Reigning Prime Gas world champ Doug Kalitta made the quickest run of the 2024 NHRA season on Friday at Sonoma Raceway, setting the observe document and taking the provisional No. 1 spot on the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Bob Tasca III (Humorous Automobile), Matt Hartford (Professional Inventory) and Chase Van Sant (Professional Inventory Motorbike) are additionally the provisional No. 1 qualifiers.
Kalitta, who has a Prime Gas-best 5 profession wins at Sonoma, powered to a run of three.649 seconds at 336.40 mph in his Mac Instruments/Toyota dragster, obliterating the observe document and placing the factors chief in line for his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 58th in his profession. It was a spectacular run beneath the lights and Kalitta was thrilled to begin the weekend in that vogue.
“That was actually cool. I obtained my first win right here in Sonoma and I’ve lots of cool historical past right here,” Kalitta mentioned. “(Crew chief) Alan Johnson places lots of thought into his tune-up and he had a plan. He’s one dangerous dude.
“I might inform it was on a run and truthfully, I used to be completely satisfied to be the primary automotive out. I knew it could get cooler because the night time went on and also you by no means know what situations may do. I assumed it might need rattled a bit however not a lot. The automotive was attached and I managed to maintain it within the center, as straight as attainable. This is without doubt one of the nicest tracks on the tour, and I really like the format with the highway course. I’d like to get one other win this weekend.”
Brittany Drive went 3.668 at 335.57 to go to the second spot, whereas Billy Torrence is third after going 3.684 at 332.92.
Humorous Automobile’s Bob Tasca III simply missed out on historical past on Friday, rocketing to the highest with an impressive run of three.839 at 338.43 in his Motorcraft/Fast Lane Ford Mustang. The purpose was a 340mph run and Tasca simply missed out, nonetheless delivering a spectacular blast beneath the lights. The run might give the standout his second No. 1 of the season and the 18th in his profession, placing him on observe for what might be one other nice weekend in Sonoma. He received the race in 2022 and can look to duplicate that this yr, however Tasca had one other purpose in thoughts for Friday.
“I’ve by no means been so disillusioned to run a 3.83 at 338mph. I actually needed to go 340 for these followers,” Tasca mentioned. “We’d have finished it if not for that 15-knot headwind. We have been just a little involved concerning the observe, so we additionally cranked just a little extra spoiler in it. I’d commerce the low qualifier for a 340 run in a second.
“We ran 338 in Charlotte, and we ran 338 in Seattle and did it once more right here. I can let you know there received’t be a time when situations are there that we don’t attempt to do it. Imagine it or not, we run just a little completely different set-up to attempt to run these speeds. If we tuned the automotive just a little completely different, it is likely to be just a little bit faster. As for tomorrow, we’ll see what the situations are like. All of it is determined by which method the wind is blowing.”
Ron Capps is at present second due to his run of three.864 at 332.43, whereas defending world champion Matt Hagan is third after going 3.869 at 328.22.
In Professional Inventory, the early-season stoop for Matt Hartford seems to be over, placing down a formidable 6.515 at 210.41 in his GETTRX/Whole Seal Chevrolet Camaro to go to the No. 1 place on Friday. It places Hartford on observe for his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and fifth in his profession and the veteran hopes it’s an indication that the frustrations from earlier this yr are a distant reminiscence. Hartford, who’s at present eleventh in factors, has certified fourth three of the previous 4 races and Friday’s run is one other constructive step ahead. The subsequent step is popping it round on raceday after Hartford has suffered by 5 straight first-round losses.
“Issues are beginning to come round though this appears like the primary race of the season for us,” Hartford mentioned. “It’s no secret that this hasn’t been an excellent yr for our group however I’m an enormous believer that it’s not the place your begin it’s the place you end.
“The final three or 4 races it’s began to come back collectively, and we’ve had a quick race automotive and I’m getting my confidence again. In Seattle, I assumed we had an opportunity to go to the pole and we missed it. Right here, we mentioned we might run a 6.51 and we did. I feel Chicago was the turning level for us. We introduced two vehicles and let John DeFlorian drive the opposite one. We have been in a position to examine notes from each vehicles and we’ve been bettering ever since.”
Defending world champion Erica Enders is at present second with a run of 6.520 at 209.46 and Seattle winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. is third after a 6.524 at 209.82.
Nonetheless using excessive after his first profession Professional Inventory Motorbike victory on Sunday in Seattle, Chase Van Sant stored rolling on Friday in Sonoma, taking the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.768 at 197.10 on his Trick Instruments Suzuki. Ought to that maintain, Van Sant, the 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Yr, would decide up his first profession No. 1 qualifying spot, which might proceed his latest momentum. He made a pair of stable runs on Friday, which might bode effectively for Saturday’s GETTRX Professional Inventory Motorbike All-Star Callout.
The bonus race takes place on Saturday after riders made their first-round picks on Friday. Herrera, the highest seed, picked Matt Smith, who was seeded second, whereas Hector Arana Jr. took Steve Johnson as his first-round opponent. Jianna Evaristo will face off with John Corridor, with the opposite first-round matchup that includes Van Sant and Angie Smith.
“It’s been a whirlwind week to say the least and it’s cool to knock it out and get the provisional No. 1 right here at this time,” Van Sant mentioned. “I do know the Vance & Hines group has points at this time, so I anticipate a battle nevertheless it’s good to be right here. I had my finest 60-foot time ever on that run. It’s simply reassuring to know we are able to get the job finished and it reaffirms my religion in Tim [Kulungian, crew chief], not that I ever doubted him.
“I’ve obtained to run Angie [Smith] tomorrow within the GETTRX All-star Callout and we’ve gone forwards and backwards a couple of occasions this season. They’ll be quick too. The wind was a bit tough, which explains why our mph was down a bit. For me, I actually didn’t discover it an excessive amount of, however the bike simply feels a bit extra mundane. The win is so unpredictable right here in Sonoma as a result of it gusts nevertheless it’s normally both a head wind or a tail wind.”
M. Smith is at present second with a 6.770 at 198.73 and A. Smith is true behind after going 6.784 at 199.26.
Qualifying continues at 11:30am PT on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway.
