Drags return to Sonoma Raceway in 2019

Not to be thrown for a loop, or a lap, by the loss of INDYCAR racing in the coming season, Sonoma Raceway has scheduled more than 45 days of racing action on its drag strip during the 2019 season, as the Sonoma Valley facility celebrates 50 years of racing in wine country.

The NHRA Sonoma Nationals will highlight the schedule for the 32nd consecutive year, as the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns for its only stop in Northern California. Also returning to the drag strip are the NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, Summit ET Bracket drag racing, and the popular Wednesday Night Drags program.

The 10,000-horsepower machines of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will rattle the grapevines as NHRA's best go head-to-head in the world's fastest race cars, reaching speeds over 330 mph, July 26-28. The weekend will also look back 50 years of drag racing history in Sonoma, as the raceway's celebrates the sports legends, memorable moments and incredible fans throughout race weekend.

The NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, set the stage for back-to-back weekends of drag racing in Sonoma, July 17-21. More than 500 sportsman racers will compete at two separate events in one weekend; the first will span Thursday-Friday, with the second event on Saturday and Sunday.

The raceway's popular Wednesday Night Drags program enters its 31st season this year. Attracting more than 200 drivers nightly, Wednesday Night Drags is one of the most anticipated events among local racing enthusiasts. The amateur drag racing competition runs most Wednesday evenings from March 13 to Nov. 13, and gives anyone with a driver license and a car that passes a simple technical inspection a chance to race down the quarter-mile drag strip.

Also on the track will be the fan-favorite Top the Cops™ program, which gives teens the chance to race against law enforcement officers, who compete in full uniform in their official vehicles on the quarter-mile drag strip, will run from April through August in conjunction with Wednesday Night Drags. All Wednesday night drag racing and bracket events can be watched live at SonomaRaceway.com/live.

As if that's not enough, throughout 2019 the Summit ET Bracket Drag Racing Series will feature 12 races, including the popular Memorial Day weekend and Independence Day events. These events feature five classes of sportsman competition and generally attract more than 300 competitors.

For more information on these programs, complete drag strip schedules and more, visit www.sonomaraceway.com.

CORRECTION: The earlier version of this story mistakenly named a different racing organization as no longer participating at Sonoma Raceway. We regret the error.