Following a very frustrating first half season which saw him win only two rounds of competition in 11 races, defending NHRA POWERade FC World Champion John Force finally came back to life during NHRA’s O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals. For the first time since last year’s finale, Force fought his way to victory lane driving his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. John collected career win #123 when he beat the Advance Auto Parts Chevy Impala driven by Cruz Pedregon in the final round. Force won the close match – 4.993 secs to 5.024 secs.

Force had earned earlier round wins over Scott Kalitta, Mike Ashley and surprise pole qualifier Tim Wilkerson.

Wilkerson’s qualifying run driving the L.R.S. Chevy Impala at 4.819 secs held up for low ET and last week’s winner at Norwalk – Mike Ashley – set top speed (again) this time at 323.74 mph in the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger.

Brandon Bernstein strengthened his 2nd place position standing in POWERade Top Fuel points when he flew to his 4th win of 2007 driving the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. Bernstein turned back a surprise final round appearance by #16 qualifier Bob Vandergriff when his 4.648 secs at 317.57 mph went unchallenged by Vandergriff who smoked his tires.

Bernstein’s march to victory lane included low ET of the meet at 4.538 secs which came during a round one victory over Brady Kalivoda. Bernstein beat Cory McClenathan and Rod Fuller in subsequent rounds to make the final.

The event’s TF field was paced by Tony Schumacher who ran 4.544 for the pole but he was again upset in round one, losing out to Vandergriff.

Pro Stock racing saw Jeg Coughlin avenge his final round red-light last week at Norwalk by winning at Bristol. Coughlin won a final round battle of Chevy Colbalts when his Jeg-sponsored machine topped the NitroFish-sponsored car driven by Ken Koretsky. Koretsky had a superior RT in the final (.013) but Jeg ran him down winning a 6.809 secs 203.22 mph to 6.839 secs 201.82 match.

Coughlin’s impressive victory came from the pole. He ran 6.765 secs during time trails and that held up for low ET of the meet. The win was Jeg’s 2nd in five final rounds so far this season.

The 2007 AMS Pro Mod Challenge schedule continued at Bristol with runaway overall points leader Josh Hernandez earning his 5th win of the season.

Hernandez drove his Dr. Moon’s Rage Chevy Camaro past the Steelback Brewery-sponsored Chevy Camaro driven by Canada’s Raymond Commisso in the final round. Josh hit a winning 6.139 secs at 235.89 mph to win easily while Commisso was forced to abort with tire shake problems.

Texas based Hernandez had beaten Rick Stivers, Tony Pontieri and Scott Ray in earlier competition. He was also credited with top speed of the meet at 238.26 mph.

AMS Pro Mod racing was paced by New York’s Mike Janis who flew his powerful Eaton-sponsored Chevy Colbalt to low ET of the meet a 6.125 secs. Janis was however upset in round two – losing to Jay Payne.

The Bristol event included a demonstration eliminator for the Nitro Harley class with 7 bikes on the premises.

North Carolina’s Tommy Grimes Jr dominated that action and ran a final round 6.384 secs at 215.89 mph to defeat Joe Sternotti Jr. Grimes had qualified #1 with a low ET of the meet run of 6.314 secs.

Japan’s Takeshi Shigematsu was the fastest Nitro Harley at the event hitting top speed at 221.89 mph.