PERRIS, Calif. — Illegal street racing is a problem all across Southern California that has taken the lives of bystanders and drivers alike. 

Between Jan. 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, the California Highway Patrol issued more than 31,000 citations to motorists going over 100 mph. 

Last year, the CHP received funding to develop task forces to reduce and prevent illegal street racing. 

But the state is not the only one looking to address this — car enthusiast and former street racer Andy Marocco created the Street Legal Dragway, a 330-foot dragstrip designed to provide a safer space for street racers to exercise their need for speed. 

The open track at the Perris Fair Grounds is open to street cars instead of race cars and allows them to go as fast as they would like without the concern of pedestrians or other drivers. 

Marocco says the track took a decade and several attempts to get approved. 

He points to the land cost and why other cities must make other tracks. 

Their contract allows them to be there for the next ten years, and he hopes to see more people embrace the track and leave the street behind.

Street Legal Dragway operates out of the Perris Fair Grounds, and one can purchase tickets to race or watch on their website.