The NHRA Sonoma Nationals is an annual drag racing event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, that has been held almost annually at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California since 1988 with the lone exception was during the 2020 race season because of the COVID pandemic.
History In 1987, the raceway signed a contract with the National Hot Rod Association for an event that was initially named the California Nationals, set to begin in 1988. NHRA has held National events at Sonoma every year since, with exception for 2020 due to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty about weather if the event were to be rescheduled to a date later in the year.
Race history In 2004, Angelle Sampey became the first woman ever to win at a Sonoma Nationals event, competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.
At the 2015 Sonoma Nationals, all 4 drivers that were the number one qualifiers went on to win the race in their respective categories, the first time in NHRA history that had ever happened at an event.
Also at the 2015 event, Jack Beckman piloted his Funny Car to 323.43 mph, which at the time was the quickest run in NHRA history. Two years later at the 2017 Sonoma Nationals, Robert Hight broke the record again going 339.87 mph. J.R. Todd's win in 2017 marked the first time an African-American won in NHRA Funny Car.
Past winners Professional Classes Year Top FuelDragster (TF/D) Top FuelFunny Car (TF/FC) Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle Source 1988 Joe Amato Mark Oswald Harry Scribner N/A 1989 Frank Bradley Don Prudhomme Bob Glidden 1990 Gary Ormsby John Force Darrell Alderman 1991 Joe Amato John Force Darrell Alderman 1992 Don Prudhomme John Force Warren Johnson 1993 Eddie Hill Tom Hoover Rickie Smith 1994 Scott Kalitta John Force Darrell Alderman 1995 Mike Dunn Al Hofmann Jim Yates 1996 Blaine Johnson Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson 1997 Cory McClenathan Ron Capps Jim Yates 1998 Doug Kalitta Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson 1999 Doug Kalitta Whit Bazemore Jim Yates 2000 Doug Kalitta John Force Kurt Johnson 2001 Kenny Bernstein Del Worsham Tom Martino 2002 Doug Herbert John Force Larry Morgan Craig Treble 2003 Larry Dixon Gary Scelzi Jeg Coughlin Geno Scali 2004 Doug Kalitta Tim Wilkerson Greg Anderson Angelle Sampey 2005 Doug Kalitta Gary Scelzi Greg Anderson Andrew Hines 2006 J.R. Todd Eric Medlen Jason Line Chip Ellis 2007 Tony Schumacher John Force Greg Anderson Matt Smith 2008 Tony Schumacher Robert Hight Dave Connolly Matt Guidera 2009 Antron Brown Tim Wilkerson Jason Line Andrew Hines 2010 Larry Dixon Ron Capps Jeg Coughlin Jr. Michael Phillips 2011 Antron Brown Ron Capps Greg Anderson L.E. Tonglet 2012 Antron Brown Johnny Gray Allen Johnson Eddie Krawiec 2013 Shawn Langdon Ron Capps Vincent Nobile Hector Arana Jr. 2014 Khalid al-Balooshi Courtney Force Jason Line Eddie Krawiec 2015 Antron Brown Jack Beckman Chris McGaha Eddie Krawiec 2016 J.R. Todd John Force Greg Anderson L.E. Tonglet 2017 Steve Torrence J.R. Todd Tanner Gray L.E. Tonglet 2018 Blake Alexander Robert Hight Jeg Coughlin Jr. L.E. Tonglet 2019 Billy Torrence Robert Hight Greg Anderson Andrew Hines 2020 Event not held due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Steve Torrence Robert Hight Aaron Stanfield Karen Stoffer 2022 Brittany Force Bob Tasca III Erica Enders Joey Gladstone 2023 Justin Ashley J.R. Todd N/A Gaige Herrera 2024 Antron Brown Bob Tasca III Aaron Stanfield Matt Smith 2025 Doug Kalitta Austin Prock Greg Stanfield Richard Gadson 2026 Doug Kalitta Jordan Vandergriff Greg Stanfield NC Notes
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