Sonoma Recap

With only 10 races to go in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yellow tour the Toyota Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, CA was the next stop on the 24 race journey, and also marked the 2nd stop on the western swing. The “wine tour” Nationals went along as smooth as planned with cars getting all of their scheduled runs and the beautiful California weather did not disappoint, having perfectly sunny days with minimal to whine about. Overall the event from a racer and spectator standpoint was a complete success, whether it was watching Jody Lang outlast a stout Super Stock field full of new technology and veteran drivers in his mid-10 second Malibu for his 27th Wally, or watching names such as McClanahan, Kowalski, or Borges holding their first ever trophy and fulfilling racing dreams. It was an event for everyone to kick back, relax and just enjoy some good ole racing!

Super Stock: Jody Lang over Justin Lamb

Jody Lang grabs his 27th National event win with a .023 total package in his trusty 10.70 ’81 Malibu. Lang was away first with a 10.68 dial as Lamb would wait for over 2 seconds to start the chase in his Cobalt with an 8.59 dial. Lamb made a good lap being .020 on the tree and running 8.622 on the 8.59, but it wasn’t enough as Lang ran dead on 8 to the 10.68 with a .015 reaction time, giving him the win. This win puts Lang in the #1 spot in points with 596, still with national and divisional event’s to better on.

Stock: Brian McClanahan over Dwayne Scheitlin

McClanahan puts together a veteran spread of reaction times for his 1st career win in his 3rd try. McClanahan was giving chase with his 9.84 dial to the slightly slower 10.11 dial of Scheitlin, but McClanahan already had 2 hundredths of that made up at the tree with his .019 light to Scheitlin’s .045. About 9 seconds later McClanahan was in full control of the race, in and out of the gas, trimming the stripe down to a .001 MOV running 9.871 (9.84). Although Scheitlin ran dead on 6 (10.116) to his dial, his 51 thou package was no match for McClanahan who was between .010 and .020 on the tree all weekend in eliminations.

Super Comp: Val Torres Jr. over Ryan McClanahan

Val Torres Jr. takes home win #4 in a great final against rookie season Super Comp driver Ryan McClanahan. McClanahan was on kill on the starting line, being between .000 and .009 in every round of competition this weekend, so Torres Jr. knew he needed to be on point on the let go and did not disappoint with a near perfect .001 light to a .014 for McClanahan. At the finish line it was Torres Jr. getting to the stripe first by .014 and running 8.919 for a .020 total package. McClanahan ran almost identical to Torres Jr. at 8.920 on the 8.90 index but needed to run dead on 5 or closer to pick up the win.

Super Gas: Evan Kowalski over Chris Cannon

Kowalski picks up his first ever National event win with the big starting line advantage over Cannon. Kowalski was .053 on the tree and first to let go of the button with Cannon being .104 and that is pretty much the race. Cannon goes down and runs dead on 3 to the 9.90 index but was about 3 feet short as Kowalski runs 9.941 and takes the win.

Super Street: Chris Borges over Matt Blodgett

Borges goes 1 for 1 in National event final rounds and picks up his first ever win. Blodgett had the advantage out of the gate with a .015 reaction time, but then took too much stripe and broke out by -.002 running 10.898. Borges was just a hun behind at the start with a .026 reaction time but was on the positive side of 10.90, running 10.921 and getting the automatic win when Blodgett ran faster than the index.

Top Sportsman: Bart Smith over Keith White

We have another first time winner, and another driver who is 100% in final rounds as Smith gets his first ever Wally. White was spotting the eventual winner about 3 hun with his 7.09 dial, but was just a couple ticks too quick on the tree and lit the cherry by -.002. Smith who had a clean tree with a 7.34 dial was .028 and noticed the scoreboard light up on his side and got out of the gas and coasted to his victory.

Top Dragster: Paul Nero over Jeff Havens

Nero takes his 2nd ever win driven by a stellar .018 total package at 199 mph. Nero was ahead on the tree with a .010 light and drove right around Havens to run dead on 6.708 on the 6.70 dial. Havens was good running 6.736 on the 6.72 but sadly was shut out with a .019 light.

Photos By – Auto Imagery