Sonoma Deputy Sheriffs Take On Speeders

The Sheriff's office is turning up the heat in Sonoma, but they're not necessarily chasing speeders.

Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs Todd Lands and Tim Wright have dominated the Top the Cops competition the past two weeks during the STP Wednesday Night Drags at Infineon Raceway.

Lands, in his first Top the Cops competition, posted the best reaction time among the cops with a 0.044 on April 6. Wright, the defending series champion, came back this week with a 0.021 jump off the starting line.

"I don't win every single week, but I've been fortunate to do well," said Wright, who has participated in the series for four years.

The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office has been a part of Top the Cops since its inception 17 years ago. The program gives high school students a chance to go all out against local law enforcement officers without worrying about getting a ticket. The officers compete in their patrol vehicles. It's not often you see a German Shepherd drag racing, but even K-9 units compete in the series.

"I think the most positive aspect is the interaction we have when we're not racing, when we're sitting around waiting to go," Wright said. "There's no wall of perception. The kids get to know who this cop is. I'm no different from any other guy. I enjoy cars just like they do and we bond over that. When I'm pulling someone over, I'm just doing my job. Really, though, I'm just like everyone else."

Retired Santa Rosa police officer Kevin McKinnie helped start the series with raceway officials and he still helps organize it. McKinnie has seen a lot of high school drivers go on to join more competitive drag racing series. He's also seen a few go on to become police officers.

"I bump into a few of the kids from the track in the town where I live," Wright said. "One kid who graduated high school last year lives within a half-mile of where I live. He met my son and we've had a good time together. The kids who go out there and participate in the series are good kids.

"Anytime we have positive contact with kids, even if it's not a direct influence on them, it's helpful. Maybe one kid from the track is sitting around with his friends and says, 'Yeah, I know that cop. He's a good guy.' That's what we really want to see."

Bracket Drags
Sonoma's Shone Messier took low-qualifier honors during the NorCal Top Comp Association's season debut at Infineon on April 13. Messier lit up the board with a personal-best 6.488 second run at 206.89 mph on the quarter-mile.

Motorcycle Daze
The American Federation of Motorcyclists stops at Infineon on Saturday for its second race of the season. The Northern California series visits Sonoma, Buttonwillow and Willows for seven races.

Rick Williams won the 250 Superbike race in the season opener at Buttonwillow on March 19. Greg McCullough's Yamaha took first in the 600 Superbike class, beating out Lenny Hale. It was Hale who edged McCullough in the 750 Superbike race, however. Dan Sewell won the 650 Production race and was second in the 650 Twins.