Mopar-powered drivers captured the “Wally” trophy in both the Funny Car and Pro Stock classes at last weekend’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, Calif.
The Pro Stock class came down to an all-Mopar Final Elimination that matched Jeg Coughlin Jr. against Vincent Nobile — with Nobile taking the win with a run of 6.572 seconds at 298.59 mph as Coughlin backed out of his run with tire shake.
Coughlin reached the final by beating teammate Allen Johnson in the semifinals — making three of the final four cars Mopar-powered.
Johnson continues to hold second place in the Pro Stock standings with Coughlin third. Sunday’s win vaults Nobile into fifth place, with Mopar driver V. Gaines in ninth.
In Funny Car, Mopar-powered Ron Capps outdueled John Force on a hole shot to win with a run of 4.085 seconds at 307.79 mph. It was Capps’ second win of the season and his fourth career win at Sonoma.
With the win, Capps now stands second in the Funny Car standings, trailing Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan. It’s worth noting that four of the top six spots in the Funny Car standings belong to Don Schumacher Racing drivers.
Hagan’s weekend got off to a fast start on Friday, when his “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar” Dodge Charger R/T posted a Sonoma track record run of 3.986 seconds at 320.51 mph, which tied the second-quickest Funny Car run in NHRA history. But his weekend ended early after a first-round upset on Sunday.
The Mopar drag racers now head for the final stop on the NHRA’s western swing this weekend at Northwest Nationals in Seattle.
