This year’s NHRA visit to the famed race track in the Sonoma Wine Country was full of surprises and adversity. The track has a history of providing some great performances. Robert Hight, in the Funny Car division, ran the highest speed in NHRA drag racing, 339.87 mph at this track. NHRA then made changes to the class rules, that has slowed the Funny Cars down for safety reasons. (The Goodyear rear tires were not rated for that speed at that time; they have been improved since). Initially, things were looking so good, that it seemed likely that 300 mph speed at the 1/8-mile point could be reach and/or exceeded. The first team/driver to accomplish this feat, receives a $30,000 cash prize. Brittany Force was the favorite, having gone over 338 mph more than any other team/driver. But a mechanical failure in a sportsman class dragster resulted in the release of a very hard to completely clean-up high technology hydraulic fluid on the track surface, which took away any chances of that record being broken. NHRA and track crews worked feverishly in the attempt to get the track back to the prime competitive level it is famous for. But though the track nearly reached that level, it was too little too late for any records.
This track condition (though improving each round) had effects on the competition during the event, as teams and crew chiefs struggled to find that magic set-up needed to make a competitive run down the track.
The track problems were not the only adversities suffered by teams during the event. Antron Brown had rear wing failure that, if not for his great skills, could have been worse and possibly crashed his car. But he was able to keep the car straight and safely slow it down to a stop. Tim Wilkerson had the left front spoiler bow-in on his Funny Car body, as the carbon fiber collapsed. This could have been more serious; had he not been shown photographs of the car from the run. After the run the body showed no visual damage, but after seeing the photo, he went to his spare body for safety. The damaged body can be properly repaired at his shop. Steve Torrence’s car suffered an engine failure near the starting line on a single/bye run in the second round of eliminations. This is a pretty rare thing to happen with this team. It cost him lane choice, which contributed to him being eliminated in the semi-final round.
In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley collected his fifth win of the season over Antron Brown by a 0.001-second margin, 3.778 at 328.78 mph to 3.787 at 327.90 mph performance. Brown, after getting his rear wing replaced, took a 0.059 to 0.063 second starting line advantage, but was not able to hold off Ashley.
In Funny Car, JR Todd was going through nearly two years of adversity, but he was able to overcome it. His team was able to find that tune up needed to overcome the track problems. He took out Chad Green in the final round with a 3.972 at 322.81 mph to 4.039 at 314.17 mph winning performance.
Gaige Herrera came into the season as a rookie in Pro Stock Motorcycle. But he has ridden his motorcycle like a seasoned champion. During qualifying, he not only took the number one spot but he also defeated Angie Smith in the final round of the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Call Out. Then he went on the capture his sixth national event victory (out of eight races contested) by defeating Matt Smith in the final round. Smith’s bike failed to start, so Herrera singled with a 6.775 at198.12 mph for the win. The win also clinched his spot in the playoffs that start after Indy.
The racers and sanctioning NHRA body were thrown a lot of curves over the weekend, but they all worked together to achieve success to the benefit of all the fans in attendance.
