2020 Bristol Dragway season will be one to remember
Published 8:49 am Monday, January 20, 2020
Photo Contributed by BMS Famed Bristol Dragway will once again be home to some of the best drag racing and music events in the country.
BRISTOL – When Thunder Valley opens its gates in 2020, it will once again be the home to some of the best drag racing and music events in the country as well as the scene for a significant NHRA milestone event.
The long-running and fan-favorite NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the famed Bristol Dragway on Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21.
The marquee event anchors an impressive season calendar that features the Bristol Chevy Show and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Thunder Valley Mayhem, the ALABAMA concert at Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health, the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals and much more.
“Our 2020 Bristol Dragway schedule is full of all types of events for everyone to enjoy,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president, and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. “Whether you are a fan of 11,000-horsepower nitro-powered dragsters, a bracket racer who wants to show what they’ve got or a music fanatic ready to see one of country music’s biggest acts in a one-of-a-kind setting, Thunder Valley will be the place to be in 2020.”
Bristol Dragway will pull out all the stops to celebrate two decades of NHRA’s best battling it out at legendary Thunder Valley.
For the first time ever, all five NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series pro classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle) will compete at the historic Tennessee dragstrip and create a unique experience for Dad with plenty of high-performance thrills for the entire family.
Every ticket is a pit pass, providing guests with unparalleled access to drivers and teams throughout the weekend. Single-day tickets start at just $25.
Families are encouraged to come to the track on Father’s Day to enjoy “Doughnuts with Dad”, and to take advantage of the special free kid’s tickets for those 12-and-under.
The one-of-a-kind visceral experience on Father’s Day weekend is your only chance to catch NHRA’s marquee Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in the Volunteer State next season.
However, that event alone isn’t the only reason for a hot-rodding enthusiast to be excited about what Bristol Dragway has to offer in 2020.
The popular Bristol Chevy Show will once again return to Thunder Valley but will occupy a brand new date, Aug. 21-23. The Bristol Chevy Show provides the perfect end to Summer with some of the best classic and modern Chevrolet vehicles in the region on display.
Fans can witness drag racing, take in a car show, collect some merchandise at the swap meet and more.
On Saturday night of Bristol Chevy Show weekend (Aug. 22), fans will want to make their way to the grandstands for the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Thunder Valley Mayhem.
The event will feature fast cars, exhibition racing, and exciting entertainment. The extravaganza will conclude with an impressive fireworks show.
The lyric “Play Me Some Mountain Music” is right at home at Bristol Dragway, where the dragstrip is carved into the majestic mountains of the Appalachians. It is only fitting then to have country music superstars ALABAMA perform at the Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health on Saturday, Aug. 8.
For one night only, Bristol Dragway will be transformed into a state-of-the-art amphitheater as the sounds of ALABAMA and John Michael Montgomery fill the evening air. Guests will want to stick around as the night sky lights up during the Food City fireworks presentation.
After a successful first edition, the Street Car Takeover returns to Thunder Valley on April 24-25. The event will showcase some of the fastest street cars in the country competing in a multitude of classes for racers, including roll racing and drag racing.
Back by popular demand, Street Fights Saturday Nights returns on five Saturdays with expanded programming including drifting events, car shows, nightly contests and much more.
As always, drag racing enthusiasts will be able to tackle the famed quarter-mile in street-legal rides. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at 6 p.m. Admission for guests is $10 and racers can compete for $15 ($20 for trailered racers).
The DER Bracket Racing Series returns for its 11th season with bracket racing that features categories ranging from SuperPro to Junior Dragsters. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2Rm1Xrq.
During the latter half of the season, Bristol Dragway will be home to four of the largest bracket races in the country, giving racers a chance to experience the famed strip in Northeast Tennessee.
The next generation of drag racers (ranging in age from six to 17) will descend upon Bristol in July. The region will welcome more than 500 young racers and their families for a week full of racing activities beginning July 10 with the Huddleston Performance Jr. Dragster Nationals presented by Mike Bos Chassis Craft and culminating July 16-18 with the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals.
Bristol Dragway has played host to the NHRA Eastern Conference Finals since 2004.
The World Footbrake Challenge is back at Bristol Dragway with two events this year.
The first, featuring the best footbrake racers in the country, will be held July 2-5, while the World Footbrake Challenge Labor Day 100K will take place Sept. 3-6. Racers will duel for the largest payouts in WFC history.
Long revered as one of the most popular bracket racing events in the country, the Fall Fling returns to the Thunder Valley schedule for the 11th time Sept. 29- Oct. 3, as the best Super Pro racers in the country come together for the opportunity to win life-changing money.
For those who want the feeling of racing a dragster down the famed dragstrip, the Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience will visit Thunder Valley on Sunday, June 7.
Participants can either take the controls of a dragster or take the ride of a lifetime in a two-seat dragster. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/38hexiv.
For more information on events at Bristol Dragway and to purchase tickets, please visit BristolDragway.com or call 423-BRISTOL.
2020 Bristol Dragway Schedule
April 3-5 Food City 500 NASCAR weekend (Speedway)
April 18 Street Fights #1
April 24-25 Street Car Takeover
May 1-3 DER Bracket Racing Series #1
May 9 Street Fights #2
May 15-17 DER Bracket Racing Series #2
May 22-24 DER Bracket Racing Series #3
May 29-30 Short Track U.S Nationals (Speedway)
June 6 Street Fights #3
June 7 Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience
June 19-21 20th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
June 26-28 DER Bracket Racing Series #4
July 2-5 World Footbrake Challenge
July 10-18 Junior Drag Week (Huddleston Performance Jr. Drag Racing Nationals presented by Mike Bos Chassis Craft and NHRA Jr. Drags Eastern Conference Finals)
July 11 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Monster Truck Madness (Speedway)
Aug. 1 Street Fights #4
Aug, 8 ALABAMA concert at Thunder Valley Amphitheatre
Aug. 15 Street Fights Finale
Aug. 21-23 Bristol Chevy Show
Aug. 22 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Thunder Valley Mayhem
Sept. 3-6 World Footbrake Challenge Labor Day 100K
Sept. 17-19 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race weekend (Speedway)
Sept. 29-Oct 3 Fall Fling
