Last Race in Sonoma: Twilight for “Top the Cops” - SB Nation
The lasers are already fixed on the side of Madison’s car. To Madison’s left, Deputy John Littrell of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department raises his eyebrows at Madison from inside his Crown Victoria. But Madison is staring ahead at a quarter-mile of straight, smooth asphalt. She’s got one foot on the gas and the other on her brake, her engine whining as she runs through her worries this evening: her tune-up earlier this week, how the wind keeps dropping off suddenly and wilting the flag she’s been watching in her mirror. Before the light even turns green, she floors it. There’s a half-beat as the BMW takes in Madison’s command, and then all at once she flies forward. Deputy Littrell tears after her and goes Code 3: lights flashing and siren wailing. On the radio, she can hear them saying her name: Madison Nirenstein, Redwood High School, 2004 BMW 330Ci. Her engine does the work for her now, the automatic transmission shifting through the gears. She steals a look at the speedometer: 50, 60, 70, 80 miles per hour now and climbing fast, blue lights glinting on her dash. On Wednesday nights from April to August, any teenager with a high school ID, a driver’s license, and 15 bucks for registration can come to Sonoma Raceway for a chance to race a uniformed police officer in a squad car down the quarter-mile strip. Between races, the officers wander amongst them, offering tips on safe driving, warning of the dangers of alcohol, and — especially — just talking cars. Madison shoots past the finish line just ahead of Deputy Littrell. Source: www.sbnation.com
