Use correct name for illegal racing

As a retired drag racer, I felt compelled to write about an article written by Bob Susnjara this week: “Waukegan drag racer charged in pedestrian death.”

While the death itself is tragic and should not have happened, it was caused by an illegal activity, not drag racing. Drag racing is a sport using specialized vehicles on a specifically measured length of track, and strictly timed to the highest standards.

All vehicles are inspected for proper safety equipment and all drivers are regulated under strict rules and guidelines, using officials and safety personnel.

To write an article about a pedestrian being struck by a drag racer while walking on the street is about the same as describing a death in a bar fight as a death from a boxing match in a bar. (Boxing again being a specialized sport with rules and officials).

Call those idiots driving their cars on the street (and killing people) what they are: street racers.

Matt Tomlinson

Grayslake