Ray Sawyer wins Super Gas at Thunder Valley

Ray Sawyer claims his seventh career victory at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

BRISTOL – Ray Sawyer drove his ’02 Camaro to the Super Gas win at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The win was his seventh in national event competition. To claim his latest triumph, Sawyer defeated Michelle Furr in the final round.

Sawyer was stellar at the tree during eliminations posting three .00 reaction times including a .007 in the final round. On Sunday, he won three close races which included wins over Jim Perry and Tom Stalba prior to the final.

The race with Stalba in the semifinals was decided by .0097-second after both drivers posted dead-on 9.90 ET’s. Sawyer’s .030 light and 9.906 was just enough to take down Stalba’s .041 initiated 9.904.

In the final round, Sawyer let go first, .007 to .028, to grab the lead. At the top end both drivers lifted with Sawyer claiming the 9.927 to 9.929 victory.

Furr, the DragChamp pre-race pick to win, was making her second final round appearance of the season. She backed up her recent runner up at the Virginia Nationals with another great performance in Bristol. Furr defeated 2018 event champ Steve Furr, no relation, in the semifinals to advance to her eighth final round.

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