Roaring dragsters return to Sonoma Raceway

The NHRA Division 7 drag races, presented by Korbel, return to the drag strip at Sonoma Raceway this weekend, July 24-26, offering a high-speed indulgence for drag racing fans.|

The NHRA Division 7 drag races, presented by Korbel, return to the drag strip at Sonoma Raceway this weekend, July 24-26, offering a high-speed indulgence for drag racing fans.

The race is the fourth of seven slated for NHRA’s Pacific Division and will feature drag racing in nine categories. Competitors will battle for points leading to divisional and national championships, as well as a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.

The NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series, highlighted by the Top Fuel and Pro Fuel classes, joins the Division 7 event weekend for the first time. These two-wheeled rockets will scream down the drag strip at more than 200-mph battling for the $5,000 first-place prize.

The weekend will also be highlighted by the high-horsepower action of the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Series, featuring full-bodied cars capable of covering the quarter mile in just five seconds.

Nearly 450 entries are expected for the weekend, including a number of local competitors. Novato native and 2013 Super Gas World Champion, Rick Beckstrom, is slated to compete is in his Pontiac Grand Am throughout the weekend.

Gates open at 7 a.m. all weekend. Qualifying and time trials are slated Friday and Saturday, with final eliminations beginning on Saturday at 2 p.m. and continuing on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.   

This event kicks off back-to-back weekends of NHRA drag racing in the Sonoma Valley, as the facility will host the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 31-Aug. 2. It will mark the 28th annual visit for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, which will be headlined by the sport’s biggest names, including 2014 Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, seven-time Sonoma Funny Car winner John Force and 2014 NHRA Sonoma Nationals champion Courtney Force.

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