From the article:
Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car
Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken tail light in December.
Maldonado also said he put plenty of time and effort working on his 1992 black Honda Civic. He was stopped in November by police in what Higbee described as an area where racers gather.
Also that drag strips are disappearing such that there are often no legal options for gear heads.
Most 'racing accidents' are idiots with unmodified cars playing grab ass in traffic. Not racers on deserted quarter mile straights.