The NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by Power Edge kicked off with a bang, as the Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA's best sportsman racers took to the track. The event was a thrilling showcase of speed and skill, with some standout performances from the Pro Stock Motorcycles, Funny Cars, and Top Fuel categories. Here's a breakdown of the action, with a focus on the top qualifiers and some interesting insights.
Pro Stock Motorcycles
The Pro Stock Motorcycles session was a close affair, with the top two qualifiers, Gaige Herrera and Richard Gadson, separated by just 0.007 seconds. Steve Johnson and Chase Van Sant set the early pace, with Johnson's 6.894 and Van Sant's 6.926. However, it was the Smith team that made a strong impression, with Matt Smith's 6.795 and his wife Angie's 6.770 on her pink Denso entry. The return of the Denso Buell to the track was a welcome sight, and the Smith team's performance certainly didn't disappoint.
Pro Stock
The Pro Stock field was quick from the get-go, with most drivers solidly in the 6.5-second zone. Greg Anderson led the way with a strong 6.522 in his HendrickCars.com Camaro, just barely ahead of defending event winner Greg Stanfield's 6.534. The rest of the top qualifiers were close behind, with Aaron Stanfield, Chris Vang, Erica Enders, Cody Anderson, and Matt Latino all posting impressive times. The competition is fierce, and the top qualifiers will be looking to make their mark on Saturday.
Funny Cars
The Funny Cars session was a thrilling display of speed and skill. Alexis DeJoria wheeled the Bandero Café Chevy to a 3.917 at nearly 330-mph, while Austin Prock ran 4.050 on his first run of the weekend. The top spot changed hands several times, with Dave Richards posting the first three-second run of the weekend with a 3.966 in the Blue Bird Turf entry. Jack Beckman made a great run with a 3.942, and Ron Capps, the incoming points leader, closed out the round with the best run of the round with a 3.900. The competition is fierce, and the top qualifiers will be looking to make their mark on Saturday.
Top Fuel
The Top Fuel category was a close affair, with Jasmine Salinas setting a brisk early pace with a 3.751, 331.77. She held on to the top spot midway through the session, but she was challenged by Josh Hart's 3.763 and Billy Torrence's 3.803. Tony Stewart, who has enjoyed tremendous success in Sonoma during his NASCAR career, took over the top spot with a 3.736 in the R+L Carriers dragster. The final run of the session was worth waiting for, as teammates Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon ran matching 3.714 elapsed times, with Kalitta earning the higher position thanks to a slightly faster speed.
Personal Takeaway
The NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by Power Edge was a thrilling showcase of speed and skill, with some standout performances from the Pro Stock Motorcycles, Funny Cars, and Top Fuel categories. The top qualifiers will be looking to make their mark on Saturday, and the competition is fierce. The event was a testament to the skill and dedication of the drivers and teams, and it was a pleasure to witness the action unfold. The event was a great example of the excitement and thrill of drag racing, and it was a pleasure to witness the action unfold.
