surfnsprint

I went looking for the current VRA Sprint points and I couldn’t find them anywhere! Not at the fact filled SCRAFAN.COM. Not at the point sanctuary venturaraceway.com. Not even at your favorite blowhard vrafan.com! Come on guys, what’s up? Hardworking Scott Holder did his job, after Santa Maria, he went home on Sunday and recalculated all the points. He then emailed them to all the suspects named above, who somehow got out the Grand Slam Points, but neglected to publish the VRA Sprint point race. Looking at those points, one thing’s for sure, it’s all about the DNF. DID NOT FINISH. With eight races to go, each race worth a potential thousand points, DNF is the enemy. This race to the championship is tighter than a banker’s necktie! Let’s look at the top five…….

Current Fifth Place
Kevin Kierce - Yellow #2

I don’t think there is anything more core in Ventura than KK and the 2 crew. I have only missed two races this season and Kevin Kierce has won them both. That said I will sit out any one of the remaining races at Kevin’s discretion. I like the guy that much! But I don’t think Fierce Kierce cares about superstition. He doesn’t buy into the “in car camera” phobia. The only thing Kevin worries about is missing a good race somewhere! Dedicated to the max, regularly packs two cars per race, put him wherever in the line up, he brings it every time. Before the race, he is distant and detached. If you are not part of the dedicated circle of friends working hard to put him over the line, stay out the way. After the race, it’s a different story. Loves to get on that Naylor microphone and thank everybody. Had a couple of stupid DNF’s this year that had nothing to do with him. Currently running fifth place, he is in the hunt to finish first. Kevin has 10,170 points and sits 1,540 behind the leader. That’s about one and a half races to make up.

Current Fourth Place
Troy Rutherford - Black #11

I don’t really know Troy Rutherford. Here is what I do know. He came back to Ventura this year after pounding the 410 circuit. He has made this season one of the most exciting in years. He is a journeyman, a knowledgeable and experienced veteran. Has a young family with a beautiful daughter. Drives one of those Raney monster things. When that black #11 hits the track it gets everybody’s attention. He has had a couple of spectacular crashes this year that have just barely pushed him back to fourth. Even so, he and his talented pit crew (including dad) are a threat to anyone in his way. He has 10,815 points and is exactly 895 points behind the leader. That’s about one DNF. He will finish at the front or near. Don’t blink!

Current Third Place
Greg Taylor - Red #7

How can such a quiet unassuming guy generate so much power on the track? This Clark Kent of sprint car driving has probably generated more fan thrills than just about anybody. Thirty VRA Main Event wins, he has four this year, twice everybody else. Most heat wins this season with seven. His father was a tear up in his own day and still builds Greg’s cars. One of the best pit crews in Ventura, they fight for every position, every pass. Nothing is worse than second place for these guys, “What screw didn’t we turn?” They know if they deliver the car, Taylor cannot be denied. Currently has 10,985 points, which is only 725 points behind the leader. Greg can get that many points in hot laps! Nobody is safe.

Current Second Place
Jimmy Crawford - White #17c

So close he can almost grab it. I don’t know if anybody wants this more than Jimmy Crawford and that’s what may win it. That and incredible driving skills. Mid season he changed cars like changing your shirt, no big deal. Car, crew, weather, conditions, nothing seems to affect Crawford, he will be up front. Has an uncanny ability to see the race ahead and skirt around trouble. Very analytical, refers to the track as “technical”. His only DNF this year was “technical”, he should be out front. With 11, 090 points he is chasing with a 620 point deficit. With eight races to go, that makes the lead only a rumor. Strangely, Jimmy has yet to win a main event this season. But again, Crawford marches to his own drummer, sprints to his own beat.

Current First Place
Luis Espinoza - Purple #09

Lackluster last year, Luis is setting the pace this year with a combination of strength and finesse. I talked to his Mom awhile back and she confirmed that Luis was raised by Chris Wakim! He has an awesome Carco engine and a winning pit crew. Luis has taken all of this and synthesized into a lean mean racing machine. I suspect some 410 owners are taking a close look. He is good high, he is good low, he is good in traffic and he is great in front of the interview microphone. This guy would do a lot to promote sprint car racing, they don’t call him Hollywood for nothing! Luis is the only driver who has not DNF’d this year. That is huge in this equation. He is out front with 11,710 points in only fourteen races. That a cool average of 836.429 per race. Still, he has to step up and a win a main event. Champions win!

posted: 11:02 AM