The Wednesday Night Drags program, which is in its 29th year, gives drag racers the opportunity to drag race on Sonoma Raceway's world-famous quarter-mile drag strip. The objective of the program is to give people, from teen-agers to working professionals, a safe, legal and controlled environment in which to race their vehicles, as opposed to using city streets or back-county roads.
Novato's favorite, Doug Love, once again clenched a victory in the motorcycle class, marking his 13th victory this season with his '01 Triumph. Other winners included first-time winner Mathew Reynolds from Concord (Gear Jammer); Santa Rosa's Tom Johnson secured his fourth win of the season (Jackpot); Novato's Joe Piazza captured his third victory (Comp Rod); Newark's Rick Mcllmoil with his fourth win this year (Sport Street); Guerneville's Michael Gervais with three wins (Street) and Santa Rosa's Jorge Valencia Jr in the High School division claimed his fourth victory.
Doug Love's consistent victories prove that being the fastest does not always indicate your name is at the top on the final round results sheet.
"That's what's nice about bracket-racing. Slow vehicles can race fast vehicles and still be able to be competitive because the lights equalize everybody," stated Love.
Last night, Love clocked in at 80.50, 85.07 and 92.31 mph, while his competitor, Joe Sisk from Hayward, reached speeds of up to 145.53 mph on his '08 Suzuki.
Last night also provided the season finale for the Top the Cops event in which high school students drag race against Bay Area law enforcement officers in their squad cars on the quarter-mile drag strip.
The next Wednesday Night Drags event is slated for next Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 3:30-10 p.m. For more information, visit www.SonomaRaceway.com/youcanrace or call 800-870-RACE (7223).
