Sonoma Raceway notes: Drag racing returns this weekend

The NHRA's Division 7 series will be lighting up the Sonoma Raceway dragstrip Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Just a tier below the main NHRA racing series, the drags feature regional competitors from the western United States - California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska, along with others from across the U.S. - who will venture to the Sonoma County track to race this weekend.

Teams will race in these categories: Comp Eliminator, Stock Eliminator, Super Street, Super Comp, Super Stock, Super Gas, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Motorcycle divisions.

There will be five Sonoma County residents competing in the Division 7 races, including four from Petaluma: Jeff Butcher (Super Gas), Marko Perivolaris (Super Comp and Super Gas), Eric Reyes (Super Comp and Super Street), Matthew Woodard (Super Comp) and one from Rohnert Park: Mike Eling (Super Street).

Raceway officials said Perivolaris is ranked sixth in the nation and will also race at the Sonoma Nationals next week.

The Sonoma dragstrip is renowned for its 660-foot concrete launchpad and location near sea level - just 15 feet above it - which makes it one of the fastest drag strips in the country, raceway officials said. Racers will be running under the lights Saturday night. Tickets for the weekend run from $5 for Friday to $45 for a full weekend ticket.

For more information, visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call (800) 870-7223.

The track will be closed from Monday through Thursday of next week to get ready for the NHRA's Sonoma Nationals.

MEDLEN NITRO DINNER

The Sonoma Raceway division of Speedway Children's Charities will be honoring Ron Capps during the Eric Medlen Nitro Dinner at Viansa Sonoma on Thursday night before Sonoma Nationals.

“It's an unbelievable honor. Not just the fact that it's the inaugural Eric Medlen Spirit Award, but the fact that it came from Steve Page and his group in Sonoma, and I consider them family,” Capps said in a statement. “My dad took me there as a kid, and whenever someone asks me what my favorite race track is, it doesn't take long for me to say Sonoma.

The raceway said this year's event will focus on honoring someone within the drag racing community who shares Medlen's qualities and has made efforts to contribute to charities.

Medlen was an Oakdale native who won the Funny Car championship for the John Forcing Racing team at Sonoma in 2006 before dying during a testing accident in 2007.

Tickets start at $150 per person or $1,500 per table and include wine or beer and dinner. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sonomaraceway.com or contact Cheri Plattner at 707-933-3950 or cplattner@sonomaraceway.com.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT THE TRACK

The Wednesday Night Drags program runs almost every Wednesday. Currently in its 30th year, it runs from March 14-Nov. 4. Fans can race their vehicles down the quarter-mile drag strip in a controlled environment away from city streets. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with racing from 4-10 p.m.

Competitors must have a driver's license to compete, their car must pass a technical inspection and all vehicles must have mufflers. Up to 300 cars are allowed to enter.

Running alongside the drags will be Sonoma Drift, where pros and amateurs can swing wheels to perfect their drifting techniques. Drifting starts at 4 p.m. Drivers can pay $25, high school students with ID can race for $15 at the gate. Spectators can watch for $10.

The next Wednesday Night Drags event will be held Aug. 1.