The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals turns Sonoma Raceway into a thunderous arena of high-speed competition every July. This drag racing spectacle draws the world’s fastest drivers and their wild, 22,000+ horsepower machines for three days of nitro-fueled chaos.
Set against the vineyards and rolling hills of wine country, the event features Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stock vehicles, and Pro Stock Motorcycles all chasing the coveted Wally Trophy.
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Daily Event Breakdown
Each day at the NHRA Nationals brings something different. You can pick a single day or go all in with a weekend pass if you want the full experience.
Friday, July 25: Qualifying Under the Lights
Friday kicks off with qualifying runs from every competition class. As the sun sets, nitro-powered monsters hit the track under the lights, sending flames and sound waves into the night.
If you’ve never felt a Top Fuel or Funny Car run shake your chest, you’re in for a treat. The nighttime racing is a wild, sensory overload—speed, fire, and pure adrenaline.
Saturday, July 26: Peak Performance Day
Saturday’s the day when teams usually chase their fastest times. You’ll see multiple nitro class runs, get a shot at driver autographs, and have full run of the Fan Zone.
Track conditions are often perfect, so teams push hard for those record-setting qualifying passes. It’s the best day for stats nerds and anyone who loves raw speed.
Sunday, July 27: Elimination Rounds
Sunday is all about the eliminations. Drivers who made the cut fight through quarterfinals, semifinals, and then the finals—every pass matters.
The tension ramps up with each round, and by the end, champions in each class finally get to hoist the Wally Trophy. It’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for.
Racing Categories
The event throws the spotlight on drag racing’s top classes, each with its own flavor and fanbase.
Top Fuel Dragsters
These 11,000-horsepower beasts launch from 0 to 330+ mph in under four seconds. The acceleration is so violent, you can see shockwaves ripple behind them.
Watch for big names like Antron Brown and Tony Stewart as they wrestle these monsters down the strip. It’s wild stuff.
Funny Cars
Funny Cars are anything but funny—these machines also pack 11,000 horsepower and top 330 mph. Their carbon fiber bodies look vaguely like street cars, but there’s nothing street-legal about what they do.
Ron Capps leads a stacked field in this crowd-pleasing class. The visuals and the noise? Unreal.
Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle
These classes are all about precision. Pro Stock cars and bikes run naturally-aspirated engines and demand serious driver skill.
Pro Stock cars reach over 210 mph, and the bikes aren’t far behind at 200+. It’s less about brute force, more about technique and razor-sharp tuning.
Visitor Experience
The NHRA Nationals isn’t just about racing—there’s plenty more for fans to dig into.
Fan Zone Access
Your ticket gets you right into the open pit area, where teams rip down and rebuild engines between runs. You can:
Practical Tips
Want to get the most out of your Sonoma trip? Here’s what I’d do:
Ticketing Information
You’ll need to buy either individual day tickets or a full weekend pass to attend. Weekend passes usually give you the best bang for your buck, especially if you want to catch everything from qualifying to the finals.
The raceway has a range of seating—general admission if you’re feeling casual, or premium grandstand spots if you want to get closer to the action.
The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals is easily one of Northern California’s most intense motorsports events. There’s something wild about the mix of peaceful wine country and the thunder of nitro engines—it’s the kind of contrast you don’t really find anywhere else.
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