Event Coverage 2015 NHRA Winternationals advice?

My family and another family have a trip booked to Disneyland arriving Feb 6.
I wanted to see what kind of car related events might be going on while we are there and it looks like the Winternationals might be a good option.
We can only go for one day so I was hoping to get some advice?
I think we would rent a car and drive from Anaheim, I did this before to go to the GNRS & NHRA Museum in '09 and had good luck.
Is parking going to be an issue?
Would Saturday or Sunday be better?
Would we need to buy tickets in advance?
Any other tips or recommendations would be great!

Thanks, Sean

 

I usually get reserved tickets on the west side grandstands (i'am only a few miles away) in advance, top row if possible, west side in only like 13 or 14 rows, sat is qualifying, sunday eliminations, depends on what you like, lots of nitro runs on sat.

 

Stay at the track as late as you can after the race. One of the teams has a margarita mixer that is driven by a Fuel motor. The party starts in earnest after the fans have gone home

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I think that it is Del Worsham's team that has the fueler-powered margarita mixer....have fun (I haven't been to the Winternationals since '62, but parking was an issue back then, I don't know how bad it is now, NHRA may have expanded it since

 

Lots of parking, but they have expanded the price.

 

I would recommend Friday so you can watch night time qualifying.

 

Thanks for the feedback, do you have to go behind the tower to get to the west side seats?

 

More nitro cars run on Saturday then Sunday.

 

Why do you say that? All Pro rounds are on Sunday...unless it changed for 2015

 

Yes the final eliminations are on Sunday. 16 cars in each nitro category, top fuel and funny car. But on Saturday all the nitro cars are attempting to qualify. Therefore you see more nitro cars running on Friday and Saturday compared to Sunday.

 

Good advice , my favorite side for many years , and yes access is going behind the tower suites ( it's easy to locate). Personally I prefer Saturday , nothing like the last round of qualifying watching those guys letting it all hang out !

 

Thanks guys!

 

I used to only sit on the pit side. But, I've found on the far side behind the tower there are less drunks. I take my kids and we sit on the far side.

 

Yes ,true.
For that matter you could go Friday and see real cars with doors...that don't blow up ... ;-)

 

One small bit of info , The Mexican restaurant on the street behind the tower is the real deal !

 

I have heard of the restaurant, will have to keep it in mind.
Any more suggestions?
I think I will buy some tickets this week, leaning towards west side on Saturday so far.
Thanks again for the info!

 

Got my tickets, Saturday on the west side.
Thanks again to those that provided the feedback!

 

Do the Mexican place 4 sure.

 

Friday AND Saturday run two Pro (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock) qualifying sessions. All cars entered run. All other classes run also at least twice, unless time starts getting late.
Sunday, only the 16 qualified run, both Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. All other cars run as time permits on Sunday. It's been known to spill over onto Monday or the next race.
Get there early to shorten the walk. 6/6:30am. While there is normally plenty of parking, there has been occasions that the gates were shut down around 12/1pm..!

Mike

 

I am a little slow with these but better late....
Our seats were great, front row on the west side just past the tree. Some really cool stuff on display and the nitro cars were incredible.

 

The VW sent the Hemi home!




























The second round was rained out but I felt like we got our moneys worth anyway. I will go again if I get a chance.