Sonoma Raceway notebook: NHRA dragsters in action this weekend

Northern California fans get their chance to watch the hot rods of the NHRA visit the Sonoma Raceway drag strip this weekend for the 30th annual Sonoma Nationals.

Touting boisterous engines with up to 10,000 horsepower flying down the drag strip, cars will fly down the track at more than 300 miles per hour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday's events will be held in the late afternoon into the night, under the lights.

Daily tickets start at $55 and a weekend pass ranges from $135 to $145 depending on the seat location. For more information, visit SonomaRaceway.com or call 800-870-7223. First responders and military can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate.

AROUND THE TRACK

Cacklefest is being held on Friday night, where nostalgic drags will light up the night sky before Nitro qualifying. The dragsters, some dating back to the 1930s, are part of the eighth annual Nostalgia Get-Together, which will feature 45 vintage dragsters showing off in the paddock garage. Admission is free.

The raceway will also host the seventh annual “Blast on the Grass” car show, located on the Piccinini Plaza lawn behind the staging lanes. Fan-owned hot rods, muscle cars, rat rods and other exotics will be on display.

LOCALS RACING THIS WEEKEND

Two Petaluma residents will be racing at Sonoma this weekend in the sportsmen divisions. Jeffrey Butcher will race in Super Gas and Matthew Woodard in Super Comp.

CHARITY AUCTION AND RAFFLE TICKET

Speedway Children's Charities is hosting an online charity auction that runs through noon today.

Fans can bid on race-weekend experiences and collectibles. Among the collectibles is a piston signed by Ron Capps. Visit www.sccauctions.com to see a full list of what's available to bid on. Proceeds benefit the Sonoma chapter of the charity, which has distributed more than $5.6 million to youth groups in Sonoma County since 2001. For more information on the Sonoma chapter, visit www.sonomaraceway.com/scc.

In addition to the auction, the charity is selling tickets to a “Let's Go Karting” raffle during NHRA weekend. The raffle offers the winner a day on Sonoma Raceway's three-quarter-mile professional karting track, along with up to 20 people. Drivers must be 13 or older and at least 4-foot-10 to race. Tickets for the raffle are $5 each or $20 for a book of five.

Tickets can be purchased this weekend at the track's Ticket Pit Stop behind the main grandstand or by visiting www.speedwaycharities.org/events/sonoma/lets-go-karting.

The winner will be chosen on Oct. 5 and doesn't need to be present to win.

NHRA DIVISION 7 RESULTS

Three Northern California dragsters won their divisions at the NHRA Division 7 drag races this past weekend. Galt's Greg Boutte won the Super Comp division and Sheridan's Steve Casner took top honors in the Top Dragster division.

The full list of winners:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Tony Mandella, Eastvale, '01 S-10, C/TA, 8.409, 151.89, defeated

Ryan Warter, Olalla, Washington, '92 Camaro, F/SM, 8.765, 154.07.

SUPER STOCK

Justin Lamb, Henderson, Nevada, '10 Cobalt, SS/AM, 9.206, 117.10, def.

Brad Burton, Snohomish, Washington, '91 Firebird, GT/KA, foul.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma, '69 Camaro, AA/SA, 9.925, 123.09, def.

Gerald Stein, Brentwood, '69 Dart, D/SA, 10.855, 119.30.

SUPER COMP

Greg Boutte, Galt, '14 American, 8.927, 175.43, def.

Steve Hamilton, Indio, '93 Undercover, 8.896, 164.09.

SUPER GAS

Steve Williams, Beaumont, '63 Corvette, 9.930, 161.07, def.

Ken Mostowich, Calgary, Alberta, '12 Corvette, 9.973, 155.44.

SUPER STREET

Ryan Herem, Canyon Country, '69 Camaro, 10.931, 145.93, def.

Ryan Giacone, Glendale, Arizona, '88 Thunderbird, 10.935, 143.69.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Don Meziere, Escondido, '09 Cobalt, 6.939, 195.45, def.

Paul Gladden, Tracy, '70 Mustang, 6.866, 199.02.

TOP DRAGSTER

Steve Casner, Sheridan, '99 Uyemento, 24.494, 56.56, def.

Paul Rolandelli, Oakley, '00 Dragster, broke

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE

Don DePeel, Gladstone, Oregon, '74 Kawasaki Z900, 8.556, 137.29, def.

Yeurra Blayblock Jr., San Francisco, '90 Kawasaki, 8.638, 148.44.

EXTREME PRO MOD WEST

Jeremy Hanger, Yorba Linda, '59 Corvette, 5.893, 252.19, def.

Scott Loomis, Ojai, '69 Chevelle, 5.893, 247.70.