Cruz Pedregon Eyes First Sonoma Funny Car Win in 30 Years to Ignite 2026 Season

Cruz Pedregon targets a first Sonoma Funny Car win since 1998 at this weekend’s 38th DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, the 11th round of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods season.

The two-time champion drives the 12,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Dodge Hellcat SRT. He previously won at Sonoma in 1996 and 1998, and views the venue as a home race given strong regional support.

Pedregon cites Northern California’s deep racing heritage and engaged fanbase. At this stage of his career, he focuses on execution and converting incremental gains into a result that resets momentum.

The event forms part of NHRA’s 75th anniversary celebrations, with appearances from multi-title winner Gary Scelzi. A commemorative ticket spotlights Brittany Force’s 343.16-mph run from last season.

Fans also get an updated Nitro Mall and heritage displays, including the Che Precision legacy, underscoring the series’ technical evolution and long-running team craftsmanship.

Pedregon’s recent inclusion on the NHRA Top 75 Driver List places him alongside Tony Schumacher, Ron Capps, and Greg Anderson. Brother Tony Pedregon also features, underlining the family’s sustained impact.

Performance-wise, the priority is consistency as the campaign progresses. Pedregon aims to capitalise on work done earlier in 2026, with setup refinement central to converting pace into points.

Competition is fierce. Points leader Ron Capps owns three wins, including Norwalk. Former champions Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd, and Jack Beckman remain threats, as do Jordan Vandergriff and 2025 Sonoma winner Austin Prock.

Top Fuel features Shawn Langdon’s four-win lead and pressure from Doug Kalitta, last year’s Sonoma Top Fuel winner, reinforcing the class’s tight performance window.

Pro Stock brings Greg Stanfield’s two victories and continued leadership from Dallas Glenn. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s All-Star Callout offers $25,000, with eight bikes intensifying Saturday dynamics.

Within Funny Car, Pedregon’s camp targets cleaner early increments and race-day repeatability as the schedule enters its back half, aligning with his stated focus on the 2026 season’s second half.

Sonoma’s broader racing narrative also features rising names, highlighted by recent milestones such as Maddi Gordon’s Sonoma win, which underscores the venue’s reputation for career-defining weekends.

Fans can expect tight racing, the SealMaster Track Walk, and post-race celebrations with drivers. Vendor displays and interactive activities further enhance the weekend’s accessibility and paddock engagement.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.