TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
What: The 15th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Where: Sonoma Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma. When: Friday through Sunday.
TV: Friday — Qualifying, 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 (tape delay).
Saturday — Qualifying, 7-8 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 (tape delay).
Sunday — Final eliminations, 1-4 p.m. on Fox. Last year: Antron Brown, (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman, (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock), Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the 2015 winners at Sonoma. For the first time in NHRA history, all four No. 1 qualifiers at Sonoma went on to win their respective categories. Seven track records were set, including Beckman’s Funny Car national record for elapsed time at 3.921 seconds. … Krawiec has won three of the past four Pro Stock Motorcycle championships at Sonoma. … Doug Kalitta has five Top Fuel championships in Sonoma. … John Force holds the record for pro wins at Sonoma Raceway, with seven, all in Funny Car.
NHRA update: Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Andre Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won last week at the Mopar MileHigh NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado, the first stop of the NHRA’s Western Swing. Schumacher, an eight-time Top Fuel champion, beat Top Fuel leader Brown in the final. Force, 67, beat his daughter, Courtney, for his first title since June 2015. … Brown comes to Sonoma with a 57-point advantage over Kalitta. Ron Capps leads Courtney Force by 122 points in the Funny Car standings.
Schedule: Friday — Sportsman qualifying, 8:15 a.m. Professional qualifying sessions at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday — Sportsman eliminations, 8:15 a.m. Professional qualifying sessions at 1:10 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Sunday — Professional final eliminations, 11 a.m. Tickets: Visit www.racesonoma.com/nhra or call 800-8707223.