SPENCER HYDE EXPERIENCES HIGHS AND LOWS OF THUNDER VALLEY
By: Head Racing
BRISTOL, TENN. (June 8, 2025) — Nothing can humble you faster than NHRA drag racing, and rookie Funny Car driver Spencer Hyde can attest to that this weekend after the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The driver for Head Racing came into the weekend riding high after a standout performance at the NHRA New England Nationals, where he advanced to his first final round. Unfortunately, he was not able to repeat that same performance in Bristol, but he is confident that he will take what he learned from this weekend and be back in a final round again soon.
“I was really optimistic coming into this back-to-back weekend,” said Hyde. “Epping was the first time I really felt that I had full control of the car. I still have fewer than 50 runs in this thing, and it just takes time to master it. Jim Head and the rest of the team continue to give me an awesome ride, and everyone in the Funny Car class has been extremely welcoming to me as I become more comfortable behind the wheel.”
All the competitors at Bristol Dragway battled a weekend riddled with rainy weather and high altitude that made conditions less than predictable. Over the course of four qualifying runs made in two days, the Head Inc. Funny Car’s best pass came during Q3 during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, at 4.014 seconds and 319.98 mph, putting Hyde in the No. 11 qualifying position on race day. He picked up one championship point for his effort as the quickest semifinal loser.
“Some weekends are the kind where you set multiple personal bests and turn on win light after win light,” said Hyde. “But if every weekend was like that, that would make the really great weekends less memorable. The reality is we still have to focus on making A to B runs, like I did during Q3.”
Hyde’s prize for qualifying 11th was a rematch from the New England Nationals finals, against No. 6 qualifier J.R. Todd. Todd had lane choice and chose the heavily favored left lane, where he was able to power past Hyde to get another round win.
“We felt really good going into the first round even though we didn’t have lane choice,” said Hyde. “The Top Fuel dragsters had issues with the right lane but that wasn’t really an excuse for Funny Car. Our car overpowered the track and I tried to catch it as quickly as I could but there was no way I was going to catch up to J.R. I was hoping to have a better result than the final round of Epping. Every run is a handful in these Funny Cars.”
Post Bristol, Hyde will have one off-weekend to be able to go home to Stratford, Ontario to refocus and recharge before the Virginia Nationals in two weeks. Then there will be another back-to-back race weekend with the Virginia Nationals and Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
“The conditions this weekend made it tricky for everyone and we felt that the Head Inc. Funny Car had a good handle on the track,” said Hyde. “I am looking forward to getting back to racing in Richmond. We have a fantastic car that I know we will be able to show off more in a couple of weeks.”
Hyde and the Head Racing team will be back in competition at the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals on June 20-22 at Virginia Motorsports Park. There will be three qualifying sessions on Saturday, June 21. For tickets or more information on the Virginia NHRA Nationals visit nhra.com.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 5.239 sec, 144.97 mph; Qual. 8
Q2: 7.237 sec, 84.19 mph; Qual. 15
Q3: 4.014 sec, 319.98 mph; Qual. 8
Q4: 6.298 sec, 104.09 mph; Qual. 11
Bonus Points: 0
Race Results
First Round
J.R. Todd, Lawrenceburg, Ind., DHL Toyota GR Supra, (.080), 4.027 sec, 319.60 mph def. Spencer Hyde, Stratford, Ontario, Head Inc. Funny Car, (.103), 7.068 sec, 88.22 mph
