E&H adds more football recruits

Players from Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina are among the latest signees for the Emory & Henry College football team. Thomas Bright, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound offensive lineman, was a standout at Virginia’s Liberty High School and was a second-team All-Seminole District pick.

Noah Joseph, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound running back, played at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, Ga. Joseph rushed for 805 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Kurtis Lankford, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman/defensive lineman, prepped at West Wilkes High in Purlear, N.C. He was a two-time all-conference draft.

SOFTBALL Hudgins signs with VI Pitcher Melissa Hudgins of Mathews High School has signed with Virginia Intermont. Hudgins had a career record of 63-14 with 679 strikeouts for the Blue Devils, a Group A school and a member of the Tidewater District.

DRAG RACING Tickets still available for Thunder Valley Some of the best seats in the house are still available to watch the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, set for July 6-8 at Bristol Dragway. Seats are open in the Thunder Valley Club and Bruton’s Suite, both of which offer fans perks, including driver appearances.

Drivers expected to make appearances in the Thunder Valley Club include Brandon Bernstein, Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi, J.R. Todd, John and Ashley Force, Doug Herbert, Hillary Will, Allen Johnson and drag racing legend Don Garlits. Morgan Lucas, Melanie Troxel, Tommy Johnson, Jr., Bernstein and Todd are all expected to visit Bruton’s Suite to sign autographs.

The air-conditioned Thunder Valley Club features pit-side seating with private patio right next to the dragstrip, meals, a fan prize pack, preferred parking with the purchase of two tickets, a cash bar, private restrooms and the opportunity to meet NHRA’s biggest names.

Pricing for the Thunder Valley Club is $300 for the weekend for adults and $100 per child. Seating in Bruton’s Suite is $425 per seat for the weekend. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, July 6 with the first professional session slated to begin at 5 p.m.

The second round begins later that evening at 7:30. Gates open Saturday, July 7 at 7:30 a.m. with the first round of pro qualifying set for 12:30 p.m., followed by the next round at 3 p.m. Gates open Sunday, July 8 at 9:30 a.m. with final eliminations starting at noon.