The 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowwerEdge on the Sonoma Raceway dragstrip above San Francisco promised more than the customary competition in NHRA’s 11th race – of 20 – in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Sure, there are four qualifying attempts that were made and yes, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge took place for Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock competitors. There were eight over-achieving Pro Stock Motorcycle standouts on-hand for the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout.
As this is NHRA’s 75th year of competition, being formed by Wally Parks in 1951, different stars of the sport are being celebrated at each individual race. Central California’s Gary Scelzi was the chosen star of this event, and it’s doubtful anyone else could have repped the series better. As is the case this season, Scelzi was trotted before the media on Friday afternoon before the late afternoon and evening qualifying sessions. Scelzi being Scelzi, he talked about his career, about the competitors he faced as he notched both Top Fuel and Funny Car titles.
All he ever wanted to do was win at whatever he did and Gary Scelzi loves seeing the passion in some newer competitors in the fuel classes, singling out the obvious rookies, Maddi Gordon and Jordan Vandergriff. He’s pleased to see young competitors coming in and feels, at 75, NHRA is in good shape – in terms of competitors – going forward.
After Scelzi spoke, NHRA made the announcement that the Autodromo of Monterrey, in the Mexican city of Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network in the South Central Division – Division 4. The track, hosting several annual events, was part of NHRA’s family of tracks, but not recently. It has a long history, with several track configurations that includes its dragstrip. Century Prime Global played a large part in the track’s return to NHRA participation.
As an NHRA member facility, it is eligible to offer racers in the area a variety of NHRA-sanctioned racing opportunities, including NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier, NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Street and, additionally, it has the chance to host NHRA specialty events like NHRA Summit King of the Track.
Autodromo of Monterrey is one of 12 international NHRA tracks in Canada, Bahrain and Puerto Rico. “Division 4 has always represented more than just the South Central United States,” noted the division’s director, Jonathan Johnson. “It represents an international racing community. Having Autodromo of Monterrey join NHRA reinforces that commitment and opens an exciting new chapter for racers.”
NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class conducted its GETTRX All-Star Callout on Saturday, after making draws on Friday afternoon and taking a pair of laps during the two qualifying sessions. All four Matt Smith Racing Buell entries made this field, as did both Vance & Hines Motorsports Suzuki Hayabusa3 riders. Suzuki’s Chase Van Sant and Steve Johnson completed the eight-bike field. Matt Smith returned to competition following his gall bladder surgery, but only made one lap in competition when teammate Jianna Evaristo beat him on a holeshot.
In that same first round, Angie Smith took out John Hall in the second intra-squad battle, while top seed Gaige Herrera defeated Steve Johnson and Richard Gadson defeated Chase Van Sant. After the second round’s very tight races, the finals came down to the Vance & Hines duo, as Herrera ended up the determined winner over Gadson, ending Matt Smith’s two-race win streak on his return to competition. Pro Stock Motorcycle doesn’t race again until the Big Go on Labor Day weekend.
Deecell continued its top qualifier bonus on Friday night, as Doug Kalitta, Jordan Vandergriff and Chris Vang copped the extra special bonus money. Vandergriff’s Friday night pull was the quickest run of this season, coming in the 11th race of 20-event campaign. Chris Vang was almost as surprised to be in the media center both Friday and Saturday after setting low time for the door slammer crew. The part-time racer, affiliated with Elite Motorsports, made his fourth race of the season pay off: “We came in here just hoping to qualify and now we’re sitting No. 1,” the incredulous Vang said Friday night. His Deecell bonus “helps a lot. We’re trying to run about seven more races this season, and every little bit matters for a team like ours.” Vang was out after one lap on Sunday against a victorious Mason McGaha.
Jasmine Salinas showed her capabilities this weekend, going to her first career NHRA professional final round in Top Fuel. The local racer, who had been active in IHRA competition, is racing part-time in NHRA this year, but after this successful weekend, her plans of going on to Seattle this coming weekend should make a few other dragster drivers quiver. “Everything has to come together in order to take the car from A to B,” she reminded. “We’re a part-time team and we showed this weekend we’ve got a great group of people that believe in us.” Because of her final round Sonoma appearance, Salinas gets to compete in Seattle’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Not only does Sonoma Raceway offer sunshine once the fog burns off from San Francisco Bay, it has daytime temps that are doable this time of year, and that, along with celebrating NHRA’s 75th anniversary season brought the crowds. The event was sold out for each of the three days of competition and the fans were enthusiastic in their response to quick and fast times and speeds. They arrived early, stayed late and spent plenty of money enjoying themselves. The way this race turned out simply verifies Gary Scelzi’s belief that NHRA is in good hands.
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