NHRA Sport Compact - Sonoma Smashes Grapes and Ferments a Great Race

Turbo Magazine Hot Rod
The Hot Rod class looked like a field of broken dreams when the dust settled at the end. Kenny Tran, in the midst of a rollercoaster season, was the number one qualifier with his 8.604 @ 175 mph. The first round was marred by a slew of breakages. In the second round, things were much the same as Jojo Callos' Integra was smoking all the way down the track, but that didn't matter because Mike Crawford's SRT-4 broke in the water box. Dark horse J.J. Olson advanced when Kenny's Quaker State Civic popped yet another tranny, and Bruce Mortensen easily dispatched of Marty Latwig in his ailing Sunfire.

In the semis, J.J.'s Civic had a bye run into the finals, and Bruce's Honda didn't have any problems at all against Jojo's Acura. In the final round, J.J. was going for his first Hot Rod win while Bruce wanted to repeat his Sonoma win from last year. Bruce's experience paid off at the line as he jumped ahead with a better RT. But J.J. didn't give up so easily, as he motored around Bruce for his first NHRA victory. Way to go, J.J., you're dyn-o-mite!

Honda Tuning All Motor
There has always been a select group of heavy hitters in the All Motor ranks. This is no doubt due to the mystique and mystery as to what it takes to propel a naturally aspirated car down a drag strip. Quietly, Leslie Durst has become one of the boyz, so to speak. Her super-clean CRX has been picking up super-quick times. On any given day, Leslie's car is capable of a very low 10-second pass, and she qualified first at Sonoma with a 10.245 @ 129 mph after coming off two consecutive victories.

In the second round, Leslie advanced along with Heather O'Connor, Scott Kelly, and Chad Barber. Scott's VW Fastback dispensed Chad, and Leslie took out her fellow female racer. In the finals, Scott's old school rear-drive Vee Dub got out first with an incredible .406 R/T, and although Leslie chased him down in her FWD Honda, it was not enough, even though she was merely a half a car length away from her third straight victory.