Race fans are invited to enjoy a trip down memory lane as Sonoma Raceway celebrates 50 years of Funny Car history during the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 29- 31, with unique fan experiences.
For the second year in a row, a collection of nostalgia dragsters will light up the night, as they fire up their engines for a can't-miss Cacklefest on Friday, July 29. Over a dozen dragsters, including Rough & Ready Racing's "Happy Hour" Funny Car and Don DeCero's "Dago Express," are confirmed to participate in the show, which will take place in front of the main grandstand.
These dragsters and many more will also be on display in the 7th annual Nostalgia Get-Together, which will be hosted throughout race weekend. This year's Get-Together will feature nearly 40 vintage racing machines and hot rods in the garages in the main paddock. Entry to the Get-Together is free with admission into the raceway.
The area will feature vintage front-engine nostalgia Funny Car floppers, Top Fuel dragsters, A/Fuel dragsters, Gassers and more. Plus, you'll get to talk with the owners of these historical machines and get autographs. Some of the highlighted cars include Mike Morel's "Little City Cuda" Funny Car, Steven Densham's "Teacher's Pet" and many more.
Car enthusiasts will also enjoy the 6th annual Blast on the Grass Car Show, located on the Piccinini Plaza lawn behind the staging lanes. Featuring fan-owned hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods and exotics, it's a great chance for fans to show off their rides.
From Mark Oswald's victory at the first NHRA national event in Sonoma in 1988 to Jack Beckman's record-setting victory in 2015, Sonoma has hosted the best Funny Car drivers in NHRA history. The event weekend will feature fan-favorite cars, explain the evolution of the category, highlight the greatest rivalries, and put the spotlight on the legends who drove the cars.
Another featured event for the weekend is a special pre-race Starting Line Party Q&A with Funny Car legends Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Ed "The Ace" McCulloch prior to Sunday's final eliminations.
These elements and many more round out a jam-packed weekend of racing at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. This marks the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series' only stop in Northern California, and the only chance to witness 10,000-horsepower dragsters rocketing down the drag strip. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, visit sonomaraceway.com/nhra or call 800-870-7223.
