Wednesday Night Drags heated up Sonoma Raceway's drag strip, May 3, as more than 150 Northern California drag racers competed for top titles. In addition, the Tops the Cops program helped two San Marin High School students walk away with trophies and bragging rights.
San Marin High School students, P.J. Femenio and Justin Teshan, experienced the thrill of going head-to-head against Bay Area law enforcement officers during the Top the Cops program. Femenio and Teshan are also enrolled in the high school’s elective class, Automotive Technology, instructed by Tim Blok. The class focuses on specialized procedures and techniques in auto repair and maintenance.
Teshan took to the drag strip for the first time ever with the car he has been working on for the last nine months, "The car was donated to us from the College of Marin. I repaired the lights, blinkers, rear axle and more during class time," said Teshan, still breathing heavy from the race. “So many things were racing through my head and then the next thing you know the race is over, but you never come down from the adrenaline.”
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 teenagers 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.
Racing is featured in six classes. Timed runs begin at 3:30 p.m. with racing spanning from 4-10 p.m. Anyone with a driver's license can compete, providing their vehicle or motorcycle passes a simple technical inspection.
Class winners included Pacifica’s Brian Kam (Jackpot); Sonoma’s Bill Burns (Gear Jammer); Novato's Doug Love (Motorcycle); Yountville’s John Murphy (Comp Rod); Rodeo’s Douglas McCay (Sport Street); San Rafael’s Scott Sterley (Street); and Novato's P.J. Femenia (High School).
Scott Sterley and Fairfax’s Chris Burton squared off again last night after a rain delay postponed the competition on April 19. Sterley and his ’71 Camaro clenched two victories in the street class.
The Wednesday Night Drags will resume next Wednesday, May 10. For more information, visit www.sonomaraceway.com/track/you-can-race/ or call 800-870-RACE (7223). For track weather conditions, please call 800-870-RACE ext. 209.
