It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since Top Fuel driver Joe Amato took the win light in the first NHRA-sanctioned national event at then-Sears Point Raceway in 1988.
Amato, who also won in 1991 in the Sonoma Valley, beat upstart Dick LaHaie to take the victory — he was joined in the winner’s circle that year by Mark Oswald (Funny Car) and Harry Scribner (Pro Stock).
Much has changed at the raceway since that first event, but one thing remains the same: great competition in one of the country’s hotbeds for drag racing.
Infineon Raceway will celebrate 20 years of NHRA drag racing in 2007 when the series visits the Sonoma Valley for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 27-29. The weekend will feature the usual great racing, and there will also be several surprises, as well as some very special guests.
Over the course of the next five weeks the raceway will celebrate its long tradition of drag racing with a series of stories that will be sent to the media, as well as race fans.
Some of the stories you can expect include:
· Driver reflections by Gary Scelzi and Kenny Bernstein
· A look at John Force’s career in Sonoma. He is the winningest NHRA professional driver in the history of Infineon Raceway.
· The transformation of Infineon Raceway into one of the premier drag strips and facilities in the country.
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