When Tony Schumacher becomes a grandfather, he believes it will be the time he truly appreciates the numbers he’s attaining in the present.

On a Father’s Day afternoon in Bristol, Tenn., Schumacher became the first active Top Fuel racer to attain 100 final rounds of competition. He also won his 65th career title by stopping Brandon Bernstein in the final round of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

“That was an amazing deal,” said Schumacher whose win also represented his fourth Bristol Dragway victory. “Me, Dixon, and Amato were all at 99, if I am correct. Only one guy is getting to 100 first. You can go to 130 or 150, I don't care, but nobody had ever gotten there. To be able to be the first to go to 100 finals in Top Fuel, just awesome. It puts so much pressure on you because you want it so bad.”

Then the conversation, most anytime Schumacher speaks, comes back to his rival Larry Dixon. Together the two are creating one of drag racing’s greatest rivalries in the modern era.

John Force regained the points lead with his NHRA-record 130th career win Sunday at the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

The other winners at the 12th race in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Series season were Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock).

After qualifying sixth, Force defeated Paul Lee, Matt Hagan and Bob Tasca to reach his 207th career final round where he easily defeated Tim Wilkerson with a 4.317-second pass at 285.59 mph to Wilkerson’s stumbling 12.365 at 31.80.

“To get this win is really great. I'll be honest, I was jacked up on so much Full Throttle I thought I was going to explode ... oxygen, everything I could take just to keep up with the kids,” said the 61-year old Force, who left Bristol with a 58-point lead over teammate Robert Hight as he seeks to win his NHRA-record 15th championship. "I'm going to stay young and thank the fans who keep screaming and giving me the energy."

Von Smith won his second straight NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race in his Barwa/Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro to take command of the points lead.

In the finals, Smith gave up 12-hundredths to Jay Payne at the tree, but he tracked him down with a 5.994 at 241.54 to Payne’s 6.039 at 240.36 in his ’68 Camaro. He now leads second-place Danny Rowe by 92 points.

Final round-by-round results from the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the 12th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the 12th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Sunday's final results from the 10th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the 12th of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Legendary football coach Dan Devine never drove a Pro Stock car. Likewise Allen Johnson has never coached a college football team.

On Saturday in Bristol, Tenn., the two came together in spirit at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Their common ground was a quote made famous in Devine’s pre-game speeches: “No one, I mean no one, comes into our house and pushes us around.”

Johnson, of Greeneville, Tenn., considers Bristol Dragway his home.

Saturday afternoon, with a track temperature well over 130 degrees, Johnson drove his Mopar-sponsored Dodge Avenger to the No. 1 qualifying position, knocking defending series champion Mike Edwards from the top spot.

Being tossed into the fire is nothing new to Tim Freeman. He’s been there, done that.

Friday marked his first race as crew chief for the Rodger Brogdon Pro Stock team and the conditions couldn’t have been tougher. A 90-degree day, 140 track temp, as Freeman understands, separates the good crew chiefs from the posers.

In their first shot at a hot and humid Bristol Dragway during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Brogdon was the fifth quickest during the first session. Not bad for an opening statement.

The history of Bristol Dragway is important to David McGee. Preserving that history, he admits, is his lifelong challenge.

McGee, of Bristol, Tenn., is so passionate about the drag strip carved out of a valley that he’s attended every major national event since 1979 and has written a book chronicling the history of track in pictures.

“This was one of the first places I came to, to attend a national event,” McGee said. “I grew up about four hours from here so this was the closest major event to my house.