NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, the second and final event of NHRA’s abbreviated two-race 2024 Western Swing, features a schedule that is similar to last week’s Northwest Nationals in Seattle with a full morning of Lucas Oil Series sportsman racing following by two professional qualifying sessions at 4:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. with the final nitro session of the day scheduled to take place in the early evening .

The roster for this weekend’s event includes Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series categories Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing series represented by Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Right Trailers Top Dragster, and Right Trailers Top Sportsman.

***

Those with an eye for history might remember that the first NHRA national event at Sonoma Raceway was held in 1988 with Joe Amato, Mark Oswald, and Harry Scribner crowned as professional champions. In fact, it was Scribner's only NHRA national event victory. Sonoma Raceway has also been the site of many record performances most notably Matt Smith’s current 205.05 mph Pro Stock Motorcycle speed record. The track has long been a favorite of NHRA racers and fans as it’s nestled amongst the vineyards of Sonoma Valley, one of the world’s top wine-making regions.

***

Counting the runs he made in his debut last weekend in Seattle, Cory Reed has a grand total of 21 runs in an NHRA Pro Stock car but the recent Pro Stock Motorcycle convert looks like anything but a rookie. Reed qualified in the top half of the field with a strong 6.538 in his J&A Services Camaro, which is being run under the KB Titan banner. Reed nearly upset Troy Coughlin Jr. in round one, but shut off early when the car made an unexpected move.

“Oh, I was going to win that round, I’m pretty sure about that,” said Reed. “But it wasn’t worth taking a risk. I’m still new to these cars and I want to be smart. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks but I know there’s a lot left to learn.”

Reed made the switch from two wheels to four at the urging of his parents, Jim and Annie Whiteley, who have a significant ownership stake in the KB Titan organization.

“We sat down and talked and dad said, ‘You know, we’ve got an extra car here now, and if you want to do this, now is the time.’ I think it took about 25 seconds for him to talk me into it. I still love motorcycles but this we just too good of an opportunity to pass up. These cars are challenging to drive; heck, it’s hard just doing a burnout but I like the challenge.”

Reed maintains that his move to Pro Stock isn’t a passing phase as he’s committed to the rest of the races this year and plans to make a run at the Mission Foods championship by racing in all of the 2025 events.  

***

The fireworks began early during Friday's GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar NHRA Callout event as low qualifier Gaige Herrera made a bold move when he picked six-time world champion Matt Smith as his opening round opponent. The acrimony between Smith and the Vance & Hines team is at an all-time high and Herrera figured it would be best for the two rivals to settle their differences on the track, and do it early. While Herrera vs. Smith is the main event, the undercard also features some intriguing matches as Hector Arana Jr. will take on Steve Johnson, Jianna Evaristo will race John Hall, and Angie Smith, last year's runner-up, will race Seattle winner Chase Van Sant. The GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar NHRA Callout will take place on Saturday at noon.

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1

Sonoma Raceway is historically a great track for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class and that’s likely to be the case before the weekend is over although performances in Friday’s opening session were hampered somewhat by a stiff headwind. Despite the breeze, Matt Smith was able to take the top spot after one run with a 6.786 on his Denso Buell. Smith also made the only 200-mph run of the session with a 200.47 mph blast.

Gaige Herrera didn’t make a full run on his RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki so he wasn’t able to challenge Smith. The same goes for Herrera’s teammate, Richard Gadston, who also didn’t make it to the finish line under power. Smith’s wife, Angie, was a close second with a 6.792 on her pink Denso Buell while Chase Van Sant, last week’s winner, was third with a 6.802.

***

Pro Stock Q1

Coming off a low qualifying effort last week in Seattle, Erica Enders once again sits atop the Pro Stock field after driving her JHG Camaro to a 6.548 during Q1. Enders, seeking her first win since Gainesville, has a sizable advantage (in Pro Stock terms) over second place Matt Hartford, who posted a 6.561 and third-ranked Jeg Coughlin Jr., who clocked a 6.563.  The top half of the field is tightly bunched with Jerry Don Tucker holding down the No. 8 spot at 6.601.

Among those who didn’t make a representative run is Greg Anderson, who shut off early while championship leader Dallas Glenn also made a run that wasn’t to his liking with a 6.635 in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro.

***

Funny Car Q1

It took a few runs for the Funny Car contingent to find their footing as there were plenty of aborted runs during Friday’s opening session but several teams were able to hone in on the three-second zone including defending event winner J.R. Todd, who wheeled his DHL Toyota to a 3.904 while Blake Alexander also continued his recent string of impressive runs with a 3.9621 in Jim Head’s Mustang. Ron Capps, who reverted to a late 2023 chassis following last week’s boomer in Seattle, kept pace with the leaders with a 3.988. Matt Hagan also collected a three-second time slip with a 3.997.

***

Top Fuel Q1

The Top Fuel field also had a “get acquainted” session with Sonoma Raceway with some competitors making solid runs while others learned where the limits were. Billy Torrence and the Capco team got the best of it with a solid 3.756 to grab the provisional pole while Brittany Force was close behind at 3.760 and Clay Millican used a 3.763 to claim the third spot.

Another impressive run came from Bay Area native Jasmine Salinas, who drove to a 3.776. Salinas was no doubt inspired by the presence of her father, Mike, who returned to the track for the first time since Gainesville and watched from the starting line.

Championship leader Doug Kalitta and teammate Shawn Langdon both shut off early after tire shake/smoke, and they’ll be among the first drivers out during Friday’s second session.

***

Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2

The stiff headwind continued to provide a challenge for Pro Stock Motorcycle racers but three riders were still able to made competitive 6.7-second runs. The quickest pass of the round came from Seattle champ Chase Van Sant, who ran a 6.768 on his Trick Tools Suzuki. Reigning champ Matt Smith was also strong with a 6.770 while Angie Smith also ran well with a 6.784.

The biggest surprise of the round came when reigning champ Gaige Herrera was a no show for his second run. Herrera shut off early on his first run so he’s well down the qualifying order heading into Saturday’s two runs and the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar NHRA Callout, also set for Saturday.

***

Pro Stock Q2

Reaffirming the unpredictability of today’s Pro Stock class, Matt Hartford knocked Q1 leader Erica Enders from the top spot and with a strong 6.51 run in his GETTRX/Total Seal Camaro. Enders improved upon her earlier performance with a 6.520, but remains .005-seocnd off the lead.

Folloiwng Hartford and Enders, the rest of the Top 8 shapes up with Jeg Coughlin Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Erica Latino, Greg Anderson, and Deric Kramer with barely five-hundredths separating the pack.

One of the most impressive runs of the session came from newcomer, Derrick Reese, who drove the KD Racing Mustang to a competitive 6.587 to finish the day in the No. 11 spot. Reese has prior experience in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class.

***

Funny Car Q3

Bob Tasca III missed his stated goal of the first official 340-mph Funny Car pass but he did finish the day as the low qualifier in Funny Car following a 3.839 at 338.43, the second best speed of the 2024 season. Tasca noted that he’d never been more disappointed to receive a 338-mph time slip.

Later in the session, Ron Capps and Matt Hagen hooked up to give the packed house a thrill with side-by-side 3.86-secod runs. Capps, who is racing a back-up car after last week’s explosion, ran 3.864 while Hagan posted a 3.869 in his Dodge Power Brokers Charger R/T.

The Funny Car session ended with a bang as Blake Alexander blew the body off of Jim Head’s Pronto Mustang at the end of a 3.974-second run. Alexander did a masterful job of getting the car stopped and keeping it away from the wall. Alexander’s opponent, Q1 leader, J.R. Todd, shut off early and managed to avoid the debris.

***

Top Fuel Q2

When Doug Kalitta didn’t get down the track on Q1, he instantly knew he’d be one of the first drivers down the track during Friday’s second session but that apparent disadvantage didn’t seem to affect the Mac Tools team the least bit. Kalitta made the quickest run in the history of Sonoma Raceway with a 3.649 at over 336 mph to take the provisional pole.

Kalitta was one of six drivers to find the 3.6-second zone including Brittany Force (3.668), Billy Torrence (3.684), Shawn Reed (3.685), Antron Brown (3.688), and Justin Ashley (3.697). Clay Millican just missed with a 3.711 for the No. 7 spot while Jasmine Salinas rounds out the top half of the field at 3.728.