As always, drag racing is a big part of Bristol’s Thompson Metal Mopar Thunder event. Here two cars in Super Pro launch during Saturday’s eliminations.

Saturday’s Super Pro final went to Travis Varner of Stanley, N.C. Varner defeated Joe Sartin from Christiansburg, Va. While Sartin left the line with a better reaction, .014 R.T. to Varner’s .045, Varner ran a 5.207 E.T. on a 5.20 dial-in. Sartin completed his run in 6.125 seconds (6.08 dial-in).

Bluff City’s Randy Walters earned the Pro category win as his opponent, Alan Farmer of Madison, N.C., went red in the final round. Walters raced through the end of the track with a 7.088 E.T. at 89.57 mph. The anxious wait at the line proved costly for Farmer, as he jumped the start and threw away a run that was only .003 sec. from his dial (6.473 E.T. on a 6.47 dial-in).

The Street division final came down to a battle between ends of the state as Bristol’s John Nelson Jr. defeated Herman Blankfield of Memphis. Blankfield turned on the red bulb in the final round, giving Nelson the win. Nelson ran an 11.300 E.T. (11.29 dial-in) at 116.32 mph after leaving the line with a .040 R.T. Despite the red light, Blankfield ran his car hard, completing his pass in 12.148 seconds.

Sunday’s Super Pro final came down to a duel at the line, with Johnny Pennington of Lexington, Ky. outgunning Junior Foley of Barbourville, Ky. Foley went red by .003 sec. giving the win to Pennington. Pennington had a stellar .001 R.T. Pennington’s winning pass consisted of a 6.392 E.T. (6.38 dial-in) at 106.35 mph.

The Pro division went to Al Horton of Kernersville, N.C. when Keith Johnson from Dandridge went red in the final round. Horton took home the trophy with a .045 R.T. and 7.610 E.T. (7.63 dial-in) at 88.32 mph.

Nelson completed a sweep of the Street category after he defeated J.L. Roberts, also of Bristol, on Sunday. Nelson reacted with a .042 R.T. and completed his jaunt in 11.311 seconds (11.28 dial-in) at 111.19 mph.

Norman Foster from Dalton, Ga. earned the Slant 6 crown over Larry Chesney from Maynardville. Foster rolled from the line with a .031 R.T. and finished his run in 11.996 seconds at 110.20 mph. Chesney ran too fast, a 15.723 E.T. on a 15.78 dial-in, and earned a disqualification.