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At one point last night, Jim Naylor was talking to legendary promoter JC Agajanian and JC grabs the mike and starts ranting “this is one of the premier short tracks in the country and when you put unlimited horsepower into this short oval JUST STAND BACK AND WATCH!” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Mud, metal and points were flying as Ventura hosted the 410 engines. Damion Gardner was determined to hang onto his points lead; a couple of the local 360 boys wanted to crash the party; Parnelli Jones was hanging out and the 15th Annual Wagsdash was going off. This entire racing spectacle under a clear fall night on the Ventura coastline….

With 44 cars in the pits, they ran qualifying with Cory Kruseman getting quick time of 11.86. In order to maintain four heats, they ran a C Main prior to the heat races. Top four drivers from this C Main advance to the last position in each of the four heat races. Anybody slower than fourth will park it for the evening.

C Main Starting Positions
69 David Sinsley	85 Matt Stewart
91 Bobby Ferro	34 Joshua Williams
29 Shawn Kautz	36 Eric Severson
88 Dan Tedrick	37 Hobie Conway
55 Tony Everhart	0t Ron Tjaarda
2x Jason Willey	87 Tony Jones

Right out of the gate, Tedrick, Jones, Everhart and Kautz have a knitting party in turn two. On the restart, Sinsley is racing infield and Tjaarda spins in one. When we finally get going, Sinsley is in front, Stewart behind him, Everhart in third and Williams in fourth. They space out kind of even and hold position throughout the heat. Tedrick wanted to get involved, but he was drifting in turns and couldn’t mount a challenge. Kautz ran fifth but that isn’t enough. Sinsley wins and goes to the back of heat one. Stewart makes it into heat two, Everhart goes to heat three and Williams get the final slot in heat four.

Heat One Starting Positions
91x Steve Conrad	55x Dennis Rodriquez
35R Ryan Devitt	44 Mike Spencer
10 Jon Stanborough	5x Blake Miller
6 Mat Neely	38 Cory Kruseman
69 David Sinsley

Bad start for Conrad. Rodriquez gets the jump with Spencer and Kruseman behind him. Before we can get a lap completed, Neely gets upside down in turn one. On the restart, Dennis gets out front again with Spencer, Kruse and Conrad in pursuit. The Kruse is high lining and getting his speed up. Dennis has run with this crowd before and he is not intimidated. However, he is drifting in a few critical corners and he is passed by both Kruseman and Spencer. Stanborough has moved up to fourth and Conrad hasn’t given up on taking it away from him, but it’s too late. Stanborough notches one more over Rodriquez. Surprisingly didn’t see Miller or Devitt until the end of the race. Kruseman takes first and then Spencer, Stanborough and Rodriquez. Rodriquez (360) showed a lot of heart, Kruseman (410) showed a lot of speed.

Heat Two Starting Positions
09 Luis Espinoza	8 Ronnie Case
22 Mark Heidenreich	5 Troy Rutherford
18 Danny Sheridan	17 Seth Wilson
4 Jordan Hermansader	50 Damion Gardner
85 Matt Stewart

Naylor is interviewing Parnelli Jones up in the announcer’s stand and asks him if it was easier being a driver or a car owner? Parnelli replies with an old saw about “I had plenty of money for the rest of my life until I bought a race car.” Meanwhile, down on the track, car owner Luis Espinoza is on the pole with Ronnie Case sitting on his shoulder. Not really thinking about money. On the drop it’s Luis, Ronnie and Troy. Ronnie instantly goes high and starts pushing Luis in the straights. Hermansader and Rutherford are running third and fourth. In turn three they are three wide going in, with Wilson squeaking through, but Sheridan getting bicycled and banging with Heidenreich. Sheridan keeps it upright but stalls. On the restart, Case passes Espinoza in turn four with Wilson and Hermansader third and fourth. Suddenly everything gets unglued. Apparently Hermansader got over the white line coming out of four. I’m told his reentry was a little harsh, coming into Damion Gardner and Troy Rutherford with those two flipping badly down the stretch and climbing the fence in turn one. The track crew had to restrain Damion from having a personal conversation with Jordan. I think he wanted to explain something about the points race. Jordan stayed on the track; Damion and Troy took a long walk, the two cars were on the hook. I’m sitting in the stands wondering if it’s harder to be a driver or an owner. On the new green, Case maintains his lead with Espinoza and Wilson holding. The battle is on for the transfer between Stewart and Hermansader. Wilson gets around Espinoza and Hermansader bests Stewart. Espinoza is really trying but his 360 can’t match Wilson. Case has an outrageous lead as he crosses the finish with Wilson, Espinoza and Hermansader bunched as they trail in. Ronnie Case sets the stands on fire (figuratively). We all wonder if Gardner can get the car ready in time for the semi main.

Heat Three Starting Positions
66 J. Hicks	33 Greg Bragg
77 Danny Ebberts	97 Alan Ballard
16 Rickie Gaunt	3 Rip Williams
15x Garret Hansen	67 Ross Millar
55 Tony Everhart

This heat looks interesting, Ricky and Rip looking for position, wunderkind Garret looking to slay a few giants and Alan Ballard back at a track where he started. On the green flag, Hicks, Bragg and Ballard get around the corner first, but quickly Gaunt and Williams mix in turn one. It spins Williams and puts him at the back and breaks Gaunt and puts him in the pits. On the new flag, Hicks, Bragg and Ballard again grab the front but this time Ebberts flips hard coming out of four and tumble down the stretch. More crashes than Cheerios tonight. Next restart, we still have Hicks, Bragg and Ballard. Hansen is running fourth and I can see Williams is on the move from the rear. Ballard starts aggressively driving the cushion and it’s an awesome sight. With five laps down, five to go, he is dominating the track yet Williams has muscled up to fifth. Between Ballard and Williams you have to be feeling the squeeze. Hansen falls to Williams and then Bragg falls. Hicks must feel the Ripper’s breath on his neck. These cars are in full throttle within inches of each other. Ballard is possessed as he crossed the finish with Hicks, Williams and Bragg also all certifiable. Awesome driving, tough competition and a well-earned heat win for Alan Ballard. Garrett seemed outgunned by the 410’s. I wonder about the motivation to race with the bigger cars. He has done so well against the VRA; maybe they’re checking his muster with the bigger boys. Huge future there. Tough break for Gaunt, he’ll be back for the semi.

Heat Four Starting Positions
48 Tom Stansberry	98 Jeremy Ellertson
2k Kevin Kierce	15 R.J. Johnson
45 Steve Ostling	96 Mike Kirby
73 Josh Ford	19 Rodney Argo
34 Joshua Williams

On the green light, former VRA champ Stansberry takes turn one, with Kierce, Ostling and Ellertson right on his arse. Within a few laps Kevin Kierce aggressively takes it away from him and they are locked in battle with the rest bunching up in the corners. You have Kierce, Stansberry, Ellertson and Johnson. Now Johnson nicks Ellertson but nobody cares because they’re all watching Kierce. Kevin Kierce, with a smaller engine and bigger heart is driving an awesome race. He pushes out ahead of the crowd and is racing by himself. Stansberry is looking wobbly, maybe something wrong with the car. Johnson has taken second, Ostling third and track local, Josh Ford, has moved up to fourth. The locals are cheering Kevin Kierce as he takes the flag and the others follow in that order. Horsepower got out of the way for local smarts and fierce driving in this heat. Mike Kirby did not advance in the fifth position. It’s going to be an interesting semi.

Semi 1 Starting Positions
50 Damion Gardner	15x Garret Hansen
19 Rodney Argo	6 Mat Neely
5x Blake Miller	16 Rickie Gaunt
96 Mike Kirby	18 Danny Sheridan
5 Troy Rutherford	77 Danny Ebberts
35R Ryan Devitt	22 Mark Heidenreich
98 Jeremy Ellertson	91x Steve Conrad
67 Ross Millar	48 Tom Stansberry
69 David Sinsley	85 Matt Stewart
34 Joshua Williams	55 Tony Everhart

This twelve lap semi is stacked with talent. Garret Hansen and Blake Miller both do fine in VRA but they are scraping in this crowd. Ricky Gaunt and Mike Kirby usually skip the semi. Danny Sheridan is USAC/CRA top ten; Steve Conrad is VRA top five. And at the last minute, they push point leader Damion Gardner’s resurrected car body onto the track and fire it off. Lots of points at play here. On the starter’s signal, we have Damion and Garrett bring them down with Argo and Neely following them through the turn. Next lap it is Gardner, Hansen, Neely, Argo and Gaunt with Conrad pushing. Ellertson then spins in turn three and we are yellow. Starting again, Damion is still in front with Garret doing an impressive job of holding down second. Neely is pushing third and Argo is fourth. Garrett is lifting coming out of turn three and Neely passes for second. Neely starts working Gardner but that’s a handful to catch. At lap six somebody spins in three and takes out Mike Kirby. Bad break for Mr. Saturday Night. On the restart it’s again Gardner, Neely and Hansen with Danny Sheridan moving up to the transfer spot. Ricky Gaunt wants that spot and is tagging Sheridan at every turn. He slides Sheridan for the spot and Sheridan takes it right back. They reverse again, then again, but time is running out. They are so in lockstep they seem to be actually pushing Garrett Hansen’s car through the turns. White flag goes out and we suddenly have Argo in front, then Gardner, then Hansen and it’s Sheridan for the transfer. Argo did an awesome job of catching Gardner and taking the flag. This was incredible wheel to wheel racing.

Main Event Starting Positions
45 Steve Ostling	97 Alan Ballard
10 Jon Stanborough	17 Seth Wilson
73 Josh Ford	3 Rip Williams
4 Jordan Hermansader	38 Cory Kruseman
50 Damion Gardner	15x Garret Hansen
6 Mat Neely	18 Danny Sheridan
44 Mike Spencer	15 R.J. Johnson
33 Greg Bragg	2K Kevin Kierce
55x Dennis Rodriquez	8 Ronnie Case
66 J. Hicks	09 Luis Espinoza
87 Tony Jones

Lots of VRA drivers sitting up in turn one. It’s like Ventura’s version of the Rat Pack, there’s Taylor, Crawford, the Buckley brothers and assorted other drivers enjoying the race. The air is cooling down but the crowd is warming up for this main event.

Front row sitters Ostling and Ballard took the green flag and made it through turn one in that order. In lap two, the second, third and fourth row all tried to get into turn one at the same time. Seth Williams caught up Rip Williams who caught up Kruseman. Rip Williams, in a tough points battle with Gardner, got the hook. Kruseman, also in that same points battle, went to the back of the line. The Gardner team pulled the car together while the yellow was out and he joined Kruseman at the back.

On the restart, Ostling again got the jump with Ballard, Stanborough and Ford right behind him. Ballard started flying the cushion again, it worked for him before and it was looking good here. With his hard charging entries and catapulting out of the corners he soon passed Ostling. Gardner was also on the move and worked his way form sixth to third. Now you have Ballard, Ostling, Gardner, Ford, Sheridan and Stanborough. We are into lapped cars and Ostling and Gardner are trying to chase down Ballard. Ballard continues to work the cushion wherever traffic allows. Everybody is taking the high line. The roar is immense and at the halfway mark Ostling slips, Gardner takes second, Ford takes third and Sheridan moves into fourth. If you are Alan Ballard, you know you have the Demon on your case, but he continued to drive as if he owned the track, setting his entries and rocketing out of the corners. Gardner was hoping for a yellow and he didn’t have to wait long. R.J. Johnson spins in turn two and at the same time third place Josh Ford drifts too high coming out of three and hits the wall.

On the new green, we now have Ballard and Gardner side by side in the turns and straights, locked into close combat. Sheridan is in third and trying to get into the front mix. Spencer has passed Stanborough for fourth and has his sights on Sheridan. Now Ballard and Gardner begin trading positions, executing slides and crossovers and the crowd is starting to rise. This is an incredible job by Alan Ballard as he strives to hold off the top driver in USAC/CRA. Suddenly Hicks checks up in the front straightaway and then stalls completely. Both Ballard and Gardner are behind him and nimbly steer their way around him standing on their brakes as we go to yellow.

We have completed 28 laps with 2 to go.

As they line up for the restart you have Ballard (two laps away from his first USAC/CRA main event win), Gardner (who doesn’t seem to be thinking safe in regards to his points battle), Sheridan and Spencer.

Hammer down and Ballard goes high and Gardner swings low. They take the white flag side by side and continue that way around the track, Gardner on the inside and Ballard on the outside. Coming out of turn four and heading for the checkered, they are literally side by side and the crowd is standing and screaming. Ballard wins, Gardner second, Sheridan third and Mike Spencer in fourth.

Later I’m walking through the pits and I see Ballard. He looks like a happy, flushed, exhausted kid. First main event win, against a determined Damion Gardner, at the beautiful Ventura Raceway, in front of family and friends. That’s one for the scrapbook.

Blake Miller finished an excellent season with a Wagsdash win putting twenty five hundred dollars in his pocket. It was a fun race, I’d like to tell you about it but I’m out of time!

Stay tuned to vrafan.com during the off-season for information and occasional articles.

Thanks to Jim Naylor, Cliff Morgan and an exceptional raceway staff for an incredible season. If you don’t think this is the most exciting racing entertainment in the nation, check in with your doctor!

Mike Dyer was standing at the pit gates as I approached the pass house Saturday. I watched as he nudged the trailers through the gates, checked passes and just kept the whole mess under control. I like his action, he’s pleasant, but takes his job very seriously. He’s just one part of this amazing aggregation of track professionals; Phillip, Ken, Lee, Brian, Leah, Scott, Hobie and all the rest of you. Every weekend, their emphasis on safety, regulations and precision gives us racing second to none. Thanks to Jim and Cliff’s management, and this crew’s hard work, Ventura Raceway has garnered a reputation as the one of the nation’s premier short track venues.

This last VRA event of the season has a few loose ends to wrap up. Blake clinched the championship last week. However, three main event wins have gone to Wakim, Taylor and Kierce. Miller has two main event wins and a second in a Bandit event gives him another VRA first. I don’t think that counts as a main event win. Those first three drivers could claim four main event wins for bragging rights, or Miller could win and even it up between him and the boys. Point positions aren’t going to change, but who cares. They all want the consolation prize, most main event wins.

The seniors have nothing to settle. Wiley is the champion and took most wins with four. These guys are racing because that’s what they do.

VRA Senior Sprints Heat One starting lineup
45 Bob Hedlund	88 Jim Porter
52x John Richards	5c Steve Chuhaloff
10c Mark Chuhaloff	99k Ray Knight
0or Marlin Bowers

Jim Porter jumped right to business, closely followed by Steve Chuhaloff and Bob Hedlund. Ray Knight and Mark Chuhaloff were right behind them with Mark pushing hard. This was the first heat out, the track was still wet and the cars had to pick their way carefully. Porter was blasting along and soon lapped Bowers. Even in traffic, the order didn’t change, Porter took first, Steve took second, Hedlund took third and Ray Knight took the transfer.

VRA Senior Sprints Heat Two starting lineup
10 Tim Moon	22 Steve Stasa
21 Bob Alderman	44 Oren Prosser, Sr.
10A Danny Miller	3Y Grady Winkler
67 Ross Millar

Heat two had the same problem; the track was still a bit touchy. The drivers were eager but tentative. Tim Moon grabbed the front with a focused Stasa and a determined Prosser behind him. Alderman and Danny Miller were chasing fourth. Prosser drifted and almost lost it in turn three, but maintained and continued. Nobody crashed and the line up held all through the race. Moon crossed far out front, followed by Stasa, Prosser, Alderman, Miller, Winkler and Millar.

VRA Senior Sprints Heat Three starting lineup
2B Dave Marini	24w John Woodward
49 Ron Bach	75 Wiley Miller
60 Bill Leonard	1R Bruce Douglas
2c George Tuttle

The track was lining up and Marini, Woodward and Wiley Miller got started in that order. Tuttle, Douglas and Bach were coming up behind them. A few laps later, Woodward’s in first, Wiley second, Douglas in third and Bach in fourth. But before the finish “Way Out” Wiley gets past Woodward and Bach gets around Douglas. They finish with Miller, Woodward, Bach and Douglas.

VRA Sprint Cars Heat One starting lineup
25 Joe Henderson	55 Dennis Rodriquez
7x Bill Jones	09 Luis Espinoza
4P Tom Schneider	56 Steve Conrad
32 David Fox

Dennis “Ready” Rodriquez leaps into first, followed by second row Luis Espinoza (I don’t think there is anyone faster off the start than Luis - just my opinion). Henderson and Conrad are behind them. These four cars are as serious as monks and get on with an awesome race. Dennis is ready for a win and he knows he has competition. He is seamless on his approach and turns. He is doing what a winner has to do - drive perfectly. Luis looks like a Post-It Note stuck to Dennis’ rear end. He is looking for any opportunity but Dennis is holding. Henderson is also driving an excellent race with hardly any errors. Conrad doesn’t like fourth and he is straining and lifting on almost every turn. This is a tight pack, four cars in close combat. Conrad gets by Henderson and not much else is changing. Checkered flag goes to Rodriquez, followed by Espinoza, Conrad and Henderson (looking big). This is VRA heat racing at its best; tight driving, no crashes and deserving winners.

VRA Sprint Cars Heat Two starting lineup
44 Oren Prosser, Jr.	47 Wes Richardson
2c Nick Carlson	37NZ Hobie Conway
6 Todd Hunsaker	5 Mark Weitzman

Oren Prosser got right on it; you could tell he wanted that main event position. Richardson, young Nick Carlson and Hunsaker were following. Prosser is getting far out front. Carlson gets a little goosey coming out of turn two but holds his position. Suddenly something breaks on Prosser’s car in turn three, we are yellow and Prosser is out. Disappointing, as he was driving excellently. On the restart, everybody moves up one and finishes with Richardson, Carlson, Hunsaker and Weitzman. Prosser is done for the night.

VRA Sprint Cars Heat Three starting lineup
10A Blake Miller	83 John Nock
24w Guy Woodward	10c Bill Camarillo
9w Chris Wakim	5c Brian Camarillo

Blake took the front and Nock was in second. Woodward and Wakim were in third and fourth. Sticky track and Miller and Wakim were on it. Wakim soon dispensed with Woodward and Nock and moved into second. Now the fans were treated to a high-speed race with Wakim chasing down champ Miller. Further back Nock was doing a diligent job of holding on to third, Woodward in the transfer and Billy Camarillo trying to get in the race. Wakim was pushing hard but Miller was pushing harder. Miller took first and Wakim took second. Woodward got around Nock for third. Camarillo wanted the transfer and he was going to have to take it at the finish line. Nock kept a clean line and it was a photo finish for fourth. Officials announced that Camarillo nicked Nock for the transfer. Just plain fast.

VRA Sprint Cars Heat Four starting lineup
14 Tom Hendricks	11 Angel Figueroa
7 Greg Taylor	2s Kevin Kierce
69 David Sinsley	35 Mike Larson

Off the green flag and coming out of turn one, Taylor drifts badly and gathers up Figueroa, Kierce, Sinsley and Larson. It looks like a train wreck but everybody pushes off. Restart with the original lineup puts Hendricks in front, Figueroa in second, Kierce in third and Taylor in fourth. Kierce has no patience with third and passes Angel for second. Taylor has no patience with fourth and passes Angel for third. Tough crowd. When Hendricks wobbles in turn three impatient Kevin Kierce moves up again for first. On the white flag, Larson spins in turn one and we are yellow. Angel’s car is misfiring and he leaves the track. On a one-lap restart, Kierce takes first, Hendricks huge in second, Taylor taking third and Sinsley taking the transfer in the last heat race.

VRA Sprint Cars Semi Main starting lineup
4P Tom Schneider	5 Mark Weitzman
83 John Nock	11 Angel Figueroa
7x Bill Jones	44 Oren Prosser Jr.
5c Brian Camarillo	35 Mike Larson
32 David Fox

Last chance drive puts Tom Schneider and Mark Weitzman at the front of the pack. Bill Jones collected Brian Camarillo in turn one and puts him out of the race. On the restart we get Schneider, Weitzman, Nock and Larson in that order. Everybody is getting their bite up high but it’s Schneider who is really shining. Weitzman is close behind with Nock pushing him. Jones’ race goes from poor to worse as he spins in turn one. Coming out of the caution, we finish with Schneider, Weitzman, Nock bunched up and David Fox claiming the transfer. Schneider drove an aggressive and outstanding race. The track is looking perfect going into the main events.

VRA Senior Sprint Main Event starting lineup
45 Bob Hedlund	44 Oren Prosser Sr.
24w John Woodward	22 Steve Stasa
5c Steve Chuhaloff	10 Tim Moon
88 Jim Porter	75 Wiley Miller
49 Ron Bach	99k Ray Knight
1R Bruce Douglas	21 Bob Alderman
10c Mark Chuhaloff	10A Danny Miller
2B Dave Marini	52x John Richards
3Y Grady Winkler	60 Bill Leonard
0or Marlin Bowers	67 Ross Millar
2c George Tuttle

Hedlund converted the pole to first, but Woodward spins and we restart. This time Stasa gets the jump with Hedlund right behind. Willey and Tim are in the chase. Lots of infield driving going on as Tuttle spins and we are yellow in lap four. As we get along, it’s Stasa, Hedlund, Wiley Miller and Nock. Wiley is used to running up front and before long he passes Hedlund and then he passes Stasa. Nock is running fourth. Wiley has been the leader all year and it’s no different right now. He’s in traffic when suddenly he wraps with two cars including Bowers. Wiley has to go the back, he’s going to finish the race in unfamiliar surroundings. Stasa advances to first with Hedlund pressuring him from second place. Porter and Alderman are in third and fourth. Hedlund drifts in turn three and in forced to tour the infield. By the time he is back in the track, the posse has left. It’s a tough break for standup guy Bob Hedlund, running perhaps his last race. Stasa smells victory and he is on the gas. Now “Gentleman Jim” Porter spins in turn one and we are yellow. On the final laps it is Stasa, Alderman (back in his customary front position), Moon and Danny Miller. The checkered flag finishes in that order.

Wiley Miller finishes the season as undisputed champion. The Miller family runs a tight show that turns on hard work, preparation and clean racing.

Let’s give credit also to Ron Bach and Bob Alderman for second and third in points. All of the senior racers should be proud of this season. It was fast, hard and furious driving.

VRA Sprint Cars Main Event starting lineup
10A Blake Miller	47 Wes Richardson
55 Dennis Rodriquez	2s Kevin Kierce
9w Chris Wakim	09 Luis Rodriquez
2c Nick Carlson	14 Tom Hendricks
56 Steve Conrad	6 Todd Hunsaker
24w Guy Woodward	7 Greg Taylor
69 David Sinsley	25 Joe Henderson
37NZ Hobie Conway	10c Bill Camarillo
4P Tom Schneider	5 Mark Weitzman
83 John Nock	32 David Fox

We had the line-up, the introduction and the Frisbees. It was another perfect push off by the track crew. Coming around the track, the VRA Sprints lined up four wide as the fans gave a standing ovation. Under the heavy marine layer and with a sense of the season closing, it was an impressive sight. Going back to two cars wide, the green lights flashed, the flag dropped and the cars roared down the straightaway. Well, before Blake could say he had the lead, Hendricks was in the wall and we are yellow. Not sure how he got there, but say goodnight, Tom.

On the restart, “your champion Blake Miller brings them down the straightaway” (I could just repeat everything Naylor says!) and leads them into turn one. Wes Richardson (who I believe will be named Rookie of the Year) had other ideas and within a lap had passed last year’s rookie and took the lead. This is impressive driving by Wes Richardson. Not only did he pass Blake, he was pulling ahead in that open ocean air. You have Wes, Blake, Kierce, Luis and Chris finding grip everywhere. They were high, low and down the middle. I could see Taylor further back and saw he was starting to move. Wes was lifting out of the corners and Blake was now catching up. Suddenly as Wes drove low into turn one, Blake wrenched his wheel like a go-kart and went high. With catlike movements, he actually steered his way around Wes as they passed through turns one and two. Incredible driving skills and the ability to change tactics on a dime characterize this champion.

Now in first, Blake has a disgruntled Wes Richardson right behind him. Wes is perhaps pushing too hard coming into turn two and ends up in the wall. Awesome drive, Wes, can’t wait for next year!

On the restart, Blake now gets way out. It’s up to Espinoza to catch him and he is on the job. Kierce is behind Espinoza and Wakim is the fourth spot. This track is fast as gas and you have your four season point leaders tearing it up! Henderson, Conrad and Taylor are right behind them and it’s going so fast you can’t blink. But somebody blinks and Kierce catches a wheel and flips in turn one. Espinoza also had something go wrong and disappears. Two frontrunners are out of the competition.

On the restart, they line up Blake, then three lapped cars, then Chris, then another lapped car, then Conrad (looking to get in the fight) and then Taylor. Three laps to go. As they come into turn one, there is a parking party for Wakim, Henderson and Carlson. Another frontrunner goes to the back and Henderson has to leave. Too bad, he was having a great race. It appears that everyone on the track is having a go at Blake, none with success. Conrad gets the final chance, but at this point its like throwing ice cubes at a fire. Blake Miller takes the white flag chased by Conrad, Camarillo and Wakim. One thing I love about racing is the last lap. Everything’s getting decided in a big hurry. All of the talk, luck and circumstances are leaving the track faster than air leaves a balloon! All that’s left is one car. Tonight, Blake Miller rolled off the track as this season’s best racer.

I’d like to say that I went through the pits and interviewed the top drivers, but I didn’t. I’m not really a reporter (you can probably tell); I’m just a family man that likes racing. My daughters wanted to sit in some cars and talk to their favorite drivers. We did that and then headed for the parking lot. As we walked to our car, I watched as a lone truck drove out the gate with an open flatbed trailer and a dirty wet sprint car strapped on the back. It seemed poetic to me. These are the guys that also make it happen. No sponsors, no prize money, running in the back half of the pack and nobody writing about them. Not sure what they are getting out of this. I think they just love racing.

I gotta be honest with you, I’m tired. I’m ready for the break. As a car sponsor and a website writer, I’m out of money, I’m out of words and my wife is out of patience. It has been such a freaking glorious season that I’m exhausted. My good friend, the chief criminal, was explaining to me last night that the break is a natural part of the cycle, a season of reflection, rebuilding and renewal. I think he meant you stop cursing your luck long enough to catch up on the bills and maybe shove in a new engine. Driving to the track yesterday I stopped in at St. John’s Medical Center and visited Dan who is laid up from his accident. He is on the program for this “season of reflection, rebuilding and renewal”. He is not exactly thrilled about it. I got back in my truck and continued on my way, a bit dispirited and confused. I can understand drivers getting hurt on the track but isn’t it funky for the fans to get hurt on the way to the track? So with all this garbage floating around in my head, I turn into the pits. “Don’t let it bring you down…..”

First I hook up with Naylor as he climbs out of the water truck. We are conspiring about some improvements for next season and we quickly go over some preliminary blueprints. We are standing in the staging area, surrounded by dozens of midgets, quads rolling, push tracks lining up, drivers walking around, USAC officials mingling, cameras rolling and Jim is standing in the middle of all of it, thinking about the future, unaffected by all the commotion. Cliff is off to the side controlling all of it with just a few words, nods and gestures. They look at each other and they don’t even have to talk. In the soft afternoon sunlight, the racing machine they have built is in motion and it’s as beautiful as always.

I jump into the push jeep with Paul. We are pushing Damion Gardener in the 71 midget and it’s a trip. Somehow Paul keep the jeep’s nose on the car’s butt, we are slipping and sliding down the ramp, mud is flying everywhere, drivers passing on our left and suddenly Damion fires, throws up his left hand to acknowledge and accelerates away from the mothership. It’s bumpy, loud, crazy and fun. My mood improves.

VRA Sprints Heat One
starting positions

35r Ryan Devitt 9w Chris Wakim
83 John Nock 5 Mark Weitzman
4p Tom Schneider 5c Steve Chuhaloff
0 Steve Ostling 67 Kevin Mahoney

Devitt takes the lead with Wakim and Nock close behind him. After watching the midget heats, the sprints seem a little clunky. Maybe they are just warming to the track. Devitt and Wakim get ahead of the pack with Nock, Schneider, Chuhaloff and Ostling chasing. A spin in turn 3 about lap 7 brings the pack together for a restart. Wakim takes advantage to steal the lead, but Devitt grabs it back as they pass the white. Mark Weitzman and Steve Chuhaloff have gotten around Nock and Ostling and the finish is fast. Devitt, Wakim, Weitzman (excellent job) and Chuhaloff are advancing. Ostling is going the semi, but it’s clear this is a disappointment. It’s also disappointing for John Nock. I like John Nock; shows up every race and puts up a fight.

VRA Sprints Heat Two
starting positions

47 Wes Richardson 40c Bill Camarillo
2g Kevin Kierce 1r Bruce Douglas
15t Michael Trimble 11 Angel Figueroa
24w Guy Woodward 10c Brian Camarillo

This heat got started with Billy Camarillo biking in turn one and flipping it hard up against the wall. Billy has been running at the front lately and I was sorry he was out. On the restart, Bruce moved up to the front and Angel moved up behind him. On the new green Wes Richardson got on it. Bruce and Kevin were right with him and Angel and Trimble were right behind them. It didn’t take long for Kevin to assert himself, first passing Bruce and then passing Wes. Bruce also got around Wes to hold second. Guy Woodward was also on the pedal and locked into fourth. This was driving Angel nuts and you could see him straining. Coming into the final flags, everyone was going great guns and things started unwinding. Douglas had second but stalled in turn two. Everybody behind him jumped up one spot. Something was up with Kierce, his car sounded funny and he was straining (his timing was coming undone). He had first at the white but Wes was smelling blood and trying to get around him. Woodward was holding third and Angel was gratefully back in the transfer spot. As the checker was coming down, Wes Richardson hooked under Kevin Kierce in turn four, ran his left tire over the white line and screamed into first. Nice try, but putting his paw over the white line caused officials to put him at second. You can’t cross the white line on a critical pass. Good job by the officials, great job by Wes Richardson as he showed the fans some teeth.

VRA Sprints Heat Three
starting positions

2s Wally Pankratz 26c Rob Kershaw
8 Ronnie Case 15x Garret Hansen
55 Dennis Rodriquez 14 Tom Hendricks
7 Greg Taylor 32 David Fox

Fox didn’t start so Greg Taylor was at the back of the pack. This heat was a sampler pack for hard core race fans. Steak tartar washed down with whiskey. Ronnie Case, Rob Kershaw, legend Wally Pankratz, whiz kid Garret Hansen, Dennis “Ready” Rodriquez and tough Tom Hendricks. And just to make it interesting, let’s put Taylor the Terrible at the back! At the drop, Kershaw got in front followed by Pankratz and Rodriquez. Case and Taylor immediately run to the top and start advancing. Wally wants to show the kids how it’s done and grabs first from Kershaw. Ronnie Case is up to third and Rodriquez is fourth, but he must know Taylor is right behind him. Wally and Rob are both slipping and Ronnie Case gets in the front slot. Now it’s Case, Kershaw, Taylor and Rodriquez. Ronnie and Greg both continue to carpet bomb the top with great success. Kershaw gets a blast of deja vu (two weeks ago in heat two!) as Taylor executes his patented slide job. Just as I think I’m going to see an Ultimate Fighter match between Ronnie and Greg, Ronnie Case stalls and Taylor is in first, Rodriquez in second, Garret Hansen (now moving rather rapidly) in third and Kershaw in fourth. But veteran Wally isn’t going to the semi so he delegates that job to Kershaw. Greg Taylor grabs the checkered followed by Garret, Dennis and Wally. What a race! Greg Taylor demonstrates huge power and local smarts. Garret was wishing he had two more laps. Dennis loves a good race and I hear Wally does too! Kershaw should be winning more heats! Not sure what is up there.

VRA Sprints Heat Four
starting positions

This heat was basically a victory lap for Blake Miller, who clinched the VRA Sprint Championship during the heat. It was anticlimactic, just didn’t work out for a big Hollywood ending. I’ve said it before, not many people know what it takes to be number one. It’s a long hard road and Blake drove it like a bat out of hell. More on Blake in the coming weeks. At the green start, Blake jumped and never looked back. Espinoza had a go at him for a bit, but couldn’t dampen the kid’s enthusiasm. Pretty soon Blake was far ahead and Luis was left with Conrad and Henderson. The real battle was between Henderson, Prosser and Thomson for the transfer spot. Thomson won that skirmish. Blake takes the checkered and the crown followed by Luis, Steve and Brandon.

USAC Midgets and TQ’s

I regret I can’t report on the USAC Midgets and the TQ’s. I don’t have enough knowledge of the drivers and the points race to give you an intelligent review. I do know that the racing was awesome; my family completely enjoyed the skill and speed of these drivers. Fans went off on the website the next day! This track was prepped to perfection by the Naylor team and spectacular racing resulted. Good on both Jerome Rodella and Chuck West for their respective victories.

VRA Sprints Semi Main
starting positions

0 Steve Ostling 1r Bruce Douglas
14 Tom Hendricks 44 Oren Prosser, Jr.
83 John Nock 15t Michael Trimble
26c Rob Kershaw 25 Joe Henderson
4p Tom Schneider 8 Ronnie Case
6 Tom Grunkmeyer 67 Kevin Mahoney
0or Ron Tjaarda 32 David Fox
10c Brian Camarillo

Semi’s are tough. About the only good thing you can say is that it gives some drivers more time on the track, more chances to run in front and all that teaches. But a lot of these guys don’t need that extra time and it’s just got to be painful to have to qualify twice….Steve Ostling converts pole to front runner being chased by Bruce Douglas, Tom Hendricks and Oren Prosser, Jr. After a couple of laps it settled in with Ostling in front, Tom Hendricks looking good in second, Bruce Douglas in third and Michael Trimble in fourth. Only a couple of things changed in this fast eight lapper. Trimble didn’t like fourth so he talked Douglas into changing places with him. Kershaw was struggling but finally got up to the fifth spot (out of character, this guy is top ten points). At the finish, it was Ostling, Hendricks, Trimble and Douglas. Kershaw got the consolation prize of alternate for the main. I’ve pulled prizes out of Cracker Jacks that worked out better than that! Most passes goes to Brian Camarillo, started 14^th and finished 9th. Good job, newbie! Ronnie Case didn’t show which was a huge disappointment for all of us rocket scientists.

VRA Sprints Main Event
starting positions

09 Luis Espinoza 15x Garret Hansen
10a Blake Miller 35r Ryan Devitt
2g Kevin Kierce 7 Greg Taylor
9w Chris Wakim 47 Wes Richardson
24w Guy Woodward 55 Dennis Rodriquez
56 Steve Conrad 5 Mark Weitzman
5c Steve Chuhaloff 11 Angel Figueroa
2s Wally Pankratz 24 Brandon Thomson
0 Steve Ostling 14 Tom Hendricks
15t Michael Trimble 1r Bruce Douglas

Hey Thomson, make a note in your scrapbook that you got to line up in a main event at Ventura next to the great Wally Pankratz. Not only that, it was his last race at Ventura. Some things are priceless…

So here we are at the main event. I had expected a cold evening but it was almost balmy in the stands. My kid was running around in a tee shirt and I was thinking how beautiful everything looked. I surveyed the line up and again this week felt sorry for anyone further back than the third row. Wakim and Conrad had their work cut out. This track was in great shape and it was going to let the front runners run. Seeing Garret in the front row reminded me of when he was here during the fair. Back then it was him and Crawford and Miller all running in the front. This kid drives with the confidence of a wily veteran. His car is as fast as money. Then again, Luis wasn’t going to roll over. Miller and Devitt were sitting in the second row. Behind them were two of Ventura’s finest, Greg and Kevin. You can’t make this stuff up. Hammer down.

Luis got the jump and drove low while Garret flung high. Taylor immediately got past Kierce and took the fourth slot behind Devitt. Garret got around Luis to claim the front spot. You have Hansen, Espinoza, Devitt, Taylor, Miller, Kierce and Wakim. Garret starts pulling away from the pack and you can also see Taylor on the move. Ryan Devitt can feel Greg’s presence and is pushing it also. About lap seven Tom Hendricks takes a nasty flip in turn one. On the restart, we still have Garret, Luis, Ryan and Greg in that order. Now it starts shaking out. Greg Taylor is running strong and quickly gets around Ryan and Luis. He begins a relentless pursuit of Garret that looks like a dog chasing a cat. That cat was fast, but this dog is a bloodhound. Ryan Devitt starts smoking and that’s bad for your health. Nobody likes secondhand smoke (except nitro fish) so after a couple more laps he is asked to leave the premises. That dog is still on that cat like tires on dirt. They are starting to get into traffic and the crowd is starting to go nuts. Garret is driving with the nimbleness of a midget but Taylor is fully focused on catching him. There are no yellows and the speed is ticking higher and higher as they dodge in and around the traffic. Grip is everywhere for the cars out front and nowhere for the rest of the pack. Naylor’s screaming, the fans around me are screaming and we are racing! Every lap it looks like Taylor is going to catch that boy, but this cat has nine lives and he only needs a few more laps! Finally Greg throws down the slide job in turn two but Garret slips the noose and heads for the white flag. I know Blake, Luis and Kevin are back there fighting amongst themselves, everybody behind them got lapped. Very fast race.

Garret Hansen/ “means a lot to beat Greg at this track”

Greg Taylor / “thanks to Raney for all the hours”

Blake Miller / happy to nail down the crown

Luis Espinoza / “congrats to Blake”

Greg Taylor had the most passes, starting sixth and lapping everyone behind him. Truly Taylor the Terrible. That Garret Hansen is going so fast, I don’t know where he’s going to end up.

The next morning, I walk out in my backyard and look at threatening skies. I sit there for awhile, drink my coffee and think about the races. I’m thinking about how tired I was yesterday; then seeing Dan in that hospital; then all that great racing. Looking around, I know my roses didn’t get enough care this summer, but they are looking beautiful still. Then my wife comes out and I see she is more beautiful than ever.

This past season has been one incredible Saturday night after another. You can call it white knuckle fever and this Saturday was no different. I usually spend all the next day sorting out what happened and writing it down. This Sunday, however, my darling eight year old Kelly is having her birthday party. So this weekend, fellow race fans, we are doing a fast lap……

VRA Senior Sprints Heat One

Wiley Miller dominated this heat while Bob Hedlund (back from a horrific crash) stuck to him like Gorilla Glue. Nobody else showed up; oh wait… here comes Dave Marini and Bruce Douglas.

VRA Senior Sprints Heat Two

Bob Alderman was dominating this heat until Ron Bach passed him coming out of turn four with one of the most aggressive passes I’ve seen all year. Ron Bach and Bob Alderman again delivering what fans love, white knuckle fever! Check it out on Loudpedal… Tim Moon and Jeff Culver picking up what crumbs were left.

VRA Sprints Heat One

Fun watching kiwi Brendon Rowlands take the track again. If you go to vrafan.com and check out message board>surfnsprints comments>latest race> there is a link to some photos posted by the buzzard that show Brendon’s car back home and his pals having at it. You have to check out the whole story; it’s something else….Thanks Brendon for stopping in (and going easy on our cars!!) Nice profile in the program too.

Blake Miller quickly took charge. Prosser Jr. continues with his late season charge (Oren is really getting fast…) Luis Espinoza hit a really bad rut (literally and figuratively) which put him back to third. Dennis Rodriguez comes from the back (again) to take fourth.

VRA Sprints Heat Two

Greg Taylor ran strong and hard to the front. Especially enjoyed the slide job on Kershaw in turn three immediately followed by the slide job on Weitzman again in turn three to take the lead. Kershaw put up an awesome fight but had to settle for second. Michael Trimble looking nimble in third and Mark Weitzman drove an excellent race for fourth.

VRA Sprints Heat Three

Quite simply, Wakim got out front and Kierce was in relentless pursuit. Steve Chuhaloff defended the second spot for as long as he could, but fierce Kierce is almost impossible to hold back. Larry Lloyd ran a great race also. Wakim, Kierce, Chuhaloff and Lloyd.

VRA Sprints Heat Four

Steve Conrad out front with heavy competition from Angel Figueroa. Wes Richardson was in the hunt but overcompensated in turn one, toured the infield, almost took out fearless Frank from vrafan.com and never got back in contention. Steady Tom Hendricks took his place and Brandon Thomson insisted on fourth.

VRA Sprints Semi 1

Convention of the lost souls, Joe Henderson was the keynote speaker. He took the lead early, drove hard and never looked back. Jeff Fiscus put on a great race and refused to relinquish his second spot to a determined Wes Richardson. Wes tried to pass at the finish and just missed. John Nock took a clean fourth. Hard driving puts the walking dead at the back of the main event.

VRA Senior Sprints Main Event

This weird race started with a weird crash in turn one; Bob Hedlund drifted and gathered up Ron Bach and Danny Miller. Danny Miller got the hook and they rushed it back to pits for repairs (Blake Miller drives this car in the main event). They restarted Bach but things didn’t look normal. Hedlund was over and out.

On the restart Bob Alderman resumed the lead but he soon fell to Wiley Miller. Douglas and Marini did show up for this race and were chasing the leaders. Bach, who had restarted at the back, took his smoking and struggling car and tried to prevent Wiley Miller from lapping him. It was weird, as Naylor (“the greatest little dirt track announcer in America”) wailed “it looks like a battle for first between Miller and Bach!”

Tim Moon passed Marini for fourth and Bruce Douglas was trying to pass Alderman for second. Wiley “Way Out” Miller was way out front passing traffic when he spun in turn one. Ouch! Now we do have the two points leaders in the back, together again…except that, Ron Bach refuses to stay where he is put and has worked his injured and screaming engine back up to the fifth spot.

For us fans in the seats, this is exciting racing from Ron Bach! So as we come into the finish, you have consistent Bob Alderman, Bruce Douglas trying hard to take that win away from Bob, Tim Moon presenting his case, “Gentleman Jim” Porter protecting fourth, and in a complete inversion of the whole field, Ron Bach and Wiley Miller battling for the championship back in the fifth and sixth spots. Ron Bach won the battle, Wiley Miller won the war. Driving out the back, past the water tower and heading for the trailer Wiley was the 2005 VRA Senior Sprints Champion. He got it the old fashioned way; he earned it…...

VRA Sprints Main Event starting line up
Steve Conrad	Chris Wakim
Greg Taylor	Blake Miller
Rob Kershaw	Kevin Kierce
and everybody else

I turned to my friends and flatly stated “anyone in the first three rows can win this race”. Plenty of great drivers from row four all the way to the back, but if you weren’t in this first six, lots of luck!

The lovely Jammy Earnest introduced the drivers and Ventura’s ace track crew executed a flawless push off. These are all professional track workers who take enormous pride in their work. It really shows well.

With a heavy blanket of fog drifting over the metal halide lights, the line-up comes to the start, the lights go green, the flag is waving and we are racing. Wakim got out front right away with Steve Conrad pushing hard behind him. Blake was third and Taylor was just starting to get on the gas in fourth. Conrad was beating on Wakim and Taylor soon passed Blake for third. Conrad was beating on Wakim and Taylor soon passed Conrad for second. Now Wakim has Taylor beating on him when suddenly Taylor flames out and leaves the track with six laps completed.

On the restart, Conrad resumes beating on Wakim (who is riding the cushion at both ends of the track) while Miller has his hands full with Kierce. With nine laps completed, Prosser spins in turn three and is out.

On the restart, Conrad again resumes beating on Wakim and Kierce has found his bite moving up to third. Wakim is systematically hitting every rut in the track but never loses control and is always one half car ahead of Conrad. At fifteen laps, Chris wobbles, Conrad slows up for half a second and Kierce moves into second. Now Wakim has Kevin Kierce beating on him. This is an unrelenting assault and we are all wondering if Chris can hold these guys off. Conrad is trying to get back into the fight and Blake is trying to get around him. Kershaw bobbles badly and is out.

The next several laps have Kierce in screaming pursuit of Wakim. Every turn is up for grabs yet Wakim manages to maintain his grip. Brilliant white knuckle driving by Chris Wakim. Now Conrad suddenly takes second away from Kierce and is diving low trying to pass Wakim. Now, at lap twenty two, pushing the envelope he spins in two and has to go the back. Steve Conrad loves the hunt and this has to hurt!

On the restart, Wakim and Kierce are flying high and Blake is grinding the berm down below. Blake’s strategy is working and he takes the second position from Kevin. Now it’s Blake’s turn to pound away at Chris, driving the bottom while Wakim continues to fling out of the high pockets. John Nock spins in turn four and we have a restart with Wakim, Miller, Kierce and Figueroa (up front with the legends) in that order.

Now I have to wonder what is going through Blake Miller’s mind. He has not won a main event since the very first race. He has finished second about a million times. His biggest disappointment would be to win the championship with only one main event win. Here he is with five laps remaining, fast driving on all sides and he has wrestled his way past every heavy in the neighborhood, except one……

We are green and Wakim and Miller come tearing out of the start. Wakim is high, Miller is low and they are practically side by side on the straightaway. Chris continues to get in the turns first but you can almost see the vise tightening. With two laps to go, Chris hits turns three and four high but not exactly perfect. Blake hits turns three and four low exactly perfect. Blake pulls in front as they pass the grandstand. Blake low, Chris high, then coming out of two Blake slightly drifts up toward the wall in a textbook blocking motion. Chris tries to drop below but Miller now has eyes in the back of his head. Chris checks up and that’s all Blake needs. Coming out of four, I can see Blake reach over his shoulder, grab the monkey that’s been living there and fling it behind him as he crosses the checkered flag. It was so big, Chris was lucky he didn’t hit it.

Blake Miller / “these guys didn’t give it to me, they raced hard”
Chris Wakim / “one of the toughest races I ever ran”
Kevin Kierce / “let’s do it again tomorrow”

Postscript: Dan and Cody Codner were driving their motorcycle to the races Saturday when they were hit by a car. Cody is the cool guy that takes your ticket at the gate. His father Dan is one of my race buddies in turn one who shares his track knowledge with me. They are seriously injured and I want them to know we are all pulling for them.