July NHRA drag events line up at Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma’s drag strip has consistently posted some of the quickest and fastest runs of the year on the NHRA circuit.|
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT

The hills of Sonoma Valley will rumble to life during back-to-back weekends of drag racing later this month, with a pair of NHRA events held at the Sonoma Raceway. Expect to hear the roar of the NHRA Division 7 Drag Races on July 20-22, and the 31st annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 27-29.

The NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, will set the stage for high-horsepower entertainment as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series returns to Sonoma. Nearly 450 sportsman racers will vie for top titles in their respective classes during the fourth of seven races of the series’ schedule.

Following the divisional event, the wine country facility will also host the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ only stop in Northern California at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 27-29. NHRA’s top drivers will pilot their 10,000-horsepower machines in head-to-head 330-mph match-ups on the raceway’s drag strip. The weekend will feature racing in four professional categories, including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Sonoma’s drag strip has consistently posted some of the quickest and fastest runs of the year on the NHRA circuit. Funny Car driver Robert Hight powered to a national record speed of 339.87 mph in 2017. Additionally, J.R. Todd secured his first career Funny Car victory, making him the first African-American to win in the NHRA Funny Car category and the second driver in NHRA history to win at Sonoma Raceway in both nitro categories.

The Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals will feature two rounds of qualifying at 4:15 and 7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 28, at 1:10 and 4:20 p.m. Race fans can also witness the fire-breathing machine of Juan Cantu’s El Arabe Racing reach speeds of more than 300 mph as it launches down the drag strip in an illuminating display for the last pass of the day on Friday night.

To purchase tickets for these high-speed weekends in Sonoma, call 800-870-7223 or visit www.sonomaraceway.com.

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