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2026 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals: Full Schedule, Key Storylines & Live Updates
Highlights
- Doug Kalitta earned Top Fuel pole with 3.714-second pass.
- Jordan Vandergriff set fastest Funny Car time of season.
- Chris Vang claimed Pro Stock pole with 6.498-second run.
- Gaige Herrera won $25,000 motorcycle All-Star shootout prize.
- Sonoma Raceway hosted sellout crowds for three consecutive days.
- Sunday eliminations began at 11 a.m. PT following ceremonies.
The 38th DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals conclude at Sonoma Raceway after three sellout days, underscoring NHRA momentum in its 75th anniversary season.
The event marks round 11 of 20 in the 2026 campaign.
Doug Kalitta takes Top Fuel pole with 3.714 seconds at 337.07 mph, narrowly ahead of Shawn Langdon for Team Kalitta, and the Deecell After Dark bonus.
That lap secures lane choice control and keeps the defending 2025 Sonoma winner well placed to convert qualifying speed into race-day advantage.
Doug Kalitta’s 3.714s at 337.07 mph secured his third Top Fuel No. 1 of 2026.
Jordan Vandergriff records a 3.849-second, 332.43 mph Funny Car run, the season’s benchmark, to claim his second career pole and the Deecell After Dark bonus.
Jordan Vandergriff delivered the season’s quickest Funny Car run at 3.849 seconds.
Rookie contender Chris Vang delivers a 6.498 at 209.04 mph to top Pro Stock, a breakthrough first No. 1 that reshapes Sunday expectations.
Away from the main classes, Gaige Herrera wins the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout, beating Richard Gadson with a 6.689 at 202.15 mph for $25,000.
Gaige Herrera won the GETTRX All-Star Callout, earning $25,000 with a 6.689s final.
The eight-rider callout’s bracket format compresses margins and spotlights reaction-time execution, complementing the headline NHRA qualifying program.
Top Fuel depth is evident as the top five sit within hundredths, leaving little margin in setup calls on a cooling Sonoma surface.
Eliminations start Sunday at 11 a.m. PT after ceremonies, with Kalitta drawing Clay Millican in round one and a potential semifinal bye available.
Funny Car opens with a heavyweight pairing as points leader Ron Capps meets defending Sonoma winner and reigning champion Austin Prock.
Pro Stock includes seven drivers seeking a first Wally, highlighted by a family matchup between Greg Stanfield and his son Aaron Stanfield.
Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge adds intrigue, with Shawn Langdon winning Top Fuel, Ron Capps in Funny Car, and Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock.
Sonoma’s 15-foot elevation and coastal climate reward rapid adaptation to density altitude changes, contributing to the exceptional atmosphere at Sonoma and strong performance trends.
Fans follow live timing on NHRA.tv and the NHRA app, with FS1 carrying broadcast coverage across the weekend.
Comprehensive photo galleries capture track action and behind-the-scenes detail, as contenders chase momentum and points toward the 2026 championships.
Visual Summary
Doug Kalitta
Top Fuel Pole
3.714s @ 337 mph
Jordan Vandergriff
Funny Car Pole
3.849s @ 332 mph
Chris Vang
Pro Stock Pole
6.498s @ 209 mph
🔥 All-Time Intensity
Top 5 Top Fuel drivers within 0.04s – razor close!
🏁
Gaige Herrera – $25K All-Star Winner
6.689s @ 202 mph
Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout
🎉
3 days • SOLD OUT • NHRA 75th Year
Key First-Round Showdowns
Kalitta
vs
Millican
vs
Millican
Capps (Points Leader)
vs
Prock (Defending Champ)
vs
Prock (Defending Champ)
Greg Stanfield
vs
Aaron Stanfield (Father vs Son)
vs
Aaron Stanfield (Father vs Son)
Championship chase heats up as new heroes emerge at Sonoma
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.
