NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The fields are set for the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by Power Edge and while drama and excitement are guaranteed, there is also a very real possibility of upsets and other unexplained phenomena.

In Top Fuel, there is a familiar scenario in place as Doug Kalitta leads the field and with 14 cars in the field, he can get a bye run into the semi’s if, and this is a big if, he can get by round one opponent Clay Millican.

Other notable matchups include Tony Stewart versus Justin Ashley, while Leah Pruett will take on the mist recent winner on the NHRA tour, nitro rookie Maddi Gordon.

NorCal native Jasmine Salinas will also have lane choice in her opening round battle against Gainesville champ Josh Hart.

The Funny Car field is led by Jordan Vandergriff, who has dominated qualifying with a string of 3.8-second runs in the Cornwell Tools Camaro. Vandergriff will have his hands full with round one foe Jason Rupert, who qualified on the bump, but ran a very respectable 4.048.

Matt Hagan takes on J.R. Todd in another key battle, while Ron Capps will look to defend his points lead in a very tough race against two-time and reigning world champion Austin Prock.

Thirteen of the 16 Funny Cars ran in the three second zone so there are no easy match-ups in round one, or any other round for that matter.

The Sonoma Pro Stock field might just have the most interesting ladder of the season as Chris Vang and Cody Anderson are the top two qualifiers while Shane Tucker and Matt Latino,  two more drivers looking for their first win, are also ranked in the top half of the field. In fact, seven of the 16 drivers have never won an NHRA Pro Stock event so the distinct possibility exists for a first-time winner.

Vang will race Mason McGaha in round one while Cody Anderson runs Troy Coughlin Jr. Matt Hartford, winner of three events this season, opens with a tough battle against Jeg Coughlin Jr., while the other race to watch features a father-son battle between Greg and Aaron Stanfield in a rematch of last year’s final.

Saturday’s schedule also includes final eliminations in  Lucas Oil Drag Racing series categories; Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Right Trailers Top Dragster and Top Sportsman.

DEFENDING EVENT CHAMPIONS
TOP FUEL: Doug Kalitta
FUNNY CAR: Austin Prock
PRO STOCK: Greg Stanfield
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Richard Gadson

MOST WINS
TOP FUEL: Doug Kalitta (6)
FUNNY CAR: John Force (8)
PRO STOCK: Greg Anderson (6)
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: LE Tonglet (4).

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.645 sec. by Brittany Force, July '25; 343.16 mph by B. Force, July ‘25.
Funny Car - 3.807 sec. by Robert Hight, July '17; 340.90 mph by Austin Prock, July '25.
Pro Stock - 6.461 sec. by Dallas Glenn, July '25, 213.00 mph byShane Gray, July '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.655 sec. by Matt Smith, July '25, 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May ‘26, Valdosta.
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown
N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma.

SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, July 19
Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m.

TELEVISION
Sunday, July 19, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m.
Sunday, July 19, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 10 p.m. (EDT).