NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

When it comes to drama, the NHRA Sonoma Nationals rarely disappoints. Nestled among the rolling hills and vineyards of the otherwise serene Sonoma valley, the event is the second stop on NHRA’s annual Western Swing and it is a favorite of racers and fans alike. Before the vino begins flowing, Tricky Tipster has offered up the following picks.

TOP FUEL

FUNNY CAR | PRO STOCK | PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

Leah Pritchett
Dodge/Pennzoil/Papa John’s

She has called last week’s Denver win the biggest of her career but now it’s time to get back to sea-level racing. That’s a big challenge for any time, but this one figures to make the adjustment as well as anyone.  
Odds: 3-1

Steve Torrence
Capco Contractors

Let’s not kid anyone, this is still the best car in the class even though they had a tough weekend in Denver. If anyone can make a quick rebound and get back up on the horse that threw him, it’s this guy. Will be surprised if he doesn’t’ at least make it to the semifinals. Defending event champ as well.
Odds: 7-2

Doug Kalitta
Mac Tools

Don’t look now but here comes the Kalitta crew. The Denver final was the fourth of the season for the Mac Tools crew and he’s keeping the points leaders well within striking distance. He’s also got a 5-1 record in final rounds at Sonoma Raceway.
Odds: 5-1

Clay Millican
Parts Plus/Great Clips

Okay, who wants to see the Stringer team put up a big number on one of NHRA’s quickest race tracks? A solid qualifying effort is almost a given with this crew anymore and they’ve steadily worked on their race-day set-up. Absolutely, a contender for this win.
Odds: 6-1

Blake Alexander
Pronto Service Center

Another semifinal finish in Denver which has to make one wonder if they haven’t contemplated going to Seattle and Brainerd to take a shot at a Countdown berth. Another big finish here and that might be a possibility. Regardless, this team does amazing things given the amount of runs they make compared to the full-timers.  
Odds: 7-1

Tony Schumacher
U.S. Army

Two wins in five final rounds here but the real story is how they bounce-back from another tough round one loss. The Army car is certainly capable of winning any race on the tour but they’ve had their share of tough luck immediately following the National Anthem.
Odds: 9-1

Antron Brown
Matco Tools

Two-steps forward, one step back. That’s sort of how the summer has gone for Team Matco. They had a couple of solid outings, including a semi in Richmond and a runner-up in Epping, but the first-round loss in Denver stung. Being sixth or seventh in the Countdown is going to make for an awfully tough fight for another title.
Odds: 11-1

Brittany Force
Monster Energy

It’s been a tough summer for the reigning Mello Yello champ but this is still one of the best cars in the class so it’s not at all unreasonable to expect them to bust out of their mid-summer slump at any time. Got to think John’s Funny Car win in Denver is a good omen for the entire JFR team.
Odds: 14-1

FUNNY CAR

Courtney Force
Advance Auto Parts Chevy

Historically, Sonoma Raceway is one of those tracks that lets tuners be tuners and drivers be drivers. It will take almost anything they want to throw at it. That should certainly favor one of the quickest and fastest cars in the field. Don’t you think?
Odds: 4-1

Ron Capps
NAPA Dodge

When one thinks of California Funny Car racers, especially in the modern era, it’s hard not to put Ron Capps at or near the top of the list. Sonoma is home for the 2016 world champ and he’s got four wins here in his storied career. He’d certainly appreciate the magnitude of a fifth title.
Odds: 5-1

Matt Hagan
Mopar Dodge

The new Dodge Charger body had a muted debut in Denver with a bottom-half qualifying effort and a round one loss. That was likely a Denver thing more than the result of the new body. If it is indeed better, and all reports say it is, we should see the results this week and they could be spectacular.
Odds: 6-1

John Force
Peak Chevy

Old? Over the hill? Washed-up? Not this guy. Somewhere in Red Rocks canyon must be the fountain of youth because the 16-time champ looked like a 20-something with a pair of holeshot wins on his way to win No. 149 in Denver. This week will also be his 750th start in the Funny Car class. That would be a perfect place to get win No. 150.
Odds: 8-1

Robert Hight
Auto Club Chevy

Surprisingly, he’s only won here once and that was a decade ago. Much like Capps, he’s a California guy who enjoys West Coast wins as much as anyone else in the class. He’s also got the right equipment to get the job done as this is one of the quickest cars in the field.
Odds: 8-1

J.R. Todd
DHL Toyota

Yes, the DHL team has struggled a bit as of late but this is the perfect time for a rebound. Todd has had great success in Sonoma and the last time this car ran West of the Rockies, they scored a big win at the Las Vegas four-wide race.
Odds: 9-1

Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford

The battle for the final spot in the Countdown is going to be a dog fight and it probably won’t be settled until Monday afternoon in Indy. That being said, this is probably one of the favorites to claim the last spot, or at least one of them. He ran well in Denver but can’t afford a let-down this week.
Odds: 11-1

Jack Beckman
Infinite Hero Dodge

Like many teams, the Infinite Hero squad struggled to find consistency in Denver. A venue and altitude change should be considered a positive thing for the 2015 Sonoma Funny Car champion.
Odds: 12-1

PRO STOCK

Greg Anderson
Summit Racing Camaro

Finally. A win in Denver, and it was far from a gimme. The four-time champ is officially back. Not that he ever left but it will be interesting to see how much momentum carries through the remainder of the Western Swing. He’s also got five wins here which should be confidence inspiring.
Odds: 3-1

Tanner Gray
Gray Manufacturing Technologies Camaro

Returns as the defending event champ and that should count for something. Denver was a bit of a let-down but he’s easily going to be one of the favorites on a high-horsepower track like Sonoma Raceway.
Odds: 4-1

Jeg Coughlin Jr.
JEGS.com/Elite Camaro

The six-time champion won this race in 2003 and 2010 and was also a runner-up in 2008 and 2013. Those are pretty good results and based on the way this car has performed this summer, it’s easy to believe that the yellow and black JEGS Camaro will be in another final round this weekend.
Odds: 5-1

Chris McGaha
Harlow Sammons Camaro

It was only three years ago that he scored his first career win here and then rolled right on to Seattle and won again. He’s coming off two semifinals and a win in his last five events so the time is right for another big weekend.
Odds: 7-1

Erica Enders
Melling/Elite Camaro

Shaking the tires in the first round in Denver was unfortunate. Shaking the tires after cutting an almost-perfect .008 light is even more frustrating. We harp on this all the time, but given her penchant for .00 lights, the two-time champ is rarely going to be an underdog in any battle, although she’s never appeared in a Sonoma Pro Stock final.
Odds: 8-1

Jason Line
Summit Racing Camaro

Will the real Jason Line please stand up? Which one will show up in Sonoma. The one that mostly fumbled his way through the first half of the season or the one who did a masterful job of both driving and tuning en route to a runner-up finish in Denver? We’re expecting the latter from the three-time Sonoma winner.
Odds: 9-1

Vincent Nobile
Mountain View Camaro

Denver was a mixed bag with a holeshot win over Bo Butner in the first round and a narrow loss to Greg Anderson in the second. Another couple of thousandths, and the Mountain View team are geared up for a final round appearance.
Odds: 11-1

Deric Kramer
American Ethanol Camaro

The decision to race part-time was made before the start of the season and the American Ethanol team is sticking to it. That being said, they’re fighting for a spot in the Countdown so every round from this point forward will be critical. They could use a strong showing here.
Odds: 14-1

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

LE Tonglet
Nitro Fish Suzuki

He’s won the last two Sonoma races and three of the last seven. In other words, he really, really likes racing here. He’s also got a bike that is more than capable of a three-peat. Finally, after a tough outing in Denver, he’s going to be hungry for another win.
Odds: 3-1

Eddie Krawiec
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson

Before Tonglet went on his two-year win streak in Sonoma, this guy was the man to beat with three wins in the previous four years. Between the race and Saturday’s Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle, it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t return home with at least one trophy, maybe two.
Odds: 7-2

Hector Arana Jr.
Lucas Oil Buell

His win in Denver was (mostly) a thing of beauty with a solid advantage over most of his competitors. Sonoma is a great track for NHRA’s two-wheel racers and weather permitting, it’s easy to think he’ll also add another 200-mph run to his collection.
Odds: 4-1

Jerry Savoie
White Alligator Suzuki

He needed a good showing in Denver and got it with a solid runner-up finish that should have been a win if not for an untimely -.004 red-light. The Suzuki’s seem to run best at sea-level which might just give them an edge over the V-twin bikes in Sonoma. He’d be one of the guys to take advantage of that.
Odds: 6-1

Andrew Hines
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson

Left alongside Arana Jr. in the semifinals in Denver and then watched him drive away. That doesn’t happen often and it probably won’t happen here. He hasn’t won this race since 2009, but he’s been money in the Pro Bike Battle so expect a solid showing in both races.
Odds: 7-1

Matt Smith
Smith Racing Victory

Got to the final round here last year before losing to LE Tonglet and this year he’s bringing a bike that is easily faster than last year’s model. This is another guy who we’d expect to see win some rounds in the race and the Pro Bike Battle.
Odds: 8-1

Angie Smith
Denso Spark Plugs Buell

First mission accomplished when she made the eight-bike field for the Mickey Thompson Pro Bike Battle for the first time in her career. Now, the goal becomes solidifying her spot in the Countdown to the Championship. A semifinal (or better) finish here should help do the trick.
Odds: 10-1

Scotty Pollacheck
Suzuki Extended Protection Suzuki

Back to what we were saying about this being a Suzuki track. If there is one rider who could use that sort of a boost, it’s this guy and since he’s from Oregon, this is basically a home race, or at least the closest thing he gets to one.
Odds: 14-1