Let's dive into the thrilling world of drag racing and explore the latest news and notes from the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. This event, presented by Power Edge, has already delivered some exciting moments, even before the main series racers hit the track.
The Pre-Show Extravaganza
The Sonoma Raceway wasn't just a stage for the NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series on Friday afternoon. It hosted an intense prelude on Wednesday and Thursday with the Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing NHRA's top sportsman racers. The final results are in, and here's a quick recap:
- COMP: Kevin Carter
- SUPER STOCK: Ryan McClanahan
- STOCK: Jimmy DeFrank
- SUPER COMP: Trey Vetter
- SUPER GAS: Marko Perivolaris
- SUPER STREET: Andrew Olson
- TOP DRAGSTER: Chad Axford
- TOP SPORTSMAN: Don Meziere
- SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE: Michael O'Neil
These preliminary events set the tone for the main attraction, and the competition was fierce right from the get-go.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout
The Pro Stock Motorcycle category kicked off qualifying with a bang. Eight riders will battle it out in Saturday's GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout, and they got a taste of the track with two time trial runs on Friday. Steve Johnson set an early pace with a swift 6.894, closely followed by Chase Van Sant at 6.926. John Hall and Jianna Evaristo, riding her JHG Buell, posted impressive times of 6.799 and 6.854, respectively. The Smith duo, Matt and Angie, made a strong return with times of 6.795 and 6.770, respectively, on their Denso Buell. Gaige Herrera and Richard Gadson, the top qualifiers, couldn't quite match the Smith team's pace, running 6.814 and 6.821, respectively.
Pro Stock and Funny Car Qualifiers
In the Pro Stock category, the field lived up to expectations, with most drivers consistently clocking times in the 6.5-second zone. Greg Anderson took an early lead with a powerful 6.522 in his HendrickCars.com Camaro, closely followed by defending event winner Greg Stanfield at 6.534. Other top qualifiers include Aaron Stanfield, Chris Vang, Erica Enders, Cody Anderson, and Matt Latino, all posting impressive runs.
The Funny Car category saw some solid performances, with Hunter Green leading the way early with a 4.006. Jeff Arend wasn't far behind at 4.032. But it was Dave Richards who stole the show with the first three-second run of the weekend, a blistering 3.966 in the Blue Bird Turf entry. Alexis DeJoria took the top spot with a 3.917, while Austin Prock, Chad Green, and Jordan Vandergriff all made strong runs before encountering tire issues.
Top Fuel: A Battle of Speed and Power
Top Fuel delivered some of the most thrilling moments of the day. NorCal native Jasmine Salinas set an early pace with a rapid 3.751, easily covering Will Smith's 3.893. Shawn Reed opened with a 3.850, while Tony Schumacher encountered some issues. Salinas held the top spot for a while, but she was challenged by Josh Hart's 3.763 and Billy Torrence's 3.803. Hart revealed he's driving a new Speedmaster dragster this weekend, which might explain his impressive run.
Tony Stewart, a Sonoma veteran from his NASCAR days, took over the top spot with a 3.736 in the R+L Carriers dragster. Antron Brown followed with a 3.784. Maddi Gordon, fresh off a win in Norwalk, maintained her momentum with a 3.751 at her home track, while Leah Pruett delivered a competitive 3.772. But the final run of the session was the real showstopper, with teammates Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon running matching 3.714 elapsed times. Kalitta took the top spot with a slightly faster speed of 337.07 mph to Langdon's 336.49 mph.
As the dust settles on Friday's action, the stage is set for an even more intense Saturday and Sunday. The competition is fierce, and the racers are pushing the limits of speed and power. Personally, I can't wait to see how the rest of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals unfolds. It's an event that truly showcases the raw excitement and skill of drag racing.
