NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The weather that makes it so pleasant to see a race in Sonoma is also the weather that causes crew chiefs to scramble on Sunday mornings. The first round of Top Fuel racing began with the cool, dense air caused by the fog that fills these hills in the morning.

Top Fuel

3.70s was the bar to start the day. Brittany Force was the first to break that trend when she dispatched her teammate in round one with a 3.662 which was enough to beat Austin Prock's quicker reaction time (.067 to .075). 

Steve Torrence made the second-best run of the round and will give up lane choice to Brittany Force who made the best run of the round. 

"We're just racing, we're not looking to do a bunch of work this weekend. Racing with Hogan is the best thing on earth."—Bobby Lagana Jr., Capco Racing

Antron Brown went down to Shawn Langdon and had a fireball escape the engine at the top end. 

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Funny Car

It's national tequila day, and Guy Fieri was on the starting line watching the Top Fuel and Funny Car racing.

The Funny Car session began with a 97-degree track temperature.

Bob Tasca III went 3.875 and duplicated his qualifying run on Saturday. That was too much for Jason Rupert to compete with, but he made a clean run. 

Terry Haddock makes a long burnout and squared off against Alexis DeJoria. DeJoria ran a smooth 3.905 which was good enough to defeat Haddock. Haddock had to work on two engine explosions, one in the Cameron Ferre piloted  Top Fuel dragster and one in his Funny Car.  HE was able to get his Funny Car back together. 

"My team gives me such a good car, we're back at sea level running good. The butterflies are back, and I just wanted to puke before the first round."—Alexis DeJoria

Jeff Diehl had to shut off early with smoke coming out the engine, and Robert Hight ran around Diehl for a clockwork first-round win. Hight's car was dancing around a little in the eighth-mile 

John Force and Ron Capps match up for the 23rd time in the first round. Capps team knows what Force's team is capable of and it was Force that bumped off Capps from the 15th qualifying spot, 3.892 at  332.18 mph to Capps' 3.920  at  330.96  mph.  

"We had a few hiccups here and there, but we went back to our notebooks and made a few changes. Ron Capps is a badass, so we knew we had to bring our A game."—Dan Hood

Hagan matched up against Cruz Pedregon and both cars danced around at the top end of the race track, but Pedregon held on a little bit better and managed a 3.911 at 328.70 to  Hagan's 3.939  at 330.23 mph. That meant now showdown for Hagan and Hight at this year's Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. 

"Racing Matt Hagan and Dickie Venables that's probably the best crew chief driver combination in the sport, but we are running this Snap-On body for three races, and I am glad we got the win with it."—Cruz Pedregon

Blake Alexander's car has an issue backing up but ran well enough going forward to outdo Steven Densham.

J.R. Todd bumped out Tm Wilkerson when Wilkerson wasn't able to make a clean run. 

Paul Lee also struggled to make a clean run and drifted toward the wall in the left lane which allowed  Jim Campbell to advance to the next round. 

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Pro Stock

Matt Hartford and Chris McGaha were the first pairing and Hartford's car hooked right toward the wall as soon as he let out the clutch. 

McGaha made a clean run that matched his qualifying time. 

Chris McGaha was next up opposite Bo Butner but could not repeat his son's success and lost to Butner on two less-than-perfect runs. 

Greg Anderson cut a .033 light against Steve Graham who didn't have a clean run. Anderson managed a  6.540  at 208.33. 

Erica Enders matched up against Fernando Cuadra Jr and cut a .011 to Cuadra's red-light start. Enders ran the quickest e.t. of the round with a 6.517  at 211.86.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Jerry Savoie dispatched Angie Smith in round one on a quicker reaction time (.043 to .067) 

Top Fuel

In the Denver final rematch Shawn Langdon knocked out Leah Pruett on a holeshot. 

Brittany Force out-horsepowered Steve Torrence with a 3.663  at 336.49 mph to Torrence's 3.716 at 329.18

Mike Salinas out-powered Justin Ashley

Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart dueled it out with a great race that saw Kalitta able to put more power to the ground. 

Pro Stock

Greg Anderson marched through the field, taking down one-time customer Bo Butner with a .003 reaction time. 

Kyle Koretsky and Troy Coughlin Jr met up with identical reaction times (.017)  but Coughlin got out of it early giving the win to Koretsky.

Aaron Stanfield outpowered  Dallas Glenn

Erica Enders and Mason McGaha paired up, Enders is as mentally tough as anyone who has ever gotten in a Pro Stock car. After some staging shenanigans, Enders beat McGaha's reaction time. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Jerry Savoie dashed Steve Johnson's hopes of taking home the Wally with a .047 to .084 reaction time.

Eddie Krawiec eeked out Matt Smith on a  .002 -second holeshot and defeated Smith's 6.748  at 201.46 with a slower 6.750  at 200.41.

Top Fuel

Mike Salinas out Alan Johnson'd Alan Johnson and ran a 3.844  at 321.04  to Doug Kalitta's cylinder-dropping 4.354. That semi-final round sent Salinas back to the final round after a one-race hiatus. 

Brittany Force ran a 3.675 at 337.75 and the fourth fastest speed in the history of the sport—Shawn Langdon's 3.787  at 311.20 mph 

Funny Car

John Force headed to the 263 final round in his career after defeating Alexis DeJoria.
Bob Tasca III was the man who was able to take down Mr. Sonoma, Robert Hight, and go to 

Pro Stock

Greg Anderson was on track to an Erica Enders final after couldn't make a clean run. 

Erica Enders went  6.527 at 211 mph when Aaron Stanfield's car drove through the beams before the launch. 

A nervous giggle came out of Greg Anderson when he saw the number Erica ran. "We're going to have to throw the kitchen sink at it in the final and see if it sticks."—Greg Anderson

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Angelle Sampey red-lighted ant handed Eddie Krawiec the final round appearance 
Joey Gladstone beat Jerry Savoie who was on a strong run until the bike began drifting toward the centerline.  

Going into the Final Round

Joey Gladstone

Eddie Krawiec

Erica Enders

Greg Anderson

John Force

Bob Tasca III

Mike Salinas

Brittany Force

Pro Stock Motorcycle Final

Joey Gladstone beat Eddie Krawiec on a holeshot 

Pro Stock Final

Erica Enders beat Greg Anderson on a holeshot

"It was kinda a rush final, and our engine quit 150-feet from the finish line but we did and my boys are badass!"—Erica Enders

Funny Car Final

Bob Tasca III reacted quicker and ran better than John Force for the win. Tasca's wife and four sons were on the property to see the win and celebrate the success. 

Top Fuel Final

All year long Brittany Force and Mike Salinas have been battling it out. Force wins with a 3.709  to Salinas' 3.741

You can catch the action all weekend on FOX Sports 1 and NHRA.tv.

You can follow NHRA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a closer look at the action.

TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

Sunday, July 24, FS1 will televise qualifying coverage from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (ET)

Sunday, July 24, FOX will televise final eliminations from 4 to 7 p.m. (ET)