Brittany Force set a world speed record Friday night at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, running 343.16 mph while also claiming the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel at the 37th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) led their respective divisions.
The record-setting speed came at the end of a 3.645-second pass that gave Force the No. 1 spot for the day. It broke the mark of 341.85 that she posted last weekend in Seattle, when she finished as the runner-up to race winner Shawn Langdon.
“I have to credit David Grubnic and John Collins and the whole team,” Force said. “I’m so proud of them. This is incredible.”
Doug Kalitta was second at 3.661, 332.84 mph, and Clay Millican was third at 3.699, 335.15. Force, a two-time Top Fuel champion, is seeking her third No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 55th of her career.
Hagan took the provisional top spot in Funny Car with a 3.861, 332.59, in his Dodge/SRT Hellcat. Hagan, who won last Sunday in Seattle, is looking for his first No. 1 qualifier of the year in addition to his first Sonoma victory.
“I’m still in awe over Brittany [Force’s] 343 mph run,” Hagan said. “Conditions were incredible. It was a mineshaft out there. These nitro motors like to be loaded, and we got that tonight.”
Rookie Spencer Hyde was second at 3.865, 333.58, and Paul Lee claimed the third spot with a 3.890, 299.00.
Anderson set a track record in Pro Stock with a 6.472, 210.14, in his Chevrolet Camaro. If it holds, it would be Anderson’s fifth No. 1 qualifier of 2025 and the 137th of his career.
“If you’re a Pro Stock racer, you wish all year long for days like this and conditions like this,” Anderson said. “I absolutely love this place. This is my favorite racetrack.”
Anderson’s teammate Dallas Glenn, the NHRA points leader, was second at 6.473, and Greg Stanfield grabbed third at 6.480.
Gadson topped Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying with a 6.702, 200.77, on his Vance & Hines Suzuki. The Bristol event winner is aiming for his first career No. 1 qualifier.
“I am a big advocate of taking small victories, and this was one of them because I’ve never been a low qualifier before,” Gadson said. “Not only are we No. 1, but that was also the best run of my career.”
Standing second after Friday’s action was Matt Smith at 6.740, 200.26, while John Smith was third at 6.759, 197.28.
First-round matchups for Saturday’s GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout include Gaige Herrera vs. Chris Bostick, Matt Smith vs. Chase Van Sant, Gadson vs. Jianna Evaristo, and Angie Smith vs. Hall. The Callout begins at 11:15 a.m. PDT with semifinals at 1:45 p.m., and the final at 4:15.
Qualifying continues Saturday at 11:45 a.m. PDT at Sonoma Raceway.
