Joseph Welch raced to victory in the SAM Factory Stock Showdown to lead the list of winners at the 18th annual Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
 
Eddie Longhany Jr. and Aaron Stanfield joined Welch as they took home wins in Stock Eliminator and Top Dragster presented by Racing RV’s respectively along with Scott Stillings, Tyler Caheely, Steve Furr and Jeff Brooks who also won this weekend.
 
Welch ran consistent 8.20’s through most of eliminations with an 8.275 second lap at 164.67 mph in the final of the School of Automotive Machinists Factory Stock Showdown in beating Arthur Kohn who left early with a red-light foul start.  The win was Welch’s first in his first final round at the NHRA national event level.
 
Longhany meet up with former NHRA Lucas Oil World Champion Joe Santangelo in the Stock Final which proved to be one of the closest finals of the day. Longhany was out first and ran 10.698, 118.70 which held off Santangelo’s 10.686, 113.69 by about 9 inches.
 
Defending event champion Stanfield went dead-on his dial at 6.320 seconds at 217.84 mph in defeating Joe Fisher and his Racing RV’s sponsored Top Dragster. Fisher gave Stanfield a run at 6.498, 197.54.
 
In Top Sportsman presented by Racing RV’s it was Jeff Brooks taking the holeshot forcing Royce Freeman to break out as Brooks pick up his third win with a lap of 6.720, 206.29.
 
Other Lucas Oil Series winners were Stillings who was out first and held off Ed Longhany Sr. in Stock Eliminator while Furr took home his seventh win in holding off Ray Miller III in Super Gas. Caheely was better at both ends of the track to put Jacob Elrod on the trailer in Super Comp.
 
Tii Tharpe grabbed his third win of the year in the Mickey Thompson Top Fuel Harley Series and the fifth of his career when Doug Vancil fouled at the start.

The following are the final results from the 18th annual Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Bristol Dragway:
 
SAM FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN
Joseph Welch, Dodge Challenger, 8.275, 164.67 def. Arthur Kohn, Chevy Camaro, Foul - Red Light.
 
SUPER STOCK
Scott Stillings, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.854, 148.72 def. Ed Longhany Sr., Plymouth Duster, 10.690, 121.79.
 
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Eddie Longhany Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.698, 118.70 def. Joe Santangelo, Camaro, 10.686, 113.69.
 
SUPER COMP
Tyler Caheely, Dragster, 8.928, 170.71 def. Jacob Elrod, Dragster, 8.930, 165.01.
 
SUPER GAS
Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.917, 160.81 def. Ray Miller III, Chevy Camaro, 9.927, 164.21.
 
TOP SPORTSMAN presented by RACINGRVS.COM
Jeff Brooks, Henry J, 6.720, 206.29 def. Royce Freeman, Chevy Camaro, 6.933, 202.18.
 
TOP DRAGSTER presented by RACINGRVS.COM
Aaron Stanfield, Dragster, 6.320, 217.84 def. Joe Fisher, Dragster, 6.498, 197.54.
 
MICKEY THOMPSON TOP FUEL HARLEY
Tii Tharpe, Dixie, 6.491, 220.33 def. Doug Vancil, Weekend, Foul - Red Light.