07/22/2026
🚨 WARNING: The NHRA Record Book Could Be in Trouble This Weekend... 🚨
If the weather cooperates in Sonoma, we might witness one of the fastest weekends in NHRA history.
Friday night's qualifying session has become legendary for producing monster runs, and this year's numbers suggest multiple NATIONAL RECORDS are within reach.
💥 Top Fuel's Sonoma track record is only 0.022 seconds shy of the national ET record.
💥 Funny Car? Just 0.014 seconds separates the Sonoma track record from the national mark.
💥 Pro Stock is only 0.018 seconds away from history.
Throw in cool evening air, one of the best racing surfaces on tour, and a stacked field featuring Shawn Langdon, Tony Stewart, Doug Kalitta, Maddi Gordon, Leah Pruett, Ron Capps, Austin Prock, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, Gaige Herrera, Richard Gadson, Matt Smith, and many more, and you've got the perfect recipe for jaw-dropping performances.
Sonoma Raceway has earned its reputation as one of NHRA's quickest tracks, and with the Countdown to the Championship inching closer, teams won't be holding anything back.
👀 So here's the big question...
Will at least ONE national record fall this weekend, or are the current marks safe for another year?
Drop your prediction below—and tell us which class will be the first to make history! ⬇️
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Racing Pro Media - RPM OPINION - Based on the current records and Sonoma's reputation, yes — several national records are legitimately under threat this weekend, especially if the weather cooperates for Friday night's qualifying session.
Here's how each category stacks up:
🔥 Top Fuel
National ET Record: 3.623 seconds (Brittany Force, Reading 2019)
Sonoma Track Record: 3.645 seconds (Brittany Force, 2025)
Difference: Just 0.022 seconds
This is probably the best chance to see a national elapsed time record fall. Sonoma has become one of the quickest tracks on the tour thanks to its excellent surface, cool evening air, and sea-level conditions. Friday night's second qualifying session has historically produced spectacular runs.
The speed record is another story.
National Speed: 345.00 mph (Shawn Langdon, Adel 2026)
Sonoma Track: 343.16 mph
A 345 mph run is certainly possible, but ET is more likely than speed.
Record threat: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very High)
💥 Funny Car
National ET: 3.793 (Robert Hight)
Sonoma Track: 3.807 (Robert Hight)
Just 0.014 seconds separate the two.
Austin Prock already owns the Sonoma speed record at 340.90 mph, and his national speed mark is 341.68 mph. With today's Funny Cars regularly running in the 3.80s, there's a realistic chance someone dips into the 3.79s.
Record threat: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🚗 Pro Stock
National ET: 6.443 (Greg Anderson)
Sonoma Track: 6.461 (Dallas Glenn)
Only 0.018 seconds apart.
The KB Titan cars have been incredibly quick all season. Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn have repeatedly flirted with the national record, and Sonoma's conditions should help.
The speed record may actually be more vulnerable:
National: 215.55 mph
Sonoma: 213.00 mph
If conditions are exceptional, 214-215 mph isn't out of the question.
Record threat: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🏍️ Pro Stock Motorcycle
National ET: 6.627 (Gaige Herrera)
Sonoma Track: 6.655
Difference: 0.028 seconds
The bikes won't run a traditional eliminator this weekend because of the All-Star Callout format, but they'll still have qualifying opportunities. Gaige Herrera, Matt Smith, and Richard Gadson are capable of record numbers.
The speed record is interesting because:
National Speed: 205.04 mph
Sonoma Track Speed: 205.04 mph
Matt Smith set both at Sonoma, so any improvement would establish both a new track and national speed record.
Record threat: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Why Sonoma Produces Fast Runs
Several factors make Sonoma one of NHRA's quickest tracks:
Cool evening temperatures during Friday night qualifying
Dense sea-level air near San Francisco Bay
An exceptionally well-prepared racing surface
Teams often arrive with aggressive tune-ups specifically aimed at record-setting conditions
It's no coincidence that NHRA notes the event "often produces record-setting performances, especially during Friday's nighttime Pro qualifying session."
My Prediction
If Friday evening conditions are cool and stable:
✅ Top Fuel ET record has the best chance of falling.
✅ Funny Car ET is a serious possibility.
✅ Pro Stock could surprise everyone with a new ET record.
⚠️ Motorcycle records are possible but slightly less likely.
Overall, I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one national record and multiple track records reset during Friday night's qualifying. If conditions are ideal, Sonoma has the potential to deliver one of the fastest sessions of the 2026 NHRA season.
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CURRENT TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.645 sec. by Brittany Force, July '25; 343.16 mph by B. Force, July ‘25.
Funny Car - 3.807 sec. by Robert Hight, July '17; 340.90 mph by Austin Prock, July '25.
Pro Stock - 6.461 sec. by Dallas Glenn, July '25, 213.00 mph byShane Gray, July '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.655 sec. by Matt Smith, July '25, 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21.
CURRENT NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 345.00 mph by Shawn Langdon, May ‘26, Adel
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma
Data From NHRA
