Speed and fire take the track at Sonoma this weekend
Starting Friday, the 28th NHRA Sonoma Nationals will take place at Sonoma Raceway.
But hold on Sonoma Valley, this isn’t a car race. This is a challenge to be the fastest car around. There are four types of super fast vehicles competing this weekend: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The drag strip at Sonoma Raceway is one of the fastest in the country due to its 660 foot-concrete launch pad (yes, launch pad) and its height of 15 above sea level.
Here are some fun facts about what will make this weekend a totally intense, fun, loud, fast weekend at the track.
I promise you this: You’ll see fire, you’ll feel the rumbles and you’ll want to bring your ear plugs.
First, let’s talk about Top Fuel.
Top Fuel dragsters are insanely fast.
Frighteningly fast, to be honest. When you’re sitting in the bleachers at on the drag at Sonoma Raceway and a Top Fuel car launches, the entire place shakes. It makes the earthquake last year look like a walk in the park.
Top Fuel cars accelerate quicker than a jumbo jet, fighter jet and Formula One cars. Yeah, that’s fast.
The quarter mile drag strip at Sonoma Raceway is longer than four football fields. Top Fuel cars accelerate from 0-100 mph in 0.8 of a second and finish the strip in about four seconds.
And yes, it gets even more intense: when a Top Fuel car takes off at the starting line it starts at a force five times that of gravity. That is the same force as a space shuttle when it leaves the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
Last year, Dubai born Khalid alBalooshi took Sonoma, but, this year Doug Kalitta is the one to watch. Kalitta has more wins at Sonoma for Top Fuel – five wins – and he’s anticipated to win this year.
Next up, Funny Cars
The star of the show is Courtney Force. She’s a total badass and is the most winningest female in NHRA Funny Car history. Her father is John Force, who has won the most victories at Sonoma, with seven Funny Car wins. Last year, Force beat her father in the final Funny Car round at Sonoma. Take that, dad.
Funny Car’s go fast, too. The track record at Sonoma was set in 2013 by Matt Hagan, who sped down the strip at 320.51 mph in 3.986 seconds. Wow.
Their engines produce an estimated 7,000 horse power. To contrast, the horse power for a brand new Corvette is 650.
Funny Car’s earned their names because they look, well, funny – they are modified in ways that are unique and unlike stock cars. Like many of the cars this weekend, they are so fast they have to slow down using parachutes, which is a reverse force seven times the half of gravity.
Will Courtney Force take the strip for Funny Car this year? We’ll see.
Her sister is a Top Fuel competitor, Brittany Force. NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing is one of the most diverse racing series in the world – and the Force sisters are surely a force to be reckoned with (I had to do it..).
Pro Stock time
Pro Stocks look a lot like your own car.
Well, sort of…You won’t find a Prius on the strip this weekend (even though you can drag race your Prius on Wednesdays at the track), unless your Prius has 1,200 horse power and spits fire.
The modifications they under go make them travel down strip in 6.6 seconds at averages of 205 mph. You’ll see cars from Ford, Mopar and GM on the track.
Another woman driver rocks this field. Erica Enders won the championship for Pro Stock last year and holds the record at Sonoma – 6.5 seconds down the strip. However, Greg Anderson has won more Pro Stock races at Sonoma (4) and might reclaim his Sonoma crown from last year’s winner, Jason Line.
And finally, Pro Stock Motorcycles
Pro Stock Motorcycles also look similar to your own motorcycle, but, – you guessed it – they aren’t anything like your own motorcycle. These Harley’s go 195 mph down the strip in 7.0 seconds.
They are the newest group to the bunch, joining NHRA in the 1980s. They’re lightweight and race generally two- or four-valve Harley V-twin engines.
Eddie Krawiec has won two of the last three championships at Sonoma. He’ll be competing against Andrew Hines who won last years NHRA Mello Yello Series Championship. It’s a diverse lot – multiple women are in the field and some of the guys are in their 60s.
—
It’s going to be a good time! The NHRA Sonoma Nationals start Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2. Tickets vary and kids get in for free on Saturday. Learn more at sonomaraceway.com
