The NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, kick off back-to-back weekends of drag racing in the Sonoma Valley, as Sonoma Raceway will also host the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 29-31.
The event this weekend will feature drivers of nine separate classes from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series earn points leading to divisional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.
Categories include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s Pacific Division Top Sportsman Series, Top Dragster Series and the NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series will also run in conjunction with the event. Friday and Saturday racing action will also feature the five-second door slammers of the West Coast Outlaw Pro Modified Series, for the fifth consecutive year.
The NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series, highlighted by the Top Fuel and Pro Fuel classes, returns to the Division 7 event weekend for the second straight year. These two-wheeled rockets scream down the drag strip at more than 230-mph.
Multi-time winners in Sonoma include Morgan Lucas (TAD, 2003, ’06-’07); Rick Santos (TAD, 1998-2000); Rick Braun (Comp, 1998-’99); Val Torres (Super Comp, 2014-’15) Jimmy DeFrank (Super Stock, 2001, ’03, Super Comp ’09, ’14); Greg Luneack (Super Stock, 2005, ’08, ’13); Steve Wann (Stock, 1997, 2003); Jody Lang (Stock Eliminator, 1998, 2008-’09, ’11, ’15); Ted Kellner (Super Street, 1999, 2007); Scott Rollins (Super Street, 2004-’05); Mike de Palma (Competition Eliminator, 2009, ’12, ’15); Pete Michlette (Sportsman Motorcycle, 2011, ’12); Kyle Rizzoli (Stock Eliminator, ’12, ’14) and Mike Maggio (Pro Mod, 2011, ’12, ’14)
Division 7 is comprised of the western United States (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah), but drag racers from all over the country will venture to Sonoma for a chance to compete on the world-class drag strip, which features a 660-foot concrete launch pad and is located just 15 feet above sea level. This combination makes the drag strip one of the quickest and fastest in the country. In 2015, the last 720-feet of the drag strip was repaved. July 22-24. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Friday, July 22:.Time trials and qualifying: 8:30 a.m.; Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman qualifying: 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Top Fuel and Pro Fuel Harley Qualifying 3 p.m. Outlaw Pro Mod qualifying: 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: Time trials and qualifying: 8:30 a.m.; Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman qualifying: 11:30 a.m.; Top Fuel and Pro Fuel Harley Qualifying: Noon and 3:30 p.m.; Outlaw Pro Mod qualifying: 12:30 p.m.; Eliminations begin at 2 p.m. Outlaw Pro Mod eliminations: 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: Eliminations continue, 8:30 a.m. Ticket prices, which includes pit passes, general admission: Friday: $5; Saturday and Sunday: $20 per day; children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult and parking is free. For information, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit SonomaRaceway.com.
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