Sonoma Raceway's drag strip heated up, March 16, with more than 200 Northern California drag racers competing in front of 1,500 fans during the season opener of Wednesday Night Drags (WND). In addition to the heightened excitement surrounding the first WND, the evening was made extra special by the forty-five Gear Jammer entries who were racing as a final tribute to fellow racer and beloved friend, Dewayne King from Martinez who passed away on December 23, 2016.
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 Fairfield's Eric Isaacson (Gear Jammer); Novato's Doug Love (Motorcycle); Pacifica's Brian Kam (Comp Rod); Millbrae's Jeff Brietenstein (Sport Street); Cotati's Nick Bublitz (Street); and Novato's P.J. Femenia (High School).
The Wednesday Night Drags will resume next Wednesday, March 22. 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.
