John Force won his second Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series event in a row to continue his mid-season surge in the Funny Car Division. Force won in front of a sell-out audience at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. As a result, Force wrapped up his 145th career victory when he out dragged Ron Capps in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.
It was a closely contested duel between two of the divisions top veterans. John Force, the future Hall of Fame racer, powered his hot-rod to a 3.948 second run at 324.59 miles per hour. Ron Capps had an ever so slightly slower speed of 320.13 miles per hour at 3.960 seconds.
John Force captured his second win in a row at in the Sonoma Nationals. The event was the second of a three race western swing. The last contest of the west coast races will take place in Seattle this weekend. Furthermore, Force is no stranger to sit a top the podium on this daunting stretch. In 1994, he became the only Funny Car driver in NHRA history to sweep all three events at the western venues.
“We won Denver and that got me motivated,” said Force. “My daughter Courtney and Robert Hight were outrunning me in Denver, but we got the win. We knew it was also going to be a different animal here. We got down here, and I was amazed.”
Ron Capps, sped down the quarter mile track in the Sonoma Nationals to his third runner-up finish on the season. Capps also has a division high along four wins and secured his points lead. Courtney Force, of John Force Racing, along with Capps are the first two Funny Car competitors to secure spots in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
J.R. Todd rocketed his SealMaster Top Fuel machine to his first win in almost a full year. Todd defeated Richie Crampton in the final round in the Sonoma Nationals. His triumphant pass of 3.745 seconds at 324.83 miles per hour was enough to out race Richie Crampton. Crampton posted a 3.806 second run at 313.07 miles per hour.
The win was R.J. Todd’s his ninth career Mello Yellow Drag Racing Top Fuel victory. His last win was when he flew past Shawn Langdon in Seattle last season. This also was the seasoned driver’s second win in the Sonoma Nationals. Todd was victorious the first time at this track back in 2006. Todd now sits sixth in the Mello Yellow Drag Racing point standings. Langdon only trails him by 61 points in the seventh spot.
“It has been a long time coming for these SealMaster boys,” said Todd. “We have been to a few finals and haven’t been able to close the deal. I had all the faith and confidence in Connie Kalitta and Rob Flynn and they made the right calls all day.”
Greg Anderson continued his dominating season in the Pro Stock Division. He charged Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet to a 6.580 second trip at 210.54 miles per hour. The posted speed and time was enough to beat fellow competitor KB Racing teammate Bo Butner. The victory was Anderson’s seventh win of the 2016 Mello Yellow Drag Racing season. In the process, Anderson added the 85th win of his career.
The winning effort at the Sonoma Nationals ties Greg Anderson with Bob Glidden as the second winningest Pro Stock racer in history. Anderson now only sits behind the legendary Warren Johnson, who has accumulated 97 wins throughout his illustrious career. This is the the fifth career win at the Sonoma Nationals for Anderson and he also retained his spot atop the points standings.
“This track has been magical to KB Racing, not just to me but Jason Line, too,” said Anderson. “This place is special to me and magical. It is everything a Pro Stock racer wants. It also is a great racetrack, great weather conditions, and full grandstands. You don’t get any better than that. It cranks us up and gives us a lot of energy.”
The NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series moves up the west coast to Seattle, Washington for the last race of the west coast swing. The event at Pacific Raceways will host the speedsters on August 5th though the seventh.
