Heading to the 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Funny Car driver Dylan Winefsky will be looking to continue his positive trajectory in the highly competitive Funny Car class. The El Mirage, Ariz., resident has been consistently working with his father Robert on building the family-owned team into a proven quantity on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour. The Sonoma Nationals will be their third race of the 2026 season.
“We did our home race the Arizona Nationals and then the Winternationals in Pomona, California, back-to-back and that was a new experience for our team,” said Winefsky. “We qualified for both of those races so we want to keep that streak alive in Sonoma. For our team getting to make qualifying runs and race day runs that’s what it is all about. I get more comfortable in the Funny Car every run and we get more data for [crew chief] Johnny [West].”
Winefsky started the season with a No. 14 qualifying effort in Phoenix and raced multi-time national event winner Chad Green in the first round. The next weekend Winefsky competed at the historic Winternationals for the first time and qualified No. 15. In the first round he drew Funny Car world champion Ron Capps and both cars smoked the tires but it was Capps who took the win. The experience of getting to line up against veteran drivers and world champions in eliminations has bolstered Winefsky’s confidence.
“Everyone out here is the best and getting to line up against them on race day is a great experience,” said Winefsky. “I know we are getting closer to our first round win with every pass. It would be great to go rounds in Sonoma and see what this Nitro Moose Funny Car can do. Johnny West has really been working on our tune-up and I know the conditions will be great at Sonoma Raceway.”
The track located in the middle of northern California wine country is known for impressive speeds and elapsed times especially during the Friday night qualifying session. When the sun goes down and the track temperatures drop the exceptional track conditions create the opportunity for crew chiefs to dial up the performance numbers. Top Fuel driver Brittany Force ran nearly 305 mph to the 1/8 mile on her record setting 343.16 mph run last season. In the Funny Car class Austin Prock ran over 340 mph in the first round of eliminations, the second fastest speed in class history, at the Sonoma Nationals.
“You see those speeds, and it gets you pumped up,” said Winefsky. “I know we won’t be running 340 mph, but I feel like we could definitely set some career best numbers. Every run we just try to race smart and move our program forward. I want to be out here full-time eventually, and you have to race within your means.”
For an independent team, sponsor support is a huge element for their success. The Nitro Moose team is supported consistently by Robert’s Car Care, Stith Printing and Bob Jackson Auto Body. For the Sonoma race Sterling Homes for Sonoma stepped up and will be branded on the 12,000-horsepower Funny Car. Winefsky will have the chance to show off these companies on and off the track.
On Friday Winefsky will join over two dozen drivers for a kid’s only autograph session at 3:30 p.m. under the main grandstands followed by a ticketed fan event in the Launch Pad tent before the second qualifying session.
“We are always looking to promote our sponsors throughout the weekend,” said Winefsky. “I love doing the autograph sessions and we have done the NHRA stage several times. I want to be able to talk with fans about how I got into racing and why they should support our sponsors.”
Sonoma Nationals qualifying for Winefsky and the Nitro Moose team will get underway on Friday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. followed on Saturday by two more qualifying sessions at 12:20 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. with the 16 quickest Funny Cars squaring off in eliminations on Sunday morning starting at 11 a.m. The race will be televised nationally on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday. For information on tickets or schedule of events visit www.nhra.com.
This story was originally published on July 14, 2026.
The post Rising Star Dylan Winefsky Ready for Successful Sonoma first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
