Veteran West coast Pro Modified and sportsman drag racer Shane Molinari tragically lost his life Sunday in an on-track racing accident at Sonoma Raceway in northern California.
The Battle Ground, Washington resident was competing at the track’s annual RaceWorz event, where his familiar 1968 Pontiac Firebird got out of the groove during en elimination-round contest and struck the left lane retaining wall at the 1/8-mile marker.
Molinari was for years a prominent fixture on the NHRA Pro Modified trail and at major doorslammer events across the country, including the PDRA, Street Car Super Nationals, the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, and beyond.
Molinari competed at the balance of NHRA Pro Modified races from late 2014 through 2018, capturing his first career win at Norwalk, Ohio in 2017. He finished a career-high fourth place in the championship standings that year. He and is family owned and operated S&T Truck Repair, a commercial truck and trailer repair business in Oregon.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of a past PIR champion, drag racer Shane Molinari. Always a PIR Patriot even when he went on to quicker and faster cars, he still spoke fondly of his time racing here. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time,” Portland International Raceway officials shared in a statement.
“Shane was a great racer, friend, and a respected part of the racing community. He leaves behind a lot of memories, a lot of friendships, and a legacy that will continue to be felt by the people who knew him,” added representatives from longtime engine partner Pro Line Racing.
Molinari was 59.
You might also like
J.R. Todd Flying Under The Radar Despite Strong 2026 NHRA Funny Car Season
J.R. Todd and the DHL Funny Car team continue to produce consistent results on the track. The team is gearing up for another title run.
