- VANDERGRIFF BAGS SONOMA NATS NO. 1 QUALIFIER
- LANGDON, CAPPS, GLENN WIN MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA CHALLENGE AT SONOMA
- Ron Capps and NAPA Funny Car Team Secure First Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Win Of The Season
- HERRERA WINS GETTRX PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE ALL-STAR CALLOUT AT SONOMA
- LANGDON, CAPPS & GLENN WIN MISSION #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE AT SONOMA RACEWAY
- GAIGE HERRERA DOMINATES EN ROUTE TO GETTRX PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE ALL-STAR CALLOUT WIN
- AUTODROMO OF MONTERREY BACK IN NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK AS PART OF DIVISION 4
Quarter-Max Pro Extreme Exhibition Class Added to Final Two MWDRS Events as Series Evaluates 2027 Expansion
TULSA, OK — The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service is proud to announce the addition of the Quarter-Max Pro Extreme Exhibition Class for the final two races of the 2026 season at Tulsa Raceway Park on October 23-24th, and Xtreme Raceway Park November 6-7th.
The new exhibition class is being introduced as part of the MWDRS’s continued commitment to growing the sport of drag racing while providing racers with additional opportunities to compete. The two-event trial will allow racers, fans, sponsors, and series officials to evaluate the class before a decision is made on adding it as a full-time championship category in 2027.
“The Mid-West Drag Racing Series has always been about listening to racers and building the sport of drag racing,” said Keith Haney, owner of the MWDRS. “Pro Extreme has generated a lot of interest over the years, and we felt the best way to evaluate its future with the MWDRS was to put it on the racetrack. This exhibition gives everyone from the stands to the sponsors an opportunity to see the class in action before we make any decisions for next season.”
Continue reading
GREG JACOBSMEYER RACING RETURNS TO ACTION AT CEDAR FALLS NIGHT OF FIRE, FALLS SHORT IN CHICAGO STYLE FINAL
ST. LOUIS – Jake and the Greg Jacobsmeyer Racing team made their first start of the 2026 season on July 11 at the Cedar Falls Night of Fire at Cedar Falls Motorsports Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, competing in the AA/FA Altered configuration and advancing to the Chicago Style final before a tire-shake issue ended their run.
The season-opening appearance came after a long off-season layoff dating back to a September race. The team had targeted an earlier start to the year, including a planned debut at an IHRA event in June, but safety upgrades required to meet IHRA standards — including a system that automatically cuts fuel, disconnects the throttle and deploys the parachutes in the event of engine failure — along with a do-it-yourself repair and replacement of trailer axles and hubs after more than 60,000 miles of use, pushed the timeline back and forced the team to skip the June race.
The Cedar Falls event, traditionally an exhibition featuring nitro funny cars, nitro bikes, fuel altereds, pro mods, wheel standers and jet trucks, drew a nitro field of six cars this year — two nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters, three fuel altereds and one pro mod — setting up a Chicago Style competition. Conditions were favorable, with temperatures in the mid-80s during the day and high 60s at night and no rain, a contrast to the previous year’s rain-hampered event for the nitro cars.
Continue reading
CRUZ PEDREGON CHASING FIRST SONOMA FUNNY CAR WIN IN NEARLY 30 YEARS TO GET 2026 SEASON ON TRACK
SONOMA, CA – Two-time Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon has spent more than three decades competing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and will look for his first Sonoma Raceway victory in nearly 30 years at this weekend’s 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge.
Pedregon, a Southern California native, pilots the 12,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Dodge Hellcat SRT and the Funny Car veteran has many memories from the Northern California facility, including his two wins in 1996 and 1998.
“Sonoma is a home race for us, even though we’re from SoCal, we get great fan support up there and we’re definitely up for a win in front of the home crowd,” Pedregon said. “Like they say in real estate: location, location, location. I feel like Sonoma and all of Northern California has a great racing history going way back of not only racers but a lot of great race fans throughout that area. I’m in the twilight of my career, so it would mean a lot to punch it in again for a win.”
Continue reading
HAGAN CHASES ELUSIVE SONOMA WIN AS WESTERN SWING OPENS
SONOMA, CA – Matt Hagan and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car team head to the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge chasing one of the few wins that has eluded him, as the 11th of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule opens the second half of the season for Tony Stewart Racing.
Sonoma Raceway remains one of the only tracks on the current NHRA schedule where Hagan has yet to win. He has been the No. 1 qualifier there three times (2009, 2013, 2025) and reached the final round on three occasions (2012, 2019, 2021), most recently advancing to the semifinals in 2025.
“Being in the finals that many times in Sonoma and not getting it done is heartbreaking honestly,” said Hagan. “Besides our new tracks this season, that’s the only track I haven’t won at on tour. It’s one that we really want. We’ve had two wins with Jason Johnson this season and this weekend we’re in the JHG car again, so maybe the luck continues and we can capitalize to get my first Sonoma Nationals win. I want that specialty wine goblet trophy.”
Continue reading
PRUETT LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AT SONOMA AS SECOND HALF OPENS
SONOMA, CA – Leah Pruett and the Mobil 1 Top Fuel dragster team head to the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge as the 11th of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule opens the second half of the season for Tony Stewart Racing.
Returning to driving duties in 2026 after stepping away to start her family, Pruett currently sits third in the Top Fuel championship standings. Her 2026 campaign includes a victory at the postponed New England Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, a runner-up finish at the Arizona Nationals, and a No. 1 qualifying position. She enters Sonoma looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic first-round loss at the most recent event in Norwalk, Ohio, after qualifying third — her first opening-round exit of the 2026 season.
Sunday success has eluded Pruett at Sonoma Raceway, though she captured the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying position there in 2022 and finished runner-up to Steve Torrence in a 2021 final decided by just 0.0027 seconds. Pruett also points to a personal connection to the track’s West Coast roots and the atmosphere surrounding race weekends there.
Continue reading
AFLAC RENEWS TEAM KALITTA PARTNERSHIP, JOINS TEAM FOR NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
YPSILANTI, MI – Aflac Incorporated, a leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the United States, renewed its partnership with Kalitta Motorsports, the team announced today. The three-car Kalitta Motorsports team races in the National Hot Rod Association’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series with races contested throughout the United States.
Aflac
(NYSE: AFL) will be the primary partner on two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta’s car at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge July 17-19, 2026, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
“We are pleased to renew our relationship with team Kalitta for another season of racing fun in 2026,” said Aflac Senior Vice President, Broker Strategy Richard Siebert. “Aflac prides itself on paying benefits quickly and efficiently to help our customers in their time of need in the same way that Doug Kalitta races to the finish line ahead of the competition. We wish Doug all the success in the world for this racing season.”
TODD LOOKS TO STAY IN POINTS HUNT WITH STRONG SHOWING AT SONOMA
SONOMA, CA – J.R. Todd and the DHL GR Supra Funny Car team head to the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge looking to build on growing consistency, as the 11th of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule opens the second half of the season and the final four races of the regular season.
Todd enters the weekend third in the Funny Car point standings, trailing second-place Matt Hagan by 12 points and leading fourth-place Jack Beckman by five. He has advanced to at least the semifinals in five of the season’s 10 races, with one runner-up finish and four semifinal showings. Despite a quarterfinal exit at the most recent event in Norwalk, Todd’s DHL GR Supra team made five strong qualifying runs before missing the tuneup, and the team stayed on for a Monday test session.
Continue reading
KALITTA RETURNS TO SONOMA AS DEFENDING CHAMPION
SONOMA, CA – Doug Kalitta and the Aflac Top Fuel Dragster team head to the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge as the defending event champion, with the 11th of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule opening the second half of the season and the final four races of the regular season.
Kalitta enters the weekend second in the Top Fuel point standings, trailing teammate Shawn Langdon by 150 points and leading third-place Leah Pruett by 129. Team Kalitta has held the top two spots in the standings since the second race of the season. The two-time and defending NHRA Top Fuel champion has a win, four runners-up, three semifinal finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers this season. Combined with Langdon’s four wins, Team Kalitta dragsters have won five of the season’s first 10 races and competed in 37 of 39 rounds of racing.
Continue reading
LANGDON LEADS TOP FUEL POINTS INTO SECOND HALF AT SONOMA
SONOMA, CA – Shawn Langdon and the Kalitta Air Careers Top Fuel Dragster team arrive at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge atop the Top Fuel point standings, as the 11th of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule opens the second half of the season and the final four races of the regular season.
Langdon leads teammate Doug Kalitta by 150 points entering the weekend. Team Kalitta has held the top two spots in the Top Fuel standings since the second race of the season. Langdon brings four wins into Sonoma, including three consecutive victories at Valdosta, Joliet and Budds Creek, along with three runners-up, two semifinal showings and five No. 1 qualifiers this season. Combined with Kalitta’s win at Charlotte, Team Kalitta dragsters have won five of the season’s first 10 races and competed in 37 of 39 rounds of racing.
Continue reading
HART LOVES GREAT FAN ENERGY AT SONOMA NATIONALS
BROWNSBURG, IN – Josh Hart’s home base for years has been sunny Florida but it’s the positive California vibes of Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway’s NHRA Drag Racing fans he’s looking forward to enjoying when he pulls his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster to the starting line during the July 17-19 NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Hart and the David Grubnic/John Collins-led Speedmaster team are currently seventh in the point standings after the season’s first 10 races but know their performance over the next four regular season races and six playoff races is all that matter at this point.
The team is just 33 points behind Tony Stewart in sixth, 49 to Antron Brown in fifth place and 55 to Maddi Gordon in fourth.
Continue reading
