Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA Sonoma Nationals

1 – Gaige Herrera Sweeps Western Swing, Sonoma Spoils

Gaige Herrera might have to rent a moving van to take home to DeMotte, Ind., all the loot from his Sonoma Raceway domination.

By Sunday evening, the Vance & Hines racer had been presented a broom for sweeping the Western Swing. Herrera wrote his name in the sport’s history book, winning by default over Matt Smith, whose bike failed to start for the final round.

The only racer left who was eligible to sweep the three-event Western Swing through Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma, Herrera became the first from the Pro Stock Motorcycle category and eighth overall to do so. He follows Top Fuel drivers Joe Amato, Cory McClenathan, Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, and Antron Brown, as well as John Force (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). 

“You never want to win that way,” Herrera said after Smith, for the second straight race, was beaten by a $100 cam sensor that failed. “But I’ve got one bad machine. To be able to do this … I’m out of words.” 

But he wasn’t empty-handed. At the top end of the racetrack, he received the broom, a winner’s hat, a medal to wear around his neck, the winner’s payout, and the traditional wine goblet filled with a Pinot selection that goes to the victors at Sonoma Raceway.

That wasn’t all of his bounty.

The day before, Herrera claimed the $15,000 jackpot in the All-Star Call-Out specialty race during qualifying as he grabbed his seventh No. 1 starting position in the class’ eight appearances on the Camping World Drag Racing Series tour.  So he earned an additional trophy, a championship belt, and a hat that identified him as the No. 1 qualifier.

Within about 24 hours, Herrera was cementing his place in Pro Stock Motorcycle lore. Denver winners Clay Millican (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) both failed to win at Seattle, leaving Herrera the lone candidate to score what likely is the last Western Swing. 

The Denver dragstrip, Bandimere Speedway, pushed the list of NHRA venues to drop from the schedule since 2018 to six. Gone, too, are facilities at Englishtown in New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix. Still-thriving Virginia Motorsports Park, south of Richmond, opted out of the tour.

Meanwhile, for the second straight race, Matt Smith fell victim to a cam sensor. His bike refused to start, just as it had done in the semifinals at Seattle. He had no choice but to stand and watch Herrera extend his lead in the standings to 359 points ahead of No. 2 Hector Arana Jr. and 361 ahead of No. 3 Mission Suzuki teammate Eddie Krawiec.

2 – Justin Ashley Gains Top Fuel Trophy, Points Lead On Dad’s Birthday - Justin Ashley said his Phillips Connect Toyota Dragster “was on rails” after combining with Funny Car winner J.R. Todd for a Toyota double-nitro triumph Sunday. 

Ashley edged Antron Brown by one-thousandth of a second (.0017) in the final round to record his fifth victory of the season in 12 events.

In the process, he regained the points lead from Steve Torrence, who held off upset-minded part-timer Ron August in a close first-round match and overcame an explosion at about just 60 feet into the 1,000-foot course that blew the supercharger off his car but lost to Antron Brown.

It was a swing this weekend of 36 points for Ashley, who entered the event four points off Torrence’s pace and emerged 32 points ahead of the Capco Contractors dragster driver. 

By advancing to his 17th career final, Ashley earned his 100th elimination-round win and ran his race-day record to 25-7. It all happened on retired racer dad Mike Ashley’s birthday. Another of his victories this summer came on mom Mindy’s birthday weekend.

3 – J.R. Todd’s Elusive 20th Funny Car Victory Denies Chad Green His First - Funny Car’s 2018 series champion J.R. Todd said, “It’s been a long time since I got a trophy for anything.” Suddenly this weekend, he earned two.

Todd claimed the Wally statue for defeating hopeful first-time winner Chad Green in Sunday’s final round. It came after his Saturday victory in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge triumph over Blake Alexander.

For the DHL Toyota Supra driver, Sonoma Raceways is a special venue. Todd recorded a 2006 Top Fuel victory here. That day he shared the winners circle with close buddy Eric Medlen, who passed away the following March from testing-crash injuries. Sonoma Raceway was Medlen’s home track, and every year the NHRA community hosts a party in honor of Medlen to raise money fro Speedway Children’s Charities,

Todd also scored his first victory in a Funny Car here in 2017. And this breakthrough victory, his 10th overall, ended a 53-race winless streak that lasted 868 days. His previous success came at the March 2021 Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.

“I forgot what this is like,” Todd said of the winners circle celebration. “I’ve never had a throttle pushed down so hard as I did today. I thought it was going to go through the floorboard every run.”

He said that when he saw his win light come on, “I was cussin’ and screamin’ and everything. It was instant relief.”

It was Green’s first final-round appearance in his 40th race.

 

 

4 – Impact of Mission Foods Challenge Suddenly Becomes Apparent - After Steve Torrence drove his Capco Contractors dragster past Clay Millican to his second straight $10,000 victory in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Saturday, he said, “We’re trying to close the gap Justin Ashley’s put on us, and we’re doing it one tortilla chip at a time.”

Announcers laughed at Torrence, suggesting he had forgotten he passed Ashley for the Top Fuel points lead from Ashley at Seattle. What they missed was that Torrence was alluding to the significance of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and the impact it could possibly have on Countdown seeding.

Torrence was talking about the Countdown bonus points Ashley has banked: 15 from his five Mission Challenge victories (to go along with the $50,000 in cash prizes). Torrence has six (and $20,000 extra). So for example, if the Countdown were to have started Sunday, Torrence would’ve had a four-point lead on Ashley in the standings – but Ashley would have used those 15 Countdown bonus points to claim the No. 1 seed for the six-race playoffs.

When the Misson Foods Challenge was announced, some groaned that all fans were doing was seeing a rerun of the previous race’s semifinals. Some fans – and definitely the racers – appreciated Mission Foods’ sizable investment in the sport. After all, what nitro driver wouldn’t want to compete for an extra $10,000? (Well, two or three along the way who aren’t chasing a championship chose not to, but most relished the opportunity.) But in the beginning, earning three bonus points, or two or a single bonus point, seemed useful but not all that motivating.

Soon, though, as reigning Funny Car champion Ron Capps first brought up, the payout took a back seat to the points. Points mattered maybe more than cash (which also certainly has been welcome). Capps remembered that he earned his third title last November by merely three points. And he won’t forget that he was on the wrong side of some close battles. Jack Beckman disappointed him with a two-point difference in 2012. And Gary Scelzi already, in 2005, had denied Capps by eight points (just as Robert Hight had beaten out Beckman by eight points in 2019).

Now that only three more chances remain for the nitro class before the Countdown fields are set (and fewer for the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle class), Torrence’s comment was nothing to laugh at. It showed has awareness for the chance of a weirder-things-have-happened scenario as the cutoff race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis in September, approaches.

Torrence’s Top Fuel class alone has several examples of narrow title margins. Tony Schumacher edged Larry Dixon in 2009 by two points. Torrence had a three-point advantage over Doug Kalitta at the end of the 2019 season, and Antron Brown claimed his first title in 2012 by only seven points ahead of Schumacher.  

And Greg Anderson took the brunt of it twice in Pro Stock, losing to Jason Line by three points in 2016 and to Bo Butner in 2017.

Torrence, already an outspoken critic of the NHRA’s points-manipulation practice, could benefit from it. But if he carries only a slight – less than 15 – point lead over Ashley, Ashley could play the Misson Foods Challenge card and begin the Countdown in first place, a seeding which gets an additional points award.

So Torrence raised the issue with his post-victory remark Saturday.

5 - Antron Brown Receives Divine Intervention - Top Fuel’s Antron Brown demonstrated his driving skill Saturday during the fourth and final qualifying session, when he guided his Matco Tools Toyota dragster cleanly down the track and through the turnout without incident after his broken rear-wing strut malfunctioned.

The downforce-controlling rear wing came loose early in his pass on the 1,000-foot Sonoma Raceway course and collapsed sideways as he completed the 308.99-mph run amazingly straight and in control. In the nearly eye-blink span of 3.896 seconds, Brown felt the dragster make “a hard move” that he thought probably was the result of a dropped cylinder, learned from crew chief Brian Corradi via the radio what the truth was, kept opposite-lane racer Brittany Force out of harm’s way, and controlled the car in almost-routine fashion in spite of its sideways-sitting, collapsed wing.

“God was definitely looking out. I was really blessed and fortunate there,” Brown said. “The cool thing is that the car stayed on the ground. It didn’t get airborne. I should’ve shut it down early; not worth it. That was a lucky one there.”

His crew had the car fixed before the No. 3 qualifier met Mike Salinas in the first round of eliminations Sunday. Brown knocked off Salinas, outrunning Salinas’ best-of-the-meet 335.65-mph speed. Then in the quarterfinals Brown dashed Brittany Force’s hopes of a repeat victory at Sonoma.  He reached the final round by beating points leader Steve Torrence (who came to the semifinal after a huge explosion blew the supercharger off his dragster at the 60-foot mark). Brown lost by a narrow margin in the final against Justin Ashley.
 

 

6 - Ron Capps Ready to Represent Drag Racing - When the Camping World SRX (Superstar Racing Experience) Series made its debut, showcasing headliners from various motorsports series, noticeably absent was a drag racer. But quizzed about who they’d like the see, the inaugural-race drivers mentioned Ron Capps.

Finally, in the SRX’s third season, Capps has become the first straight-liner to receive an invitation …. unless we count SRX co-owner and co-founder Tony Stewart, who already has a trophy in the NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster class.

Capps, the 74-time NHRA winner, will race in SRX’s Aug. 10 Thursday Night Thunder event at Eldora Speedway, the night before the Menards NHRA Nationals opens at Topeka.

He has raced on the iconic half-mile clay oval at Rossburg, Ohio, before, in a similar invitational “Prelude To The Dream” all-star-style show. But this circle-track-experienced drag racer said, “I’m nervous. As the days get closer, I’m more and more nervous. We’re going to race at Eldora, where I raced dirt cars before with Tony Stewart – although a lot different. I’m going to approach it like I did at Eldora, driving the Prelude, and that was to try to bring somebody else’s equipment back the best I possibly can. I’m surely going to try to win. You’ve got to remember we’re up against the best race-car drivers in the world in all different categories.”

The three completed SRX races have seen NASCAR Cup Series racers take the checkered flag. Just racing NASCAR veterans has Capps concerned. He’ll be competing Aug. 10 against Hailie Deegan, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, and Ryan Newman. To add to his trepidation, he also will be up against Indianapolis 500 winners Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay, as well as IndyCar’s Marco Andretti. Oh, and he’ll have Stewart – who has excelled in IndyCar, NASCAR, sprints, midgets, and now drag racing – on track, too.

But Capps has tested in an IROC car and an SCRA sprint car, as he has raced in the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa. Still, he said he was a bit intimidated when he tested earlier this year at a small racetrack in North Carolina.

“I went and tested with SRX right after the announcement, and I went to a little track in North Carolina. I showed up. And there were [NASCAR Cup Series stars] Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, and Clint Bowyer. And here I am, first-time ever, being strapped into one of those cars, let alone going out in front of all these guys who are classic. I mean, you could say they’re six of the best stock-car drivers in the world,” Capps said.

“So it was very intimidating. And I was very much not comfortable in the car. It’s just so different from what we normally do,” he said. “We don’t get a lot of practice. That’s the only time I’ve been in the car. I haven’t even had a chance to go to Eldora or anything in the last five or six years.”

Nerves aside, Capps said, “It’s an incredible opportunity for any race-car driver. People forget there’s a lot of really good race-car drivers – I’m not talking about myself here ... I’m talking about Doug Kalitta [the 1994 USAC Midget rookie of the year and the 1994 USAC Sprint car champion] … J.R. Todd can turn left. There’s a lot of good drivers out here that do pretty well and can do well. So it was definitely a shock to be invited, very cool.”

Capps said the SRX Series, sponsored by the same company that sponsors the NHRA pro series, “is pretty much what the IROC Series was and is. It’s generated so much attention this year, going to Thursday Night Thunder, like we all used to watch when we were younger.” So he’s as excited and prepared, really, as he is apprehensive.

However, he did say, “I’ve got a lot of things stacked against me.” He said racers from other circle-track series don’t welcome drag racers all that enthusiastically.

“Every time I’ve gone to race other series and other kinds of cars, normally, the other race-car drivers don’t take too kindly to a drag racer passing ’em,” Capps said. ”And I usually get punished. They don’t like a drag racer going around ’em. And they usually get a little upset about it and try to spin you out or something. So we’re going to see how we can hold up without getting taken out and see if we can make NHRA Nation proud on that Thursday night.”

The race will be broadcast live on ESPN from 9-11 p.m. (ET) Aug. 10.

 

 

7 – Gaige Herrera Wins Inaugural Bike-Class All-Star Call-Out - Gaige Herrera was about the only Pro Stock Motorcycle racer who didn’t jump in and contribute any insults, snarky comments, trash-talking, or even good-natured ribbing during the class’ mid-week NHRA-arranged conference call to preview Saturday’s All-Star Call-Out.

But what he had to say he said in less than 21 seconds total in three rounds on the racetrack Saturday.     

The Vance & Hines racer defeated Angie Smith in the final round of the bonus race to claim the $15,000 winner’s payout, the title belt, a flashy trophy, and all the bragging rights – seemingly another day at the office for him these days.

“I almost say this one tops the whole season. I really wanted this one. I was actually really nervous for the final,” Herrera said. “I liked how we were able to call out who we wanted to race. It brought me back to where I came from [grudge-style racing]. It causes rivalries between people and some tension. That made it interesting and it was a lot of fun.”

He said, "What it made it so special is that we are at Sonoma. I have raced here a lot in years past — probably 20 times — and I only lived about five to six hours from here. We always loved racing here, so we would come here a lot.”

As soon as he got off his Mission Foods Suzuki and removed his helmet, Herrera said, “I was out of breath after that. It’s awesome. I’m so happy.” He praised his Andrew Hines-led team’s hard work “they put in to make sure the bike runs to its full potential.”

He advanced to the final by defeating Chase Van Sant and Hector Arana Jr.

Angie Smith had predicted that the outcome would be a decision between the Vance & Hines team and her Matt Smith Racing (MSR)/Denso team. She was right. In fact, all Angie Smith faced were MSR or Vance & Hines opponents Saturday. She reached the final by eliminating her husband, Matt, then Herrera teammate Eddie Krawiec. 

8 – Safety Safari Transforms Oil-Marred Track For Thrilling Eliminations - Mechanical trouble for one Top Dragster driver Friday night triggered a massive oildown that was to blame for a less-than-ideal qualifying show both later Friday and Saturday. But the Safety Safari team, who worked super-hard Friday night and again Saturday, were able to prepare the racing surface with two equally fast lanes for Sunday’s runoffs.

The oildown in the first 300 feet in the right lane caused the remainder of the Top Dragster class, as well as the Super Gas and Top Sportsman categories, to be postponed until Saturday. Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors carried on Friday night – with clearly a missed opportunity at this facility beloved for its atmospheric conditions that are favorable for records and exciting runs.

John Force Racing crew chief Dave Grubnic declared Friday night, “The lanes are so significantly different.” And the problem carried over through Saturday’s action.

In the third overall qualifying session, every single Funny Car and Top Fuel driver who ran in the right lane lost traction. (In fairness, only Matt Hagan in Funny Car and Josh Hart and Steve Torrence in Top Fuel – all in the left lane – made passes under full power in the round.)

Privately, some nitro teams applauded the Safety Safari’s efforts but complained that the proper solution would have been to scrape the track and apply fresh rubber. But Funny Car’s Cruz Pedregon said, “We all were just pushing too hard. The NHRA did a good job of prepping the track. The air’s so good these cars want to go fast, but the track has other ideas.”

Sunday’s track conditions were much improved, as Shawn Langdon indicated after his Top Fuel first-round victory: “NHRA did a good job of turning the track around and giving us equal lanes. It’s coming down to holeshots.” Grubnic, too, said, “Credit to the NHRA.”

9 – Eric Medlen Remembered - The Medlen family, originally from nearby Oakdale, Calif., along with the John Force Racing family and the entire drag-racing and northern California rodeo communities, lost Funny Car driver Eric Medlen in March 2007. But 16 years later, his memory lives on and his influence remains strong. The 15th annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night auction raised $60,000 Thursday, bringing its total contributions to Speedway Children’s Charities to $400,000. Maynard Ashley Racing principal Dustin Davis, along with Phillips Connect and the Maynard Ashley Racing marketing group, spearheaded the casual barbecue dinner and party that came after the traditional afternoon karting contest at Sonoma Raceway. Austin Prock, thanks to his pre-drag-racing career experience, dominated that race.

10 – Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri Cooks Up Intriguing Plan - Celebrity chef Guy Fieri, best known for his “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” program, first popped up at the dragstrip when Shawn Langdon was driving for Alan Johnson Racing’s organization. And he and former AJR General Manager Brandon Bernstein – one of Medlen’s dearest friends in an informal group they and Ashley Force, Morgan Lucas, and J.R. Todd called “The Gen2Crew” – spoke Sunday about putting together a new Top Fuel team. Whether they were serious about their desire to “get the band back together,” no one knows but them.