Wendall Nonaka sweeps July 4 drags

MANA — Yes, the high-powered race care being towed on the highway was real. So were the parked trailers bearing support vehicles along Kaumuali‘i Highway opposite Ishihara Market during the days leading up to the July 4 weekend.

The Garden Isle Racing Association hosted its two-day July 4 drag races at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park to a controlled group of spectators limited by the COVID-19 rules that included social distancing.

This was the first sanctioned event since the race track was shut down by the pandemic in March 2020.

Earlier, GIRA hosted a test-and-tune event with no spectators allowed.

Wendall Nonaka, piloting his ‘87 Buick Regal, was the big winner over two days, taking top honors in the Super Pro class on both days.

“As per NHRA, CDC, as well as our state and county guidelines, we are taking it one race at a time due to the current novel coronavirus pandemic,” the board states on the Drag Race Kaua‘i website. “For future updates, please stay connected with us over on our Facebook page.”

Full results of the two days of racing follow:

July 3 Results

• Top Gun: Calvin Costa, ‘00 Roadster, ET 8.71, 130.50 mph/dial-in 8.44; R/U Cy Akaji, ‘68 Chevy Nova, ET 9.76, 122.04 mph/dial-in 9.20; Semi: Kelsie Iida-Vierra, ‘03 Spitzer Dragster.

• Pro ET: Robert Wheelock, ‘00 Honda CRX, ET 9.96, 148.37 mph/dial-in 10.50; R/U Esteve Fernando, ‘89 Toyota truck, ET 11.28, 115.07 mph/dial-in 10.98 (red light); Semi: Gilbert Barretto, Jr., ‘67 Chevy Camaro; Solomon Ruiz, ‘70 Opel GT.

• Muscle V8: Mikioi Edwards, ‘01 Chevy Camaro, ET 12.20, 111.49 mph/dial—in 12.10; R/U Alma Koetje, ‘00 Chevy Corvette, ET 12.29, 111.99 mph/dial-in 12.24 (red light); Semi: Kevin Suga, ‘85 Toyota pickup.

• Sport Compact: Joshua Sheldon, Honda Civic, ET 14.03, 97.61 mph/dial-in 13.99; R/U Micah Robley, Honda Civic, ET 12.62, 108.70 mph/dial-in 12.40; Semi: Robby Silva, Jr. ‘91 Honda CRX.

• Super Pro: Wendall Nonaka, ‘87 Buick Regal, ET 9.71, 129.99 mph/dial-in 9.65; R/U Craig Fujimoto, ‘85 Buick Regal, ET 10.81, 125.81 mph/dial-in 10.76; Semi: Brian Dow, ‘65 Ford Mustang.

• Bike ET: Angel White, ‘08 Suzuki, ET 12:01, 115.54 mph/dial-in 11.50; R/U Kahale Kaleiohi, ‘90 Kawasaki Ninja, ET 12.79, 111.39 mph/dial-in 11.65.

• Jr. Dragster: Shalia Vierra, ‘14 Half Scale Dragster, ET 8.02, 75.98 mph/dial-in 7.90; R/U Layne Montemayor, Jr. Dragster, ET 8.96, 72.59 mph/dial-in 8.95; Semi: Kawai Kea Silva, Jr. Dragster.

• Street Class (final run determined by Jun Ken Po): Dustin Gonsalves, Brayden Rasay.

July 4 Results

• Top Gun: Kelsie Iida-Vierra, ‘03 Spritzer Dragster, ET 7.91, 168.49 mph/dial-in 7.87; R/U Calvin Costa, ‘00 Roadster, ET 8:40, 159.27 mph/dial-in 8.33; Semi: Ryancie Sakamoto, ‘00 Dragster.

• Pro ET: Kory Uemura, ‘93 Honda Civic, ET 11.10, 119.69 mph/dial-in 10.90; R/U Gilbert Barretto, Jr., ‘67 Chevy Camaro, ET 11.55, 103.65 mph/dial-in 11.20; Semi: Guy Montemayor, ‘03 Chevy S-10, Solomon Ruiz, ‘70 Opel GT.

• Muscle V8: Kevin Suga, ‘85 Toyota pickup, ET 12.16, 111.40 mph/dial-in 12.22; R/U Lacin Montemayor, ‘87 Chevy S-10, ET 12.66, 103.65 mph/dial-in 12.60 (red light); Semi: Alma Koetje, ‘00 Chevy Corvette, Mikioi Edwards, ‘01 Chevy Camaro.

• Sport Compact: Robby Silva, Jr., ‘91 Honda CRX, ET 12.28, 94.98 mph/dial-in 12.15; R/U Jaimelyn Dela Cruz, ‘18 Kia Stinger GT, ET 13.88, 104.80 mph/dial-in 13.50; Semi: Brittney Young, ‘98 Honda Civic.

• Super Pro: Wendall Nonaka, ‘87 Buick Regal, ET 9.65, 141.70 mph/dial-in 9.61; R/U Calvin Tani, Chevy Cobalt, ET 10.82, 125.95 mph/dial-in 10.72.

• Street: Tucker Guiliano, ‘98 Toyota Tacoma, ET 16.88, 80.40 mph/dial-in 16.69; R/U Gabrielle Nakashima, ‘08 Honda Civic Si, ET 16.14, 91.94 mph/dial-in 15.41; Semi: Kalen Kaya, ‘86 Toyota pickup, AJ Basuel, ‘97 Honda Civic.

• Bike ET: Wilmark Geronimo, ‘04 Yamaha R6, ET 11.47, 126.42 mph/dial-in 10.94; R/U Adam Beetles, ‘09 Kawasaki Concours, ET 11.15, 115.53 mph/dial-in 11.30 (break out); Semi: David Debutiaco, ‘13 Kawasaki Ninja.

• Jr. Dragster: Ryant Sakamoto, ‘14 Half Scale Dragster, ET 7.93, 82.78 mph/dial-in 7.90; R/U Danika Braun, Jr. Dragster, ET 7.98, 83.35 mph/dial-in 7.90; Semi: Ryan Medeiros, ‘07 Half Scale Dragster.