Press Release | NHRA
SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2024) – Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran Steve Johnson has been involved in the two-wheeled category for more than 30 years and at this weekend’s 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, he’ll make his 500th career NHRA start.
Johnson, rider of the Big Number One Suzuki, will also be competing in the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout specialty event on Saturday with the seven other qualifier riders. Johnson is the fifth-seeded rider and will be up against the likes of reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gaige Herrera as well as the six-time champion Matt Smith. With his impressive qualifying efforts, Herrera will make the first pick in the callout style race, but Johnson views it as a great chance to celebrate his 500th career start.
“The point is, the fans are going to get a great race,” Johnson said. “I think the Callout is such a neat format to be able to do it. I always tell people if you go to all the races in a year, for 34 years, you’ll have 500 races too.”
Last year’s Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals crowned Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) as winners in their respective categories. This season’s race will again be broadcast on both FOX and FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 28 on FOX. It is the 12th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the annual trek to Sonoma is a loaded weekend that also includes the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday.
Johnson made his NHRA debut in 1987 and has racked up 12 event wins over his long and successful career. His 2024 campaign has been rocky, with Johnson searching for his first round win since the season-opener in Gainesville, but he has hopes that the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals will be the turning point of his season.
To do so, he’ll also have to get past Seattle winner Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Jianna Evaristo, who set both ends of the track record in Seattle, and John Hall.
“I love this class,” Johnson said. “I love YES Program, and I love this platform NHRA gives us to be able to educate people on skilled trades and I love being part of the fraternity of this class.”
The 2023 GETTRX NHRA All- Star Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout saw Herrera taking home the win, as well as the Sonoma event victory en route to sweeping the Western Swing and winning his first world title. This year riders in competition will be Herrera, M. Smith, Arana Jr., Evaristo, Johnson, Angie Smith, Van Sant and Hall.
In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley is after a third win in 2024, taking on the likes of Seattle winner Steve Torrence, who has four Sonoma victories, reigning champ and points leader Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher, Clay Millican and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart.
Funny Car's Todd will aim for his fifth career win at Sonoma, but it won't be easy going against the likes of points leader Austin Prock, who won in Seattle, Bob Tasca III, reigning world champ Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Daniel Wilkerson and Alexis DeJoria.
Pro Stock returns to Sonoma after a year off in 2023. This season has been another year of intense competition featuring standouts like reigning champion Erica Enders, whose six Sonoma wins are the most of any NHRA driver, Greg Anderson, points leader Dallas Glenn, two-time 2024 winner Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout, Street Legal and Top the Cops exhibitions.
Fans will be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Sonoma Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.
As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Sonoma. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday. Television coverage includes eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The first round of the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT, with the semifinals at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:55 p.m. It will be broadcast at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Saturday on FS1.
To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.
(Photo Courtesy NHRA)
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