Local drag racers provided tire-melting action on Sonoma Raceway's drag strip during Wednesday Night Drags Powered by Universal Technical Institute, July 31.
The Wednesday Night Drags program, which is in its 31st consecutive year, gives drag racers the opportunity to race on Sonoma Raceway's world-famous quarter-mile drag strip. The objective of the program is to give people, from teenagers to working professionals, a safe, legal and controlled environment in which to race their vehicles, as opposed to using city streets, back-county roads or parking lots.
Racing is featured in seven classes. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with racing spanning from 4-10 p.m. Eliminations begin at 7 p.m. allowing more track time for the racers. Anyone with a valid driver's license can participate, providing their vehicle or motorcycle passes a simple technical inspection.
Wednesday night's class winners included:
Jackpot: Cotati's Nick Bublitz
Gear Jammer: Santa Rosa's Craig Love
Motorcycle: Santa Rosa's Eric Oliver
Comp Rod: Novato's Joe Piazza
Sport Street: Vacaville's Ken Kalis
Street: Penngrove's Tony Piazza
High School: Discovery Bay's Joey Frakes
The Top the Cops™ program also ran during the evening. Only one high school student, Sonoma's Charlotte Skorlich, defeated a police officer on the evening when Napa CHP's Marc Renspurger committed an infraction by taking off .161 seconds too soon. The other three officers were able to outrun the students, with Sonoma County Sherriff Jack Neely winning over Sebastopol's Joseph McBurney, Sgt. Bradshaw of Napa CHP racing past Discovery Bay's Joey Frakes and CHP officer Shane Linarez earning the victory over Penngrove's Dominic Piazza.
Winner photos are posted on the Sonoma Raceway Drag Racing Facebook page.
Wednesday Night Drags will resume on Wednesday, August 7. For more information about Wednesday Night Drags, visit SonomaRaceway.com or call 800-870-RACE (7223). For track weather conditions, please call 800-870-RACE ext. 209.
