sonoma 2026 (4 Viewers)

[mick]

wondering if sea level and possible good air and temps might produce some great e.t.'s and a few 340's?
...... still can't believe anyone east of the missippi would tow a bike to CA to run a 3 round race for 25k.
only a little over 300 entries 10 classes over 3 days. IMO just about right. light fields in STK and SS.

 

[Gone Dead Train]

wondering if sea level and possible good air and temps might produce some great e.t.'s and a few 340's?
...... still can't believe anyone east of the missippi would tow a bike to CA to run a 3 round race for 25k.
only a little over 300 entries 10 classes over 3 days. IMO just about right. light fields in STK and SS.

Don't forget Seattle, and in 2025

Top Fuel. Kalitta ran the second quickest pass in the history of top fuel. 3.628 341.34

There was 4, 340 plus mph runs. Force 341.85. The 341.85 was good for 5 days, she mustered up a 343.16 at Sonoma

Funny Car. Beckman 3.839, Prock 336.40

Pro Stock. Glenn 6.446, Glenn 212.73

PSM. Herrera 6.690, Matt Smith 202.70

 

[T.Smith]

Sonoma is surreal when the cold evening temps start to roll in, with the setting sun in the West, and the whine of impacts in the staging lanes for overdrive pulley changes. The best night racing scene in drag racing.

 

[GumbyWVU]

wondering if sea level and possible good air and temps might produce some great e.t.'s and a few 340's?
...... still can't believe anyone east of the missippi would tow a bike to CA to run a 3 round race for 25k.
only a little over 300 entries 10 classes over 3 days. IMO just about right. light fields in STK and SS.

I agree, was thinking something similar (and posted) back after the Gators, about Sonoma and at that time, Mechanicsville, MD......the weather didn't cooperate for Maryland though.

 

[TooTall999]

wondering if sea level and possible good air and temps might produce some great e.t.'s and a few 340's?
...... still can't believe anyone east of the missippi would tow a bike to CA to run a 3 round race for 25k.
only a little over 300 entries 10 classes over 3 days. IMO just about right. light fields in STK and SS.

Matt Smith addressed this on Facebook. Basically he said it's a Denso race, Denso helps all the bikes, and they're paying travel money to the 8 contenders.

 

[z28]

wondering if sea level and possible good air and temps might produce some great e.t.'s and a few 340's?
...... still can't believe anyone east of the missippi would tow a bike to CA to run a 3 round race for 25k.
only a little over 300 entries 10 classes over 3 days. IMO just about right. light fields in STK and SS.

NHRA is helping the PSM teams get there.

 

[Professional Fan]

Should have great racing this weekend. I'm showing high each day in high 70s which also means frigid on Friday night.

 

[mick]

just realized sonoma is hosting a divisional today and tomorrow. that is unique.

 

[Mike]

Does the dragstrip have lights?

Just spitballing the idea of what a combined weekend of NASCAR during days and NHRA Pro Only night shows (TF, FC, PS, PSM) would look like. 2 qualifying hits Friday evening, Finals Saturday, start maybe around 6 pm.

There would need to be activity between rounds Saturday to keep the flow going. Maybe a NASCAR driver 8 or even 16 car IROC-ish near identically prepped cars that could help fill time. The NASCAR guys could qualify Friday night and have elims between the NHRA pro rounds Saturday.

If the NASCAR owners would allow it, I'd bet they could get up to 16 drivers willing to participate in their own drag race. Yes, I understand this would involve an NHRA western swing schedule change in future years, but it could benefit both series.

 

[Professional Fan]

Sonoma does have lights. Q2 ends about 9:30pm.

 

[Ponyhntr]

Does the dragstrip have lights?

Just spitballing the idea of what a combined weekend of NASCAR during days and NHRA Pro Only night shows (TF, FC, PS, PSM) would look like. 2 qualifying hits Friday evening, Finals Saturday, start maybe around 6 pm.

There would need to be activity between rounds Saturday to keep the flow going. Maybe a NASCAR driver 8 or even 16 car IROC-ish near identically prepped cars that could help fill time. The NASCAR guys could qualify Friday night and have elims between the NHRA pro rounds Saturday.

If the NASCAR owners would allow it, I'd bet they could get up to 16 drivers willing to participate in their own drag race. Yes, I understand this would involve an NHRA western swing schedule change in future years, but it could benefit both series.

Hard to do at this venue. The Dragstrip walls have to be moved in order to be able to use the road course.

I’ve always wondered if it could be done at other venues… maybe a Charlotte or Vegas. Or Bristol.

 

[mick]

they move the drag strip walls to use the road course? i think when the track was first built the two tracks shared
the same surface, but that didn't last long. correct me if i'm wrong, but there is a distinct pit lane, the road course, and the dragstrip.
....... not too many years before they tore down the tower, they installed a huge electronic message sign across the entire top
of the tower. for anyone attending this weekend, is it relocated on the property somewhere?

 

[none]

The staging lane entrance is blocked by the NASCAR course. Turn 11 leading to 12 effectively shut off the Drag Strip.

Alan

 

[Mike]

The staging lane entrance is blocked by the NASCAR course. Turn 11 leading to 12 effectively shut off the Drag Strip.

Alan

But they wouldn't be used at the same time. The strip and staging lanes could open upon completion of NASCAR qualifying/ support races Friday and Saturday.

 

[mick]

who is steve johnson replacing as alternate in the gettrx bike deal?

 

[none]

But they wouldn't be used at the same time. The strip and staging lanes could open upon completion of NASCAR qualifying/ support races Friday and Saturday.

Possibly, but that is also NASCAR pit road, I don't think you could swap back and forth very quickly. I don't think it would be a simple thing to do.

Alan

 

[justafan]

who is steve johnson replacing as alternate in the gettrx bike deal?

Mike, looking at the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle Standings, it appears that he is replacing Braydon Davis (6th) and Ryan Oehler (9th) who are both ahead of him.

 

[mick]

found it. davis obviously not paying to ride with V&H this year. that's too bad he's not making trip to CA.
wonder if he was offered gas money? or whatever the teams were supposedly offered for help getting there.
pretty sure the gettrx deal is top 8 qualifiers from previous year?
the last two years this race was with norwalk race, where bikes were part of program.
the 8 riders are essentially V&H vs. TeamSmith (4 riders) + van sant and johnson.
2025 Pro Stock Motorcycle Top 8 Season Averages

Rank	Rider	Team / Bike	Average Qualifying Position
1	Gaige Herrera	RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki	1.86
2	Richard Gadson	RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki	2.93
3	Matt Smith	Denso/Matt Smith Racing Buell	3.07
4	Brayden Davis	Vance & Hines Suzuki	4.22
5	Angie Smith	Denso/Matt Smith Racing Buell	4.86
6	John Hall	Matt Smith Racing Buell	6.21
7	Jianna Evaristo	Matt Smith Racing Buell	7.64
8	Chase Van Sant	Trick-Tools Suzuki	8.79