Marshall and co-driver Eric Foss aboard their No. 01 Matador Motorsports 2017 Cadillac DPi battled Juan Gonzalez and Roberto Gonzalez, along with co-driver Butch Leitzinger, in the No. 81 Mission Foods 2017 Cadillac DPi, throughout both race segments.

After reigning Endurance Championship Modern Prototype Champions Marshall and Foss led the way at the conclusion of Race 1, the GMT Racing No. 81 got the upper hand in the closing laps of Race 2 to score the segment victory. However, it was Marshall and Foss who secured the overall Group D win on combined results aboard their No. 01 Matador Motorsports 2017 Cadillac DPi.

The win was the second for Marshall and Foss after also securing a 2024 Classic 6 title and came in the debut weekend for the team’s new No. 01 number and light gray livery, which will be featured throughout the remainder of the 2026 HSR Classic Endurance Championship season.

Leitzinger and the Gonzalez duo finished second overall while Bob Neapole and John Reisman completed the podium after securing a third-place finish in Race 2 aboard their No. 74 Hudson Historics 2020 Ligier JS P320.

NOTEWORTHY – Preceding the Classic 6 Hour on Saturday was the first race of the weekend for the accompanying HSR Watkins Glen Historics with the popular SascoSports International-American Challenge presented by Hoosier sprint.

Gary Moore, driving the Cobra Automotive 1966 No. 98 Shelby GT350, topped the field and led all eight laps to secure the overall victory. Moore took the lead on the opening lap from Treffert in his Porsche 911 S/T to secure top honors in the American category.

Foreshadowing the winning day ahead, Pulchaski charged from sixth to first aboard the No. 241 Klub Sport Racing 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR to win the Porsche class. Pulchaski held off a pair of potent 901 Shop entries, with Agretelis finishing second in the No. 66 Porsche 911 and Treffert completing the podium in third following a chaotic opening lap start.

The International class featured a family affair as David Lebrun, in the 1988 No. 45 BMW E30/M3, held off brother Stephen Lebrun in the identical No. 47 entry to claim class honors. The sibling battle remained close throughout the race, with the DLS Racing teammates securing a one-two finish in class.

On-track action continues for the final day on Sunday with a full slate of HSR Watkins Glen Historics competition, including dual Grand Prix Classics feature race doubleheaders for HSR’s open-wheel divisions and a trio of one-hour endurance races. The endurance race trio includes a near back-to-back lineup of 60-minute contests featuring the B.R.M Legacy/Modern Enduro, the Mission GT Challenge Enduro presented by Pirelli and the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin Enduro.

About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) is the premier vintage and historic racing series in North America. It was formed in the mid-1970s with an inaugural event at Road Atlanta and became a part of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in 2022. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate and enjoy the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/, on Twitter X @HSR_race and on Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

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