Jennings Takes Wild Ride In Drag Races

Brian Jennings of Martinez had the best numbers in Sportsman Motorcycle qualifying, but suffered a second-round loss during the weekend's NHRA Division 7 drag races, presented by Korbel, at Sonoma Raceway.

Jennings, aboard his 1983 Suzuki, was the top qualifier Friday, boosted by a 0.007 reaction time when the Christmas tree went green. Jennings lost in the second round to Jeff Havens.

El Cerrito's Denny Alves emerged as the top dog with his victory Sunday in the final round at his home track.

Alves, riding a 1978 Kawasaki, rode past Utah's Rick Newport in the finals of the Sportsman Motorcycle class. Alves, the No. 2 qualifier, lit up the scoreboard at 136.80 mph with his 9.788-second run in the final.

After six events this season, Alves leads the Division 7 standings by 11 points over second-place John Widmann. A $14,000 champions’ purse will be paid to top three points finishers in divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycle competitions. Jennings is in 30th place after competing in only event this season.

Another East Bay competitor, Marc Meadors of Danville, drove away with the championship in the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods. His '69 Camaro covered the quarter-mile in 5.885 seconds at 244.96 mph to defeat Hollister's Sean Renteria.

More than 400 racers went head to head in Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition. Winners were crowned in 10 classes, including Comp Eliminator, Stock, Super Gas and in West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods.

The event kicked off back-to-back NHRA drag racing weekends in Sonoma, as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend, July 26-28.

The Pacific Division racers will line up again in September at Rocky Mountain Raceways.