surfnsprint

Surfnsprint heard about some awesome surf and had to skip the raceway this week in pursuit of the perfect wave. My name is Richie Wohlers and I am the substitute. I will be writing the names of any misbehaving readers on the blackboard and report them to surfnsprint when he gets back, so behave yourselves!

Memorial Day was created in 1868 as a way to commemorate fallen Union soldiers from the Civil War. Originally, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, as tombs of fallen soldiers were decorated in their honor, and was celebrated every May 30. Since it was originally a holiday to honor Union soldiers, many of the Southern states refused to celebrate Decoration Day, because of lingering (and understandable) hostility from the Civil War. It wasn’t until after World War I that the Southern states began recognizing Decoration Day, and even then kept celebrating a separate Confederate Memorial Day. Some time after World War II, the name Memorial Day became more widely used than Decoration Day, and in 1967 the holiday became a Federal law.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which took 4 holidays (Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Washington’s Birthday) and moved them from their traditional date to a specified Monday each year in order to create 3 day weekends. Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May.

There are those who feel that Memorial Day should be moved back to its original May 30 date each year as making a holiday a 3 day weekend has undermined the true meaning of the holiday. Perhaps we are now too far removed from a major war for the majority of us to still feel affected by the deaths of soldiers. Many Americans died in Vietnam, but even that is well over 35 years ago, and unfortunately the soldiers from that war were not treated with respect. Maybe we no longer feel the need to celebrate Memorial Day the way it was intended. Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye, a veteran of World War II, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional day since 1999.

Enough of the history lessons, let’s get to the racing.


Tonight’s events begin with the Senior Sprints.

Heat 1 looks like this:
Front Row: Oren Prosser Sr. – Chris McArthur
Second Row: Bill Leonard – Grady Winkler
Third Row: Ron Bach – Bruce Douglass
Fourth Row: Tim Moon – Rob Cowan

5:30PM - The track was just watered and is still quite slick. McArthur jumps out front right away and is never challenged. In fact, once the cars settle into position after the first turn, there really isn’t much change of positions, as the cars are just trying to keep moving forward on the slick track, and they do a good job with no yellow flags. Finish order:
1. McArthur
2. Prosser Sr.
3. Bach
4. Douglass
5. Moon
6. Leonard
7. Winkler
8. Cowan

Heat 2:
Front Row: Mark Chuhaloff – Bill Badger
Second Row: John Richards – Brett Butler (not the baseball player or star of “Grace Under Fire”)
Third Row: Wiley Miller – Mike Cook
Fourth Row: Steve Stasa

5:38PM – Mark Chuhaloff comes into the turn 4 start on the inside and a little slow. When he punches it on the straight he slides in front of Prosser, blocking the entire field and jumping into the lead. I don’t think he’ll get away with this move next time. Badger settled in to second place, and the cars just play follow the leader for seven laps before Wiley Miller is able to pass Badger in turn 4 on the final lap to take second behind Chuhaloff. John Richards spins 360 degrees between turn 1 and 2 on lap 6, but is able to save it and avoid the yellow flag. Finishing order:
1. Chuhaloff
2. Miller
3. Badger
4. Butler
5. Stasa
6. Cook
7. Richards

Heat 3:
Front Row: Jeff Culver – Bob Alderman
Second Row: John Woodward – Rick Hendrix
Third Row: Ross Millar – Tony Everhart
Fourth Row: Tom Fish

5:45PM – Bob Alderman grabs the holeshot from the outside of the front row. Jeff Culver hangs on to second place for just one lap before Rick Hendrix gets by. Again, not much passing in this Senior Sprint heat. The stat sheet says this is Tom Fish’s first race in the Senior Sprint division. Finishing order:
1. Alderman
2. Hendrix
3. Culver
4. Millar
5. Everhart
6. Fish
7. Woodward

The VRA/USAC Ford Focus Midgets get on the track. The name of this class is quite a mouthful, but these guys do a great job of getting on the track and lining up. I believe all of these drivers have radio receivers in their helmets and are able to take instructions from USAC officials.

Heat 1:
Front Row: John Nickel Jr. – Nic Faas
Second Row: James Fryslie – Joseph Fabrozzi
Third Row: Brett Engstrom – Dennis Howell
Fourth Row: Jake Vail – Aaron Schankerman

5:51PM – Nic Faas grabs the holeshot and has a decent lead. Schankerman, Fabrozzi, Nickel and Vail all gather up in turn 3 on the fifth lap bringing out the yellow flag. On the restart, Engstrom is able to hang right behind Faas. Fryslie spins out and we’re yellow again. On the restart Engstrom again is right with Faas and this time shows Faas a front wheel. Unfortunately, when he does this he loses control and slows just a little bit. Dennis Howell uses this to move into second place where he finishes the heat. Finishing order:
1. Faas
2. Howell
3. Engstrom
4. Fabrozzi
5. Schankerman
6. Fryslie
7. Vail
8. Nickel

Heat 2:
Front Row: Keith Iaia – Jenna Frazier
Second Row: Brian Camarillo – Gordon Edwards
Third Row: JR Williams – Jody Banfield
Fourth Row: Keith Janca

6:01PM – Keith Iaia jumps out front. Jenna Frazier started on the outside of the front row, but dropped back to fourth place. Frazier slowly worked her way back up to second place where she would finish. Finishing order:
1. Iaia
2. Frazier
3. Janca
4. Camarillo
5. Banfield
6. Williams
7. Edwards

Heat 3:
Front Row: Thomas Grey – Quinton Crye
Second Row: Bobby Michnowicz – Cameron Veach
Third Row: Ricky Kirkbride – Chris Veach
Fourth Row: Nick Carlson

6:04PM – Thomas Grey takes the lead but Quinton Crye isn’t going to just let him have it, hanging tight through the first 2 turns when Bobby Michnowicz comes in and steals second from Crye. Grey Pulls away from the field. Halfway through the heat, Crye bumps into Michnowicz and drops down to sixth. Finshing order:
1. Grey
2. Michnowicz
3. Chris Veach
4. Carlson
5. Crye
6. Cameron Veach
7. Kirkbride



Next up: Pony Stocks.

Heat 1:
Front Row: Brad Long – Joel Chavez
Second Row: Paul Johnson – Andrew Greiman
Third Row: David Peterson – Jeff Houghton
Fourth Row: Jerrod Twomey – Martin Nettring
Fifth Row: Tyler Brochett – Jack Trigg

6:08PM – Brad Long takes the lead for the first lap. Andrew Greiman drives through Joel Chavez a couple laps in. Jerrod Twomey crashes into the turn 4/track entrance wall. There is steam everywhere and the car looks quite damaged, but it’s the last lap so no yellow flag. Greiman gets by Long on the last lap for the win. Finishing order:
1. Greiman
2. Long
3. Chavez
4. Peterson
5. Johnson
6. Trigg
7. Houghton
8. Nettring
9. Brochett
10. Twomey

Heat 2:
Front Row: Mike Frazier – Steve Klingberg
Second Row: Jack Hoyt – Jim Evans
Third Row: Randal Dougan – Ryan Changus
Fourth Row: Joe Weaver – Mark Woellert
Fifth Row: Kody Harper – Anthony Mestes

6:14PM – Mike Frazier gets a big jump off the start. Jack Hoyt is able to get within one straightaway of Frazier by the last few laps, but it just isn’t enough. The rest of the pack is way behind Hoyt. Finishing order:
1. Frazier
2. Hoyt
3. Klingberg
4. Evans
5. Dougan
6. Woellert
7. Changus
8. Weaver
9. Harper
10. Mestes

VRA Junior Focus racing. These are the same cars as the regular Ford Focus class, with the exception of a restricter and the drivers are all 13-16 years old. Only 5 racers tonight:
Front Row: Johnathon Henry – Justin Kierce
Second Row: Robby Josett – Cody Kershaw
Third Row: Dakota Kershaw

6:18PM – All 5 cars are dicing back and forth. Looks like any of them could win this heat. Before long, Henry emerges as the leader. Josett hangs with Henry, while the other 3 cars fall behind. Finishing order:
1. Henry
2. Josett
3. Kierce
4. Dakota Kershaw
5. Cody Kershaw

VRA Sprint cars. The first heat is loaded. 6 of the 8 drivers have won main events at Ventura raceway.

Heat 1:
Front Row: Greg Taylor – Errol Sack
Second Row: Chris Wakim – Luis Espinoza
Third Row: Ronnie Case – Kevin Kierce
Fourth Row: Jim Thomson – Brian Camarillo
6:38PM – Errol Sack gets a jump on Greg Taylor’s pole position. Luis Espinoza moves up to second on lap 2. Sack gets sideways on the 4th lap, causing Taylor to get on the brakes and enabling Espinoza to jump into the lead and Taylor falls to fifth. Looks like points leader Taylor is going to have to get to the main event through the semi again. Finishing order:
1. Espinoza
2. Kierce
3. Wakim
4. Sack
5. Taylor
6. Case
7. Camarillo
8. Thomson

Heat 2:
Front Row: Dennis Rodriguez – Michael Trimble
Second Row: Ron Wade – Angel Figueroa
Third Row: Heidi Tresler – Oren Prosser Jr.
Fourth Row: Jimmy Crawford – Donald Houghton

6:45PM – Michael Trimble takes the lead. Trimble won the main at Bakersfield last week, and almost won at Ventura the week before. Looks like he is picking up where he left off, winning this heat. Rodriguez is in second place, but Figueroa is coming at him hard. Prosser moves into second place on lap 3. Figueroa and Rodriguez battle for third place, but Neutron Crawford sneaks between them on the sixth lap. Crawford gets in front of Figueroa and into third place on the white flag. Figueroa hangs on for the final transfer spot. Finishing order:
1. Trimble
2. Prosser
3. Crawford
4. Figueroa
5. Rodriguez
6. Houghton
7. Wade
8. Tresler

Heat 3:
Front Row: Tom Schneider (Late Late Show?) – Jeremy Ellertson
Second Row: Troy Rutherford – John Wright
Third Row: Bill Camarillo – John Nock
Fourth Row: Hobie Conway – Ron Tjaarda

6:52PM – Tom Schneider gets the jump, but Jeremy Ellertson is staying right on his rear bumper. Rutherford and Wright follow behind. Ellertson finally gets by Schneider with 2 laps to go and a little bit of contact between the two. Sheriff John Wright spins a bit on the final lap, but manages to keep moving. Camarillo takes the final transfer spot behind Rutherford. Finishing order:
1. Ellertson
2. Schneider
3. Rutherford
4. Camarillo
5. Nock
6. Wright
7. Conway
8. Tjaarda

Heat 4:
Front Row: Wes Richardson – Kristine Lindahl
Second Row: Jeff Oliver – Ty Schlender
Third Row: Brandon Thomson – Steve Conrad
Fourth Row: Craig Bailey

6:58PM – Wes Richardson takes advantage of the pole position, with everybody else ping-ponging back and forth for second place. Thomson and Lindahl pull off after just 1 lap, but still no yellow flags. Jeff Oliver is pushing Richardson. Ty Schlender gets by Steve Conrad, but Conrad gets him back midway through the race and into third place. Oliver moves past Richardson, who falls to third, on the sixth lap and goes on for the victory. Schlender goes to his first main event. Ty was racing dirt bikes a year ago. Finishing order:
1. Oliver
2. Conrad
3. Richardson
4. Schlender
5. Bailey
6. Thomson
7. Lindahl




7:04PM - VRA Junior Focus main event. Justin Kierce takes the lead, with Robby Josett and Dakota Kershaw right behind. The top 3 are very tight. Johnathon Henry falls back on the 8th lap. 11 laps in, Dakota Kershaw goes too low and has to slow down to regroup – falling back to fifth. Kierce goes on for the win. These guys all race really hard. In one heat and one main, every car seemed to have a chance to win at one point or another. Hopefully we can see a few more cars in this class soon, they put on a good show. Finishing order:
1. Kierce
2. Josett
3. Cody Kershaw
4. Henry
5. Dakota Kershaw

The track is looking really dry due to a sunny afternoon at Seaside Park and quite a breeze. Jim Naylor gets out the big tractor and cuts the track and re-waters. Time to go down to the pits and find out who Sprint Car Heat 4 winner Jeff Oliver is. Jeff is a young guy who had been racing Junior Sprint Cars. Last week at Bakersfield was his first ever 360 Sprint Car race. This week is his first race at Ventura, and he’s looking good.



We’ve had 7 sprint car heat races tonight, and not a single yellow flag. Looks like curfew isn’t going to be an issue this week.

VRA Sprint Car semi main event. The last chance to make the main event. Greg Taylor starts on the pole with Dennis Rodriguez next to him.

7:48PM – They’re off and Taylor jumps out front. John Nock, Ron Wade and Donald Houghton chase him down. On the second lap, Brandon Thomson’s left rear wheel falls off in front of the flag stand. First sprint car yellow flag of the night. While the cars are gathering together on the yellow, Taylor drives off the track with mechanical problems. He won’t get back on the track tonight, and his points lead is in grave danger. Greg is one of the best drivers at Ventura, but he sure seems to have a hard time keeping his cars running. On the restart, Nock takes the lead. Tjaarda and John Wright collide on the 6th lap bringing a yellow flag, but both cars are able to keep moving, while Kristine Lindahl drops out of the race. On the restart it’s Nock, Wade, Houghton and Rodriguez. Tjaarda spins 2 laps later and is pushed off the track. 11 cars left, fighting for 4 transfer spots. Ronnie Case pushes hard for the final transfer spot, but can’t get there. Nock, Wade, Houghton and Rodriguez go to the main.

It’s time for the VRA/USAC Ford Focus main event. Say that 3 times fast!

8:05PM – Thomas Grey gets the holeshot, but Nick Carlson spins out on the 2nd lap bringing a yellow. No worries as Grey gets the holeshot again on the restart, with Keith Iaia and Bobby Michnowicz tagging along. On the seventh lap, Brett Engstrom and Jody Banfield spin out. We’re yellow. Another restart, 2 more laps and another yellow when Nic Faas spins out and has to leave the race. Once again, we only make it 4 more laps before Dennis Howell spins and brings a yellow flag. Maybe curfew will be an issue tonight after all. On the restart, Grey again takes the lead. This time we’ll finish the final 8 laps without an incident. Michnowicz finally passes Iaia on lap 14. Iaia bumps into Janca and drops back to 4th place. Grey and Michnowicz are way in front at the checkered flag. Finishing order:
1. Grey
2. Michnowicz
3. Janca
4. Iaia
5. Chris Veach
6. Cameron Veach
7. Crye
8. Frazier
9. Banfield
10. Schankerman
11. Edwards
12. Fabrozzi
13. Kirkbride
14. Engstrom
15. Williams
16. Camarillo
17. Nickel
18. Howell
19. Faas
20. Carlson

Senior Sprint cars. Can Bob Alderman win his third straight main event? He’ll have to do it from the third row tonight. The lineup:
Front Row: Oren Prosser Sr. – Rick Hendrix
Second Row: Wiley Miller – Mark Chuhaloff
Third Row: Alderman – Chris McArthur
Fourth Row: Ron Bach – Bill Badger
Fifth Row: Jeff Culver – Bruce Douglass
Sixth Row: Ross Millar – Brett Butler
Seventh Row: Tim Moon – Steve Stasa
Eighth Row: Tony Everhart – Bill Leonard
Ninth Row: Mike Cook – Tom Fish
Tenth Row: Grady Winkler – John Richards
Eleventh Row: John Woodward – Rob Cowan

8:33PM – Oren Prosser Sr. takes the lead. Rick Hendrix is second. Hendrix and Wiley Miller pass Prosser at the flag stand at the end of lap 2. Hendrix is the new leader, followed by Miller and Alderman. Miller gets by Hendrix on the fifth lap with Alderman moving up to second. Halfway through, Bill Leonard draws the yellow flag. We’re racing again with Miller in the lead. Six laps to go, and look who’s made his way up to 4th place: Ron Baaaaach. The top 4 cars begin to spread apart. A lapped car spins on lap 18, and Wiley Miller has to slow down to avoid a collision. Alderman uses the opportunity to take the lead and win his third main event in a row. Finishing order:
1. Alderman
2. Miller
3. Hendrix
4. Bach
5. Prosser
6. Stasa
7. Chuhaloff
8. Douglass
9. McArthur
10. Butler
11. Woodward
12. Millar
13. Badger
14. Culver
15. Cook
16. Everhart
17. Richards
18. Moon
19. Fish
20. Winkler
21. Leonard
22. Cowan

Pony Stock main event. Track officials have warned the drivers that rough driving will not be tolerated. The lineup:
Front Row: Jim Evans – David Peterson
Second Row: Steve Klingberg – Joel Chavez
Third Row: Jack Hoyt – Brad Long
Fourth Row: Mike Frazier – Andrew Greiman
Fifth Row: Paul Johnson – Randal Dougan
Sixth Row: Jack Trigg – Mark Woellert
Seventh Row: Jeff Houghton – Ryan Changus
Eighth Row: Martin Nettring – Joe Weaver
Ninth Row: Tyler Brochett – Kody Harper
Tenth Row: Jerrod Twomey – Anthony Mestes

8:49PM – Jim Evans takes advantage of his pole position and is the early leader. Nettring spins and has a flat tire on the first lap. Yellow flag, and a full restart. Once again, Evans takes the lead with Jack Hoyt chasing. On lap 5 there is a big pile up entering turn 3. Frazier doesn’t see the yellow light yet and is heading full speed into the stopped cars. Big sigh of relief from the crowd as Frazier narrowly misses an ugly crash. On the restart, Evans once again jumps to the front. 7 laps in and Frazier makes a run for first place, but tangles with Evans, who spins out, causing a yellow flag. Ventura raceway doesn’t tolerate drivers taking out the leader, so both cars are sent to the back of the pack. Jack Hoyt takes the lead on the restart, with Houghton and Nunley following. Greiman has moved up to third place on the 13th lap, and one lap later is passed by Chavez in his little Honda. Two more laps and Chavez has moved up to 2nd place. Greiman spins out on lap 17, drawing the yellow. On the restart there is another pileup. Race officials are frustrated with the demolition derby that are the Pony Stocks tonight, and calls the race official with just 17 of 20 laps completed. Finishing order:
1. Hoyt
2. Chavez
3. Trigg
4. Long
5. Dougan
6. Johnson
7. Peterson
8. Greiman
9. Harper
10. Evans
11. Houghton
12. Brochett
13. Frazier
14. Woellert
15. Mestes
16. Weaver
17. Changus
18. Klingberg
19. Nettring
20. Twomey (never make it to the start)

“YMCA”, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” and it’s time for the VRA Sprint Car main event.

The lineup:
Front Row: Oren Prosser, Jr. – Kevin Kierce
Second Row: Jeremy Ellertson – Michael Trimble
Third Row: Jeff Oliver – Luis Espinoza
Fourth Row: Steve Conrad – Tom Schneider
Fifth Row: Jimmy Crawford – Chris Wakim
Sixth Row: Troy Rutherford – Wes Richardson
Seventh Row: Bill Camarillo – Errol Sack
Eighth Row: Angel Figueroa – Ty Schlender
Ninth Row: John Nock – Ron Wade
Tenth Row: Donald Houghton – Dennis Rodriguez

9:20PM – Kevin Kierce beats Oren Prosser off the line for the holeshot. Jeremy Ellertson pulls off the track on the 5th lap. Michael Trimble, Troy Rutherford and Jeff Oliver are battling for fifth place. At the halfway point it’s Kierce, Prosser, Espinoza, Crawford and Rutherford. Espinoza gets by Prosser for second on lap 16. Espinoza is slowly trying to reel in Kierce, but never able to. The race goes green-white-checkered, without a caution flag. Kierce wins, Espinoza second. Everybody is spread all over the track, making it difficult to see what is happening behind the leaders. I’ve always thought that if the race goes the first 15 laps without a yellow flag, that the flagman should automatically bring out the yellow halfway through to bring the cars back together and make things interesting. Maybe I’m the only one with that idea. I’m sure Kierce wouldn’t have liked that plan this night. Finishing order:
1. Kierce
2. Espinoza
3. Rutherford
4. Wakim
5. Crawford
6. Prosser
7. Camarillo
8. Trimble
9. Sack
10. Richardson
11. Conrad
12. Nock
13. Figueroa
14. Schneider
15. Houghton
16. Oliver
17. Wade
18. Rodriguez
19. Schlender
20. Ellertson



Maybe we should all take a few minutes this Memorial Day to at least think about those that sacrificed their lives, so we can enjoy our Saturday nights at Ventura Raceway. I am one of those lucky enough to not know anybody who has ever died in a war, and none of my close relatives died in war before I was born. Don’t forget them.

The wait broke about five in the afternoon with hot laps and then qualifying. Bakersfield runs a tight show, pleasant staff with a lean professional approach. Keep up or get out of the way. They ran qualifying laps for forty two sprints in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Allan Ballard was the only driver to break 13 seconds with a 12.821. Chris Wakim clocked second with a 13.438. Here’s a word you’re going to hear over and over in this review. Fast! Hunsaker, Carlile and Severson rounded out the top five. Wakim has been slow for the start of the season, he was happy to have the car going fast!

Sean and Ron talk fast over the 9w

Heat Races

Heat one got Troy Rutherford out front with Luis Espinoza falling right in behind him. The real story was top qualifier Allan Ballard trying to move from third to second, tracking the same line as Luis and trying to pass at every opportunity. Great defensive driving by Luis kept things in order. It ended Rutherford, Espinoza, Ballard and Eric Severson taking the fourth spot. Severson ended on the outside front row for the main event.

Second heat had Kevin Kierce rocket to the front. Evan Suggs, Michael Trimble and Chris Wakim spread out behind him and everyone looked comfortable. Two crashes in the final laps took out Angel Figueroa and John Itturia. Kierce was way gone by the end, followed across by Suggs, Wakim and Trimble. Trimble took the pole for the main event.

The next heat had Daniel Hood out front. I don’t know Daniel but he ran a great heat from start to finish. Clark Templeman and Steve Conrad got caught in the back. There was tight racing in second and third between Tom Schneider and Todd Hunsaker. Jimmy Crawford was fourth and having to beat back Clark Templeman. Clark gave it a yeoman’s effort at the last lap, even banging wheels hard with Crawford at the finish. Not good enough, it was Hood, Schneider, Hunsaker and Crawford. Surprisingly Steve Conrad was also going to the B main.

The fourth and final heat race had Greg Taylor jump from the front to the finish. He was lapping cars by the ninth lap. Ross Millar continued his fast ways by taking second. Bruce Douglas (looking very smart) and Rusty Carlile pushed each other for third and fourth. Richard Harvey Jr. just missed the transfer.

It appeared the track was gone. I didn’t think a cardiac defibulator could have brought it back.

They ran two B mains each with thirteen cars. Three cars from each semi would advance into the main. Main event would have a total of twenty two cars. First semi featured Bandit Jesse Mack holding off a determined push by Clark Templeman. They got way ahead of everybody. Oren Prosser was behind them with Angel Figueroa trying to pass. Angel finally got his mojo working but it was too late. It finished Mack, Templeman and Prosser. This Jesse Mack is awesome.

Second B main had hitters Harvey, Conrad, Pombo and Richardson among others. Through the dust cloud, it shook out with Ron Wade leading the pack, Richard Harvey controlling second, a persistent Steve Conrad in third, Albert Pombo and Jeff Fiscus battling behind them. First of the spectacular crashes occurred on the back straightaway taking out Logan and Pombo. The restart went to the checker with Wade, Harvey and Conrad finishing in that order. Fiscus tried, but he was over and out!

Ross Millar was fast in Bakersfield

The Main Event

The sun was down and the dry valley air was still climbing over the ridge and raking the track as the drivers loaded for the Main Event. The mayor and I were trying to figure out who had the advantage in a “dry slick’ track. But something happened on the way to the races. Although the track was dry, it was taking rubber in a way no one had expected. Maybe an oil derrick was leaking in the distance, maybe somebody’s rear end was dripping oil, but this track started to take a liking to rubber, started getting grip in a real serious way. Over by the tower, Cliff Morgan watched his Grand Slam main event get fast, really fast.

The green for these twenty two drivers was so fast and furious a huge dust cloud just erupted over the track. Michael Trimble took his pole position (also had the pole last week in Ventura) and rocketed down the straightaway. He had Severson, Carlile, Hunsaker, Wakim and Ballard all in close pursuit. Jimmy Crawford was definitely in the hunt. Right about the third lap Allan Ballard put his rear end into the wall and that ended all his hard work. Big disappointment as he clearly had one of the fastest cars on a very fast track.

I wish I knew the Bandits better so I could give credit where due, so bear with me. Scanning the line up for the restart, I could see Jesse Mack, Espinoza, Kierce and Taylor further back. We go green and right away somebody clips Kierce and turns him around in turn four. Green again and Douglas stalls, gets tapped and there’s a mess in turn one and two. One the frontrunners, Carlile, leaves the track to fix a tire. Conrad is stopped at the wall and goes to the back. Douglas to the back. Carlile gets back on the track and goes to the back. Nobody’s lonely back there. Green again with Trimble, Wakim in second and Crawford in third, yellow again; can’t see who it is!

This green looks like we might get going but Clark Templeman flips it hard in turn four. It’s right in front of me and I can see he’s motionless. Then I see hand and arm move slightly. The safety crew gets him out and he’s standing. I don’t know how many bad crashes you’re allowed a season, but Clark is definitely going to the principle’s office. You should know you have a lot of fans, Clark.

In the meantime, Crawford had wobbled and lost a few positions. Restart has Trimble, Wakim, Mack, Espinoza, Taylor and Crawford with seven laps completed and twenty one to go. Now we’re gonna get going! Taylor starts getting a head of steam in that Raney and passes Espinoza. You can see the track’s speedometer click up. Although Crawford and Espinoza have slipped, they seem to get more focused and are both on the gas. Suddenly Tom Schneider lands his butt on the wall at turn three. Ron Wade and Evan Suggs are also out for contact on the back straightaway. We are down to 14 cars remaining and they are mostly VRA. On the seven hundredth green, Taylor notches Mack and is third behind Trimble and Wakim. The ground is shaking, Michael and Chris can feel it and the speed ratchets up again. Now Bruce Douglas gets in the wall at turn three and we are down to the real lucky thirteen! Nice drive Bruce, we know you like to go fast! Green (again) and you have some very high speed laps being knocked out by Trimble, Wakim, Taylor, Espinoza and Crawford. Now Taylor notches Wakim and is second! Taylor started in position 15! Just when the track is empty enough for some hyper speed competition, Wakim dies on the straightaway (rear end, ending a great ride) and we are yellow for the last time this evening.

Restart has Trimble, Taylor, Espinoza and Crawford. I could write a book about these four! This kid Trimble had the lead last week in Ventura for 29 laps, losing his grip on last lap! What’s going to happen tonight? Greg Taylor is without doubt one of the finest drivers in the Western United States. He is dominating the VRA this year and this track tonight! Luis Espinoza has emerged as one the VRA’s toughest drivers, showing mental and physical strength on every lap. I especially like Jimmy Crawford, brings his best to every race and puts it all on the line. We are green and the remaining twelve cars launch! Trimble and Taylor are locked in a high stakes chase and we are going to go fifteen laps at Mach Eight. The track is taking whatever Trimble and Taylor throw at it and suddenly we are at Mach Nine. The tires are smoking so bad I’m wondering if the mud is going to catch fire. Next to me Greg’s mom and the lovely Lea are going nuts, the mayor is screaming, we have three laps to go and suddenly we are at Mach Ten. I don’t think my pencil can follow what my eyes are seeing. Greg is physically trying to will his car around the 15T but Michael Trimble is taking this one home. Espinoza’s tire finally gives up the ghost and he stops dead as Crawford and Mack pass him for third and fourth. Eric Severson takes fifth and the amazing Steve Conrad takes sixth. Steve had to go to the semi, started in the back of the main, worked his way up to a crash, went to the back again and worked his way back to the seventh spot. That’s a lot of driving, lot of passes. You can’t make this stuff up! Same for Kevin Kierce, Oren Prosser, Rusty Carlile and Ross Millar, if you finished this race you are bad.

Thanks Cliff and Jimmy, another fantastic race in a fantastic season. We have a passionate promoter, top quality race direction, the best drivers and great fans. It’s like being part of a super cool club. Only the fast need apply!

Semper Fi
Race Day 5
May 13, 2006

We were talking last week about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, so I’ve got one more story I want to share with you. I don‘t know if this has anything to do with racing……I just got off the red eye from Hawaii this morning. My brother and I went out there to visit our cousin, Ben, who is a Marine based in Kaneohe. His job is to train Marines to rappel out of helicopters. Something went terribly wrong 7 weeks ago and he pitched head first from a helicopter and fell 110 ft to the ground and landing on his head. (Yeah, that’s about 10 stories!) Somehow he survived, breaking his two forearms, fracturing his skull in several places. He wasn’t given any odds by the doctors, but he clung to life, deep in a coma.

Quick trip through the pits:

Checked in with the pony stockers, they were all tuned up and ready for racing. Walked through the dwarf pits and got to meet Brian Saxton. Said hi to the Addisons. Everybody was ready to race. Stood in the pit stands and saw that Jimmy and Rick Taylor had yanked the big light pole out of the way, opening up the view even more for the hardworking pit crews. Saw that Jimmy and Kevin Kierce had patched the turn one plywood damaged last week. Kierce and Taylor, a couple of veterans taking care of their raceway! Saw Chris Wakim had his car camera wired by Runbull for some in-car footage.

After about two weeks, after negotiating a plethora of danger including pneumonia, aneurisms and infections, Ben emerged from the coma. It was all small steps at first, reactions to pin pricks and warm voices. A constant stream of corrective surgery began. His wife, six months pregnant, slept in the corner of the intensive care (Tripler Naval Hospital in Honolulu) room and kept vigil along with his mother who had flown in from California.

VRA Senior Sprints started the action tonight with three heats. Alderman claimed heat one, Ron Bach claimed heat two. Heat three featured Jack Parker in Kevin Kierce’s car for his first ever sprint race (methinks?). Jack checked it out as Rick Hendrix rode a flat front left tire to first place with Tim Moon in pursuit.

The Senior Dwarfs fired it up and ran two heats. Constant Ed Niedzwiecki ran first in the first, points leader John Lynch grabbed heat two. Pro Dwarfs took the track for another two heats. Jeff Shelton took his first heat for the season while Chuck Lippert took the second heat for his first heat win. Chad Kincaid was also looking strong.

The pony stocks pitted seventeen cars for two heats. It was the battle of the front wheel drives as Mike Frazier defeated Joel Chavez as they got out front by a half track. Heat two had Jack Hoyt and Andrew Greiman both going to the pits after a few laps. Tom Fish raced hard with or without them to take the flag.

VRA Sprint Heat number one had Jimmy Crawford besting Billy Camarillo and Kevin Kierce. Errol Sack claimed the final transfer spot. They were all on the gas. Heat number two was interesting. Tom Hendricks set the pace with heavy hitters Troy Rutherford and Greg Taylor in the back. Heidi Tresler had the pole and wasn’t getting out of the way for anybody. Soon both Troy and Greg passed her but Taylor over-steered coming out of turn two and Heidi couldn’t avoid clipping him. He got in the popcorn maker and turned his rig over. Number 7 was on the hook. On the restart, Rutherford took the flag followed by Hendricks, solid Wes Richardson and Richard McCormick who barely sent Rob Kershaw to the “B” main. Third heat had Luis Espinoza quickly move to the front, followed by Jeremy Ellertson and Michael Trimble. Trimble passed Ellertson for second and Chris Wakim came from the back for the fourth spot. Final heat was about persistence, with last weeks main event winner Steve Conrad getting upside down, restart at the rear and still working back to second place. John Nock’s steering broke and he drove into the wall. John Wright (I don’t know him) took first, Conrad second, fast Mark Weitzman third and Hobie Conway in fourth by holding off Rusty Carlile.

By week three, the neurosurgeons were getting simple reactions from Ben, but there was no way to judge the extent of brain damage. It appeared he was going to survive. He did start exhibiting recognition, that is, moving his body when familiar voices would address him. There were plenty of familiar voices, with Marine and family friends streaming in from all points. His best friend, and fellow Marine, Shane got leave from Guantanamo Bay and vowed to stay until Ben was out of danger. Semper Fi (always faithful).

Mini Dwarfs Main Event’s B and A ran in the infield. These six year olds got at it with the enthusiasm of newbies. Although it was hard to follow the leaders, I do know that Chase Lippert took the B Main while Austin Figueroa continued his winning ways and took first place in the A Main. Tanner Kershaw was leading most of the race but had a mechanical breakdown near the end. Matt Orozco has been also putting up a good fight.

VRA Junior Midgets ran a Main Event with Chris Olson taking the checkered flag. These are real Jimmy Neutrons in appearance, light and rocket-like for the 11 to 16 year olds. Christian Copley and Ramon Rivas also ran hard.

VRA Sprint Semi Main featured Greg Taylor starting in the back driving in Errol Sack's car. Two big stories here: the first is how Rob Kershaw tore up the track leading from the start. Put this guy out front and stand back. Second story is Heidi Tresler holding off Greg Taylor for a good part of the race. Taylor the Terrible was breathing right down her neck and it didn’t seem to bother her a bit. She may be “girl racer” but she’s no “sweet” sixteen. Fast, very fast. It was Kershaw in first, Ron Wade in second (don’t know him), Dennis Rodriquez up front for third, Taylor taking fourth and Heidi Tresler transferring in fifth. These are all great racers.

VRA Senior Dwarf Main Event was a burner with John Lynch taking on all comers. Ed Niedzwiecki gave it hell, but Lynch drove a perfect race taking advantage of traffic to stuff Niedzwiecki, Tom Bellinger and Glen Monk. I really am starting to appreciate the high speed maneuverability of these dwarf cars.

VRA Senior Sprint Main Event was an exciting contest with smooth Bob Alderman continuing his winning ways. I missed seeing the Miller brothers on the track, but Steve Stasa provided plenty of drama taking second place, although I did see the flag man give him stink eye once or twice. Steady Ron Bach took third with Rick Hendrix coming across fourth. I really like this Rick Hendrix, his driving shows skill and commitment.

The Pony Stocks got in a ten lap main event which again showed off the front wheel drives finishing top three. Mike Frazier beat back a determined Jack Hoyt the first half of the race and an equally determined Joel Chavez for the second half. Frazier in first, consistent Chavez in second, Hoyt for third and Jim Evans for fourth. That fourth place finish keeps Jim Evans as point leader of the ponies. Everybody else better shop for a front wheel!

Now Ben kicked his recovery into gear. The toughness and leadership skills he learned as a Marine seemed to manifest in fighting these injuries. On almost a daily basis, he started reacting in the most elementary terms and astounding the doctors. Most importantly, he started communicating with his wife, responding to her commands and directions. He began to relay his confusion, "why am I here?" They explained to him “you had an accident, you hurt your head but you are okay now”.

The VRA Sprint Main Event turned on under a full moon. The race started with a crash in turn three that took out Kershaw, Tresler and Wakim. Michael Trimble, who drives down from San Jose to race in Ventura, took the lead with Tom Hendricks and Jimmy Crawford behind him. But again a crash brought things to a halt. Jeremy Ellertson and Greg Taylor mixed in turn two. Taylor’s team scrambled and he was able to restart. Now the race finally kicks in and Trimble again sets the pace. He is chased by Crawford and Hendrix, with Luis Espinoza going high and gaining, Troy Rutherford also high, also gaining. Suddenly Taylor crashes again and this one goes on the hook. Restart, now Wes Richardson is out at turn two. In the distance, I can hear a werewolf howl.

Now we get racing again and it’s all about Trimble. He had some distance before the yellows, now they are all bunched up again. It’s Trimble, a persistent Espinoza on the move, Crawford, Rutherford also gaining! Dr. Weitzman departs. Tight racing between the top four! Steve Conrad and John Wright mix in turn two and we are yellow. The yellows are killing Trimble and helping the other three. Trimble again holds the front by going low, Espinoza again threatens by going high! Crawford in third by going low, Rutherford again pushing him by going high! Suddenly Conrad crashes again and this time he’s done. They wheel the sprint carcass off the field as vampires flutter above. Out of a twenty car field, only eleven are left. They begin setting up a triage in the infield.

On the restart, Crawford wobbles badly and drops a spot to Kevin Kierce. Five laps to go and Michael Trimble is struggling to keep it together. Luis Espinoza, switching at will from high to low is gaining. Rutherford is right behind him banging the walls and threatening every moment. Finally on the white flag Espinoza has passed him cleanly on the straightaway. Going into the turn two, Trimble and Espinoza lock up together and Trimble gets turned around. Espinoza is slowed almost to a stop but is able to extract and get back on the gas! Too late. Troy Rutherford opens the Cracker Jack box he was given and pulls out the surprise prize! Espinoza in second, hard charging Tom Hendricks in third and Kevin “never give up” Kierce in fourth. Richard McCormick had the most passes with eight, finishing in seventh.

So let me finish my story about Ben and his miraculous recovery. He is now in week seven, communicating in short sentences, recognizing people and on the gas with his physical therapy. The first time he stood up, the physical therapist congratulated him and advised they would try walking the next day. “How about today” the hard charging Ben whispers. But my favorite anecdote is when he is finally able to give his wife a hug. “You don’t know how much I needed that”, she says. He thinks for a second and softly replies “stop by anytime”….