surfnsprint

The View from Ventura

Oval Nationals

November 4. 2006

How cool is my wife? On our eleventh wedding anniversary we were sitting in turn four at the Perris Speedway watching the Oval Nationals. That’s smoking! As we walked from the ticket booth to the midway, they had all cars and drivers lined up as you passed through. When we got to the end of the line, I said to my wife “take a picture of me with this guy”. I went over and shook his hand and she snapped the picture. “Who is that” she asked? “His name is Dave Darland”, I replied. That’s the only picture we took all day.

Perris Speedway is a race watcher’s dream. Sun to your back, full moon in your face, sixty or seventy cars in the infield. So many freaking cars that they ran a D main, a C main, a B main and then the main event. And that was after two full nights of racing already under their belts. My hat is off to the whole gaggle of Kazarians. What an absolutely outstanding show! One day there will be a statue in Perris for that family.

Lots of Ventura locals in the stands, Galen, Reed, Ken, Tom, Luis, Thunderhead, Steve Jr. and Steve Sr.…..lots of Ventura drivers in the pits. I didn’t go into the pits, I wanted to hang with my sweetheart and just watch the show. I was really looking forward to seeing Kierce out on the track but he had flipped hard the night before and was already on his way home nursing a headache and an unfilled dream. But there were plenty of other friends on the track all through the night. As the first pack pushed off, somebody behind me yelled, “Now we’re at the races!”

Twenty two cars, fifteen laps, the first eight will transfer into the “next race. Lot of cars I didn’t know, but I definitely recognized Matt Mitchell in the “D” main. He was at Ventura for the first USAC race and finished second when Mike Spencer showed him a wheel on the final lap. That was my first good look at Spencer, didn’t really recognize what we were dealing with! After tonight, I know what we are dealing with! More on that later. Matt finished second this main also. Matt Mitchell has a bright future!

In the ‘C” main Rip Williams hit the track and demonstrated his greatness. When I need drywall, I’m going to John Jory! What a honest to God thrill to watch the “Ripper” shred that main! His teammate Matt Mitchell was the sole survivor from the “D’ main to go to the “B”. Ventura exparts Ballard and Ford finished second and third. Now we be moving!

Did I mention Blake Miller! This kid is huge. Has adapted nicely to the faster 410’s and was running a strong second until his engine took a crap. Plenty of support from his family, Blake takes that gift and actually steps up to the plate. Will soon be knocking them out of the park!

Showtime for the “B” Main. I was in turn four so I couldn’t see the action in one where leader Johnny Rodriquez took a flyer from a Sheridan slide job. But I had an excellent view of the helmet beaning he gave Danny on the yellow! I like it when drivers throw helmets. It’s not good for anyone’s health to hold in anger and frustration. Drivers need to express themselves like anyone else. Nothing wrong with a good punch or even a bar fight every now and then. I’m not dead, just married. Anyhow, I’m a big Danny Sheridan fan; the guy has a lot of heart. And from the looks of it, I guess I‘m a Johnny Rodriquez fan too! Kiss my ass racing! And how about Greg Taylor! Finished second in the “B” main and made the big show three nights in a row. You gotta respect that! You can find him currently trying to pass Luis Espinoza in turn four of the VRA point’s race! Tune in November 18! Mitchell finally misses a transfer!

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Main Event! Dave Darland takes the pole and beats everybody over the head with it. But just as you are wondering if this is a cakewalk, Mike Spencer gets on the gas and drives the bottom. Unbelievable watching him lifting that left front tire over the bottom berm and carry it all the way around past turn four. His wheel kept hovering over the curb like a hand hovering over a weegee board! He actually took the lead away for several laps, but Darland kept to his game plan and kept rocketing high out of four. Age and slyness overcame youth and ambition as journeyman Dave punched his everyday time clock and took home the thirty thousand dollar paycheck. Ventura hero Cory Kruseman looked good in fourth. And who the hell is Brady Bacon? Lastly, how about that Levi Jones? Started eleventh and ended second. I think Dave was glad this one was called at forty. Levi was getting a little too close for comfort there at the end.

One last thank you to the Kazarian family! Nice place you got out there! You will always be VIP in Ventura. Jeff at Racewayvideo.com, I will be sending in my check for the DVD’s. As for my wife, racing’s not really her thing, she’s into the theater and stuff like that. I can live with that. But I gotta say, thanks for coming, honey!

posted: 12:15 AM