By RODERICK MULLINS

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown secured his first-ever career victory at historic Bristol Dragway on Sunday, defeating points leader Shawn Langdon in a side-by-side final round at the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

The weekend event marked the ninth of 20 races in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also took home victories in their respective professional categories.

Brown powered his 12,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster to a 3.788-second pass at 331.61 mph, just beating out Langdon’s 3.801-second effort at 334.07 mph. The victory marks Brown’s 82nd career win but his first “Diamond Wally” trophy at Thunder Valley, a track where he had only reached the final round twice before.

“Getting my first Bristol win after 82 career victories is pretty special. This place has always been tough on me,” Brown said. “The only way you beat resistance is with persistence. You’ve got to stay the course.”

To reach the final, Brown had to navigate a grueling bracket, defeating Will Smith, Shawn Reed, and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. Despite the loss, Langdon maintains a commanding 114-point lead over Kalitta in the championship standings. Brown’s victory vaults him to fifth.

In Funny Car, Virginia native Matt Hagan secured a gritty victory at what he considers his home track. Driving the 12,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Charger, Hagan posted a 4.125-second run at 310.91 mph in his 100th career final round.

Hagan’s opponent, Daniel Wilkerson, lost traction and went up in smoke almost immediately off the starting line, settling for a 6.317-second finish.

“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. “Bristol is a special place for me… this one means a lot.”

The win is Hagan’s second of the season and 57th of his career. He moved into second place in the point standings, trailing leader Ron Capps by just 24 points.

Matt Hartford capitalized on a dominant weekend in Pro Stock, following up his Saturday Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory with a national event win on Sunday. Hartford drove his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.672-second pass at 205.60 mph to defeat veteran Greg Anderson.

Anderson suffered a major mechanical failure or loss of traction during the run, coasting across the line at 24.484 seconds.

“Winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and then winning the race is about as good as it gets,” Hartford said, noting it was his first national event win at Bristol since he began racing there in the early 2000s.

Though runner-up, Anderson takes comfort in taking over the Pro Stock points lead, holding a narrow 11-point edge over Dallas Glenn. Hartford sits solidly in third.

Two-time world champion Gaige Herrera bounced back from a rare first-round loss at his previous race in Maryland to become the first two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner at Bristol Dragway.

Herrera, who qualified No. 1, clocked a 6.838-second pass at 198.47 mph on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. He tracked down his teammate Richard Gadson, who cut a razor-sharp 0.018-second reaction time at the starting line but fell short with a 6.883-second run at 196.36 mph.

“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.”

Gadson leaves Bristol holding a 68-point lead in the category over Angie Smith, with Herrera close behind in third.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues its summer swing at the upcoming Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Final Results

Professional Final Rounds

• Top Fuel: Antron Brown (3.788, 331.61) def. Shawn Langdon (3.801, 334.07)
• Funny Car: Matt Hagan (4.125, 310.91) def. Daniel Wilkerson (6.317, 128.89)
• Pro Stock: Matt Hartford (6.672, 205.60) def. Greg Anderson (24.484, 29.40)
• Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gaige Herrera (6.838, 198.47) def. Richard Gadson (6.883, 196.36)

Sportsman & Exhibition Final Rounds

• Super Stock: Jacob Delaune def. Hayden Trumble
• Stock Eliminator: Michael Brand def. Doug Lambeck (Red Light)
• Super Comp: Chris Childress def. Colby Fuller (Red Light)
• Super Gas: Lauren Freer def. Rob Stigall
• Top Sportsman: Gerard Milette def. Jeff Brooks
• Pro Modified: Jason Collins def. Mike Stavrinos (Red Light)
• Factory Stock Showdown: Jonathan Allegrucci def. Raymond Nash (Centerline violation)