MANA — Jesse Kealoha was a dual winner over the Fourth of July weekend, capturing the Top Gun category Friday en route to being named King of the Track Saturday at the 3rd annual Rudy Ramos Independence Day Race Event at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in Mana.
Hosted by the Garden Isle Racing Association, Kealoha powered his 1992 Nissan 300Z to 164.02 mph on an 8.24 ET over his 8:15 dial-in on a .095 reaction time to clinch the Top Gun category over Calvin Costa’s 1923 Ford T-Bucket who reached the quarter mile at 152.90 mph on an 8.53 ET, breaking out on his 8.56 dial-in on a .106 reaction time.
The Friday win put Jesse on the road to King of the Track where last year’s winner, Ryan Stiglmeier, was taken out of contention and pitting Randy Lawrence roaring against Kealoha for the title.
Jesse, holding an 8.24 dial-in over Lawrence’s 10.00 dial-in, sat at the tree while the 1970 Vega Wagon roared off the line, chased by Jesse who easily overtook the Vega, reaching 162.36 mph on the top end on an 8.30 ET over his 8.24 dial-in, leaving on a .042 reaction time while Lawrence settled at 124.04 mph on a 10.10 ET over a 10.00 dial-in and a .186 reaction time.
Kerrilyn Villa, whose son Nalu Barros settled for runner-up honors in the Friday night runs, said the event was well attended, with more than 100 race cars on the track each night and more than 1,000 people coming through the gate on Saturday.
She said the annual event is a tribute to former GIRA racer Rudy Ramos, whose family led the Rudy Ramos Parade down the track Saturday night to honor the veteran racer.
Nalu Barros, in his Friday night run, broke out in the finals, giving the Junior Dragster category to Kelsie Iida-Vierra who romped to a 74.88 mph finish on an 8.31 ET over an 8.15 dial-in with a .285 reaction time. Nalu topped 69.34 mph on a 9.13 ET, breaking out over his 9.28 dial-in on a .056 reaction time.
Saturday night, Courtney Brock walked off with the Junior Dragster trophy after Donoven Gomes red-lighted, Brock making the run at 79.51 mph on an 8.12 ET over the 8.20 dial-in and a .150 reaction time.
Rylan Stiglmeier, the 2011 King of the Track, topped the Friday night Street Class, his 2006 Mustang reaching 90.57 mph on a 15.21 ET over a 14.88 dial-in and a .107 reaction time, edging out Seth Morales’ 1996 Civic which reached 93.79 mph on a 14.64 ET over a 14.30 dial-in and a .147 reaction time.
Randy Lawrence, reaching the finals of the King of the Track after topping the Pro ET class Friday, where he beat Chris Loew who red lighted in the finals, Randy moving his Vega to 41.90 mph on an 18.25 ET over a 10.00 dial-in and a perfect 0.00 reaction time.
Elena Kealoha drove her 1956 Volkswagen Bug to 102.08 mph on a 13.03 ET over a 12.95 dial-in and a .107 reaction time to take the Sport Compact class over Sonny Suniga whose 1997 Civic reached 112.10 mph on a 12.29 ET over an 11.99 dial-in and a .123 reaction time.
Matt Keleiohi topped the Bike Class Friday, aboard a 1998 Suzuki GSXR 1000, reaching 128.11 mph on a 9.30 ET (9.15 dial-in) over Karl Nakamura on a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja, reaching 99.52 mph on a 13.44 ET (13.19 dial-in) on a .057 reaction time.
Isaac “Sabu” Carvalho drove his 1995 Camaro Z28 to 103.78 mph on a 12.58 ET (12.55 dial-in) and a .170 reaction time to take the Muscle V8 class over Jason Bryan who powered a 2005 Mustang to 112.34 mph on a 12.82 ET (12.57 dial-in) and a .057 reaction time.
Wendall Nonaka took the final Friday race in his 1987 Buick Regal, reaching 74.88 mph on an 8.31 ET (8.15 dial-in) over Roy Nakagawa in a 1969 Camaro which broke out on a 118.32 mph run in 11.71 ET (11.90 dial-in) and a .065 reaction time for the Quick 8 class.
Kainoa Raposas, in a 2005 Dodge Diesel, topped the Street class on a 94.10 mph on a 14.26 ET (14.10 dial-in) on a .108 reaction time, edging out Michael Remigio in a 1998 Acura which topped 89.98 mph on a 15.83 ET (15.80 dial-in) and a .331 reaction time.
Rudy Cayaban topped the Sport Compact class in his 1973 Corolla which reached 87.60 on a 13.87 ET (13.78 dial-in) on a .069 reaction time, edging past Byron Ponte in a 2002 Sentra which reached 103.32 mph on a 13.45 ET (13.30 dial-in) and a .056 reaction time.
Dennis Stoner topped the Bike class Saturday aboard a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 which reached 128.94 mph on a 10.86 ET over a 10.60 dial-in and a .104 reaction time, getting the win after Jarrett Tanaka’s 2006 Suzuki GCXR 1000 broke out.
Brandon Fujishige drove his 2011 Cadillac CTS-V to 115.93 mph on an 11.89 ET (11.79 dial-in) on a .125 reaction time, capturing the Muscle V8 class after Shandon Takayama red-lighted in a 1969 Camaro Z28.
Chris Loew, red-lighting Friday night, came back to capture the Pro ET class Saturday after his opponent, Guy Montemayor in a 1967 Nova, red-lighted. Loew took his 1969 Chevelle to 109.42 mph on a 10.73 ET (10.43 dial-in) and a .181 reaction time.
Cory Tani, in a 1969 Camaro, topped Calvin Tani, also in a 1969 Camaro, in the 10.90 Class, Cory reaching the quarter mile at 112.59 mph on a 10.94 ET (10.90 dial-in) and a .039 reaction time over Calvin who reached 132.67 mph on a 10.88 ET (10.90 dial-in) and a .299 reaction time.
The two-day Independence Day races were sponsored by Kaua‘i Auto Repair, King Auto Center, Auto Stylin’ and Performance, PS&D Napa Auto Parts, Kaua‘i Toyota, Txturz Hair Design, Garden Isle Portable Toilets, Manny’s Repair, Garden Island Motorsports, Ramos Excavation, Syngenta Seeds, Kaua‘i Fire Protection, Honsador Lumber and Mac Tools.
The “Ladies Night” event will be featured Aug. 4 at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in Mana. Visit www.dragrace-kauai.com, or call Bobby Barros at 635-6034 for more information.
