MANA — The Garden Isle Racing Association celebrated an unforgettable Fourth of July weekend as racers and fans from across the state gathered at Kauai Raceway Park for two action-packed days of drag racing.
The weekend opened with a heartfelt blessing from Deacon Averiet Soto of Holy Cross Church, followed by stirring performances of the National Anthem and “Hawaii Ponoī” by Lasaya Albite-Ruiz of Kapaa High School that left many in the crowd with “chicken skin.”
Competitors from Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai filled the staging lanes, showcasing the talent, sportsmanship and aloha that continue to make Hawaii drag racing special.
Battle on the Beach
Friday night’s featured event, Battle on the Beach, attracted 22 of Hawaii’s top competitors, including five racers who made the trip from the Neighbor Islands.
When the smoke cleared, Raycen Wong of Hilo, in his Big Block Chevy (BBC) powered rear-engine dragster, stood atop the field after an impressive string of winning passes. Earlier in the day, Wong shared that racing at Kauai Raceway Park had long been on his bucket list, making the victory even more meaningful.
Quick 8 delivers more Big Island horsepower
Saturday’s Quick 8 featured the eight fastest qualifiers from Friday’s Battle on the Beach, producing some of the quickest and fastest runs of the weekend.
Once again, Hawaii Island found itself in the winner’s circle as Chase Augustin drove his ‘89 Dodge Daytona twin turbo 540 BBC to victory with a blistering pass exceeding 200 mph.
Strong performances across every class
The Junior Dragster class belonged to Wally Rita III, who swept both days to earn back-to-back victories and continue an impressive season.
The weekend concluded with one of the crowd favorites — a Run Whatcha Brung Top Eliminator showdown featuring motorcycles, dragsters, door cars and even an electric vehicle competing together in bracket-style competition.
When the final win light flashed, it was Ryant Sakamoto, at just 20 years old, who drove his 2023 rear-engine dragster powered by a 555 BBC to claim the coveted Top Eliminator title.
A weekend to remember
The Fourth of July weekend remains Garden Isle Racing Association’s premier event each season, and this year’s turnout proved to be one of the organization’s strongest yet.
“This year surpassed previous years in both the number of racers and spectators, and we were thrilled to welcome our Neighbor Island racers and their crews to Kauai,” said GIRA President Rob Nelson.
“Our events simply wouldn’t happen without the incredible teamwork of our Board of Directors, the tireless dedication of our volunteers, the continued support of our sponsors, and the amazing fans who come out to enjoy the racing. Mahalo to everyone who helped make this weekend such a success.”
Next up: NAPA Ladies Night
The racing action continues on Aug. 1, as Kauai Raceway Park hosts NAPA Ladies Night, an evening celebrating women in motorsports while raising funds for Wilcox Women’s Center.
Fans can enjoy exciting drag racing while supporting an important cause, as GIRA continues its “Racing for a Reason. Pink for a Purpose,” campaign benefiting women’s health services on Kauai.
For event information, race schedules and tickets, visit www.dragracekauai.com.
Race results
July 3 – Battle on the Beach
• Winner: Raycen Wong (Hilo)
• Runner-up: Kevin Sakamoto (Lihue)
• Semis: Jesse Kealoha (Kapaa)
July 4 – Quick 8
• Winner: Chase Augustin (Hilo)
• Runner-up: Michael Olvas (Lihue)
• Semis: Manny Lawrence &Riley Takeyama (Kapaa)
Top Eliminator
• Winner: Ryant Sakamoto (Lawai)
• Runner-up: Kevin Suga (Hanapepe)
Class Winners
• Junior Dragster – Wally Rita III (7/3 &4)
• Top Gun – Raycen Wong (7/3), Ryant Sakamoto (7/4)
• Pro ET – Alma Koetje (7/3), Kevin Suga (7/4)
• Shifter – Lee Remigio (7/3), Robby Silva Jr. (7/4)
• Super Pro – Lenny Camat (7/3), Alfred Maglangit (7/4)
• Street – Jon Nakamura (7/3), Mason Koetje (7/4)
• Bike ET – Adam Beetles (7/3 &4)
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