surfnsprint
Monday, June 26, 2006
Race Day 11
June 24, 2006
On Wednesday of last week, Chris Wakim didn’t have a car. He had a newly repaired backup frame, a pile of parts, half dozen loyal friends and some bruises from last week’s race. Fueled by pizza, aggravation and moxie, Chris and crew put a new car together that night, engine into frame, axles into ends, a thousand connections and very few doubts. It went together fast; the boys were practiced having already rebuilt three cars this season. Chris has been in a slump since last year. A wrenching series of mishaps and frustrations has just creamed this season. No matter, they took this new car made from old parts and pushed it onto the track. It fired and Chris rolled into another Saturday night…..
Quick Trip through the Pits:
Checked into the pony stock scene and confirmed both Hoyt and Chavez were present and accounted for. Hoyt had weighed his car this week and was concerned he might be a little too heavy. Saw Randall Dougan was also ready to go. Andrew Greiman was up in Santa Maria probably winning some money. Come home Andrew (we miss your driving, pissing and moaning!)
Then I ran into Brad Prows who is in the IMCA Modifieds point race. He is third in points and frustrated he hasn’t yet taken first yet. He has been racing Ventura for about six years and loves this track. Great guy, fast car, he kindly let me have a photo.
Saw Steve Conrad and his crew polishing up the 56 sprint car. Steve has been stuck in the middle lately and is trying to get his forward momentum again. I also see Bruce Douglas fixing the front axle in the lucky 13. Kierce is helping him and they are too busy to talk. Heidi Tresler is working with her dad trying to get set up, they check in with Wakim for some friendly advice.
VRA Sprint Car Heat Races
Heat one was most notable for who didn’t advance. Conrad hit the berm and only completed two laps. Kierce got mixed up in turn one and was out in three laps. Oren Prosser Jr. had it working from the start and easily dominated the rest of the heat. Wright, Richardson and Nock also got the work done and advanced.
Heat two added to the semi main headlines! Tom Schneider and Derek Buckley were on the front row, with Taylor and Rutherford behind them. Hollywood and Sack Time sat third row. Schneider was clean at the start and led for a lap or two. But he drifted slightly in turn two and you can’t do that with this company. Taylor leads, Buckley following the leader, Rutherford works to third and Espinoza in fourth. Something happened to Rutherford and he drifted up to the turn four wall and stalled. It was right when they checkered it and he watched as Taylor, Buckley, Espinoza and Schneider all passed and qualified! Rutherford goes to the semi!
Heat Three had Crawford on the pole and he zoomed away at the green. Jimmy strikes me as an efficient guy and probably would have liked to run a quick ten and get back to his cute wife! He had to suffer through three yellows before he got his checkered! First Brian Camarillo appeared to lose his steering and floated up to the wall in turn four. Then Thomson and Tjaarda touched in turn two and Tjaarda had to go to the back. Thomson was driving very fast but got sideways in turn two causing Angel Figueroa to check up and gather up Tjaarda again. Tjaarda was two strikes and you’re out! Poor guy was in the wrong place twice! They finally let Crawford get it done followed by a quick Joe Henderson, Tom Hendricks and Brandon Thomson.
Heat four had Jeremy Ellertson taking the front row and capitalizing. Tom Harper was right behind him as Wakim checked out his new ride. Dennis Rodriquez was also in the mix. Ellertson car was lifting out of the corners and looking fast! Wakim didn’t seem to have any bugs and worked his way past Harper for second. A fast and furious heat race, it finished Ellertson, Wakim, Harper and Rodriquez.
VRA Sprint Semi Main
I usually don’t report on Semi Mains, but with Conrad starting at the middle, Rutherford starting at the back and Kierce at the very back, I made sure I was in my seat! Errol Sack took the lead with Hobie Conway right behind him. Donald Haughton (doing double duty between sprints and mods) and Steve Conrad were also there. Suddenly Conrad ran into a mess in turn one and stalled in the infield. I think they were going to leave him there (frantically gesturing for a yellow) when Craig Bailey suddenly twisted in three. That got Conrad back in the race but again at the very back.
In the meantime, both Rutherford and Kierce were on the gas passing cars like they were counterfeit bills. It was Sack, Conway, Houghton and Wade, now Rutherford passes Wade and takes fourth. Now Wade decides to hit the wall at four, we restart and it’s a suddenly a six pack! Sacks, Conway, Houghton, Rutherford, Kierce and Conrad. Six drivers, five laps to complete, four transfers and three have clawed from the back! I can hear a waitress paging “Donner, party of six….”
This whole angst is on the move, within one lap they are up to speed and roaring! Now Bailey spins and the whole herd slows down again. The lineup hasn’t changed; it’s still Kierce and Conrad out of transfer with three laps to go. On the green, Conrad goes high, Kierce goes low, Conway falls and then Houghton falls. In a blizzard of mud, tires spinning and dirt flying it’s Sacks, Rutherford, Conrad and Kierce. As great a race as any main event!
IMCA Modified Main Event
I failed to report on last weeks Mod Madness, let’s try to get it right this week. Gary Curtis has the pole and leads the land sharks into the corner. Unfortunately he slides in turn two and loses position. But Randy Miller seems to have mechanical problems and they let him out and restart. This time a toilet overflows in turn two and it takes a while to clean up the mess. Curtis is out with a flat, they wheel him off and restart again. Now we settle into some racing with Randy McGraw, Tom Topping, Jack Parker and Jimmy Reeves (on the freaking gas!) all spaced out nicely. Although the race is McGraw way out front, Reeves is definitely forward moving and nicks Parker for third. Now he’s past Topping for second. Another mess develops in turn three when McGraw goes over the rear tire of lapper Rick Johnston and does some damage. That also gathers up Dave Addamo, Reeves and Rick Rodarte. Addamo and Rodarte are gone, tough Jimmy Reeves goes to the back.
The new start has Parker in front with Houghton and Prows right behind. Now Parker and Houghton conflict in turn three, Parker to the back, Houghton loses an axle and is out. McGraw has fixed his mojo and gets back on the track. Prows goes to the front and looks like he is having a real good time!
Prows leads with Topping and McGraw chasing! Steve Bulpitt gets into the wall and I think that makes ten cars crashed and eight cars left with two laps to go. It sure looks like Prows, but he wobbles and Jimmy Reeves and Randy McGraw both get around him. Both had come from the back for a smashing victory, it was Reeves, McGraw, Prows and Steve Smith for the fourth spot. Just an awesome race, lots of blood, guts, stink and glory!
VRA Senior Sprint Main Event
Ron Butler on the pole, it was like he was shot out of a cannon and he never looked back! Two accidents right away, Prosser is out, Leonard is out, Alderman and Stasa go to the back. On the new green, Ron Butler is flying but here comes Ron Bach. Bach has been dominating the track lately and he means business here. Bill Badger and John Woodward are hustling third and fourth. The front runners are nicely spaced out when suddenly Alderman goes into the wall at turn four. Ouch! We have fourteen laps completed, six to go and I see Jimmy Crawford taking his weekly stroll down in front inspecting the track conditions.
On the new green, Butler is still racing the wind, but Bach sure does seem determined. He swings low while Butler swings high!
Badger and Woodward continue to duel behind them. White flag, this seventy two year old Ron Butler continues to confound Ron Bach, the senior point’s leader. For his second Senior Sprint Main Event win it is Butler, Bach, Woodward and Badger. Ron Butler, you are a stud!
Pony Stock Main Event
Mark Woellert started on the pole but had steering troubles almost immediately. He didn’t get far. Randall Dougan was outside front row and took over. Jack Hoyt kicked in and took that lead, with Dougan just behind him. They kept at it for awhile, there were lapped cars everywhere. Slowly coming up from the back I catch glimpses of Joel Chavez, trying to work past the rush hour traffic. There are so many lapped cars it is hard to keep track of placement, but scorekeeper Scott confirms its running Hoyt, Dougan and Chavez. Hoyt is cutting out clean lines, Dougan is hanging on but that little white Honda with the blue 1 on the door nicks him soon enough. Now we are in the final laps as there is debris on the track, we go yellow and the line tightens up. Chavez had beat Hoyt two weeks ago in a tight finish and I’m sure this on Hoyt’s mind as the green restarts the race. A lapped car driven by Jeff Houghton gets sideways in front of Chavez; Joel just pushes him out of the way as he tries to catch Hoyt. I guess Jack’s car wasn’t too heavy; both car and driver skill carries Hoyt across the finish. Excellent series, tight points race and Chavez only sits sixth due to a missed race.
VRA Sprint Car Main Event
Buckley and Wakim in the front row. Mighty Joe Henderson and John Wright are right behind them. Points leader Crawford is third row with Jeremy Ellertson. Further back is Prosser, Espinoza, Taylor, Richardson and others. The last three starts are Rutherford, Conrad and Kierce. This is going to be an interesting race, action at the front, middle and back!
Wakim jumps to the front, with Buckley holding onto second. Wakim is picking up distance when Prosser has trouble in turn four and leaves the car. Didn’t get the details. On the new start, Wakim again ignites the rocket engines, but almost everybody has to be watching the back at this point. It’s a determined sprint race between those three amigos to see who can get to the front first. Suddenly seven laps completed and the seven car is smoking badly and slowing rapidly. Greg Taylor somehow caught a piece of Henderson’s torsion bar in his oil filter line! This torsion bar had to replicate the “Kennedy bullet” path but there it was. Crushing disappointment for Taylor Racing. If they are healthy they win; the hand of fate throws them down tonight! Henderson is now driving a low rider.
So far this is beautiful racing, the track is really fast, Ellertson is moving forward and seems to have Wakim in his sights. On the new green Hollywood goes to the bottom. Wakim is leading, but barely. Suddenly he slow coming out of three and Ellertson gets him in four. Henderson also passes, driving in a very impressive fashion. I am looking to the back trying to see what’s with the three amigos. I see Fierce Kierce and he is a tear, I mean really eating up the track. Suddenly Wes Richardson comes up behind him in turn three and brings his right front over Kevin’s left rear. Inexplicably they are locked together and come to a grinding halt, cars scattering around them like cue balls. Kevin unstraps, carefully stands up in his seat, leans over and
asks if Wes is ok. Then he carefully examines Wes’s engine cover to make sure it didn’t get scratched! Uh huh………
With fifteen laps completed, Ellertson is on the lead with Mighty Joe and Wakim hard on the gas. Ellertson is looking better than I have ever seen him, lifting slightly out of the corners, hitting all his marks. You would have to say the same for Henderson. Wakim is strong, Espinoza conceding nothing and Buckley is also in this fight. Beautiful racing, clean with nobody running away with it. Suddenly Rutherford is showing up, having worked his way from the eighteenth spot! Wakim now clears Henderson as does Rutherford. Espinoza gets a little sloppy in one turn and it slows him slightly. Now it is all about Jeremy, Chris and Troy. Chris is driving the bottom as is Troy who has now locked third. Ellertson is driving an outstanding race, really showing a lot of skill but what can you say. Big Troy Rutherford, what a freaking incredible adventure, he gets past Wakim and has the second slot. Now Wakim shows his heart and stands on that pedal coming into turn one. He slides Troy and reclaims second. He does a fast lap, digs deeper and slides Jeremy to claim first. Troy also gets around Jeremy. The checker drops and its Wakim, Rutherford, Ellertson and Espinoza. These four slide into the infield, jump around, high five and hug.
For me, Chris Wakim is the reason I got into racing. When things were really sucking with his season, I came to realize it’s a lot about how you carry yourself when you are down. With Chris, it’s all about heart. You could say the same about Troy, Jeremy and most drivers on that track. That’s why winning there is so satisfying. But I have to say to Chris, Arnie, Shaun and the rest of you, it was really cool to watch that car go together, push off and go from zero to hero!
Monday, June 19, 2006
June 17, 2006
A lot of great Ventura racers returned to form last night, including Derek Buckley, Ron Bach, Bruce Douglas and Troy Rutherford. But for this writer, it was a fifth place finish that tore me up. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Kevin Kierce is the gutsiest driver in the Ventura Racing Association. Smoked his heat race, and then washed it down with a bourbon main event. Started third row, roared towards the front, drove into a tight foxhole with Ronnie Case and had to go the very back. Bring it on, he thinks, works his way back to fifth passing such great drivers such as Steve Conrad. More fun than a fan can shake a fist at! Holy Saint Dale, if the biggest racing monster of all time showed up at this track and asked who wanted a piece, it would be Kevin Kierce stepping up! I bet this guy races his neighbor putting the trash out! And that was just fifth place……..
KevinKierce/worth the price of admissionA beautiful fog enveloped Ventura’s Seaside Park. Soft drifting bands of light and moisture played across the track as fans enjoyed another incredible night of “back to our roots” racing (You’re right about that, Cliff!). I’m up in the tower with Mike Truex who is slamming down more incredible Loudpedal video. Frank Bigham is also there monitoring the couple of dozen “in car cameras” he has spinning around the track. Two floors down Richie Wohlers is covering the action for the Ventura County Star. Tim Truex is filming over in turn one, praying nobody flips into his camera tower. Dave Wolf is down on the tracking locking in the digital action shots with a few other photographers watching and learning. It’s like we’re all wired together, talking, laughing, sharing, emailing and broadcasting the good news to the nation. Red hot racing going down in Ventura town! As Tom “Thunderhead” Troutz wrote in this week’s program “today’s local racing is a lot better than the Big Leagues of Nascar, ect…….” (You’re right about that, Tom!) In your face, reach out and touch it, sit in the stands and talk to your driver racing! Now, about last night…….
Quick trip through the pits:
Had to check out the VRA Junior Dwarf Cars. Faster times and cleaner lines. Spoke to Riley Helland and Chris Noe, two Agromin team drivers. Chris was fresh back in the pits from a B Main victory. They are as proud as buttons of their cars.
Took some photos of Jimmy Crawford (number 1 with a Bullet) but the heavy fog really washed out the colors. I hate flash lighting, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do….
I heard Greg Taylor is going for his thirtieth VRA main event win at the tender age of twenty four but he laughed and completely denied it…….
Chris Noe and his rideVRA Heat Races
Chris Wakim got pill #1 and was on the pole for heat one. He and Wes Richardson shared that front row and got down the road with it. Chris was hooked up and gone. Wes was doing pretty good until he caught a tire and suddenly fell back. Prosser, Crawford and Ellertson were bunched up as they chased Chris. They finished in that order.
Heat two had Jeff Oliver (this guy is driving in from San Diego) on the pole, Ronnie Case to the outside. Oliver was looking smart and aggressive but here comes Troy Rutherford. Greg Taylor and Billy Camarillo are also in this heat and they’re not interested in lying down. From the back, Taylor is in third by the third lap. Some fantastic wheel to wheel racing is happening with Case and Taylor. Camarillo uncharacteristically spins in turn two. On the new green Taylor and Oliver spin and Taylor goes to the back. Doesn’t matter, three laps later they finish with Rutherford, Case, Taylor and Camarillo.
Kevin Kierce ruled heat three, taking the pole position and beating the track over the head with it. Some exciting second and third place action between Luis Espinoza and Steve Conrad. Angel Figueroa was taking care of fourth place. A late yellow gave Luis hope for catching Kevin, but the rest of the race ran smooth with an evenly spaced Kierce, Espinoza, Conrad and Figueroa.
Heat four featured the return of Derek Buckley. Harper, Hendrix, Wade and Brian Camarillo were leading the pack but Buckley had a yearning. He was up to third by the time Camarillo spun in two. On the new green, Harper worked up to the front and Buckley was second behind him. Nock and Henderson were now in the fight. Buckley would have been further faster but Harper was doing a pretty good job of stuffing him on the straights. Buckley did what he had too; he went high on turn four, got on the gas and passed right at the white flag (I think the entire pit stands were holding their breath). Derek took his victory lap followed by Harper, Nock and Henderson. Exciting display of verve and nerve! Best kind of racing.
Senior Sprint Main Event
Stasa had an aggressive lead at the start with Bruce Douglas tearing after him. It soon settled into Stasa and Douglas wrestling, with Bach and Bill Badger going at it behind them. This was a better track then the seniors usually get and they looked like they were having a good time, there was action everywhere. Stasa and Douglas were side by side, further back it was Bach and Badger. Bach gets past Badger and now Rick Hendrix is all over Badger.
Stasa is getting the best of Douglas and now Bach passes Douglas. Bach is looking all business as he gets Stasa in his sights. Suddenly Stasa drifts slightly and Bach takes him also. Stasa now drifts completely in turn one and gathers up Hendrix. Bam! I can see Hendrix pounding his steering wheel. Tough break for Stasa too, he was fast. On the restart, a determined Douglas is haunting front runner Bach. These two are in a real race, with Bob Alderman now in third thanks to Stasa’s drift. Bruce Douglas is completely on Bach at the white flag. Bach drives low and tries to protect the bottom, over steers slightly and bounces off the berm; Douglas is there like a thief and takes it away coming out of two. A clean heist, a dash for the border and these winners cross, with Alderman and Ron Butler behind them. Really an important win for Bruce, long time coming.
Derek Buckley unchained
VRA Senior Dwarf Main
This was a really great race with maybe only one yellow. Ed Niedzwiecki and Bill Van Praag battled from the first lap to the last. Linda Taylor and Dave Revard were in it until Dave spun in turn one, gathering up James Soltis. John Lynch filled his fourth position and kept the rhythm going. Tom Bellinger was working his way back in and passing Lynch and Taylor (Taylor leaves with car trouble). But the best pass came in the final lap on the back straight away with Van Praag passing Niedzwiecki and taking the win. So foggy it was hard to see what happened in that final pass. It was Van Praag, Niedzwiecki, Bellinger and Conditt at the flag stand.
VRA Pro Dwarf Main
Another great dwarf race, the front runners emerged early with Jeff Shelton, Carl Behmer and Brian Saxton in the hunt. Behmer gets sideways in two and loses ground. Saxton and Rob Anderson advance to second and third and then all hell broke loose! Over in turn three it appeared Behmer ran into Saxton. Then Chuck Lippert came up on the mess and took out his front axle! On the restart, Saxton stalled and left the track. From there it was a battle between Shelton, Behmer, Anderson and Curt Cook. Those four were in tight quarters the balance of the race. Rob Anderson was giving it his all but couldn’t catch Shelton. It was a close, tight and exciting finish at the flag as they crossed.
my two little surfnsprints, Mary and Kelly sitting in turn oneVRA Sprint Car Main Event
Despite the fog, I went back to turn one to watch this one with my family and friends. We were all pumped up as the double wide streamed to the starting line. Harper and Espinoza were on the front row and they wasted no time. Kierce drove right to the bottom and that put him towards the front. All the fury dissipated as Brian Camarillo and Donald Houghton mixed in turn four. On the restart, everyone was on the bottom, both Harper and Espinoza looking strong. Kierce again drove to the bottom at turn one but Ronnie Case closed the hole at the last second and they twirled. To the back where they argued over who should sit in front. On the restart Nock spins in turn two. Restart.
Although it is almost ten o’clock, now we are racing. Troy Rutherford is swinging high, moving up from the fourth row. Same for Taylor who has worked up from the fifth row. Although Harper has done a yeoman’s job of holding off the pack, he now falls to Rutherford, Espinoza, Prosser and Taylor. Rutherford looks like he has the car tonight, decisive and powerful driving by Troy. Espinoza is on it, constantly threatening, never catching. But now Greg Taylor has passed Wakim and then Prosser. It’s running Rutherford, Espinoza, Taylor, Prosser and Wakim! Wakim is definitely on the move and slide jobs Prosser in turn two. Prosser drops down under Wakim on the back straight away and their wheels hook. That throws Chris up into the wall; he bounces back on the track and is immediately rammed by a combination of Joe Henderson, Billy Camarillo and Larry Lloyd. The track goes red as they try to sort out the cluster. Those four are out; Wakim and Camarillo’s point chase goes in the freezer; Prosser leaves the track a lap or two later, probably from collateral damage.
On the new green, Jimmy Crawford shows up for the party. You still have a clean lead by Rutherford, followed by Espinoza, followed by Taylor and now it’s Crawford in fourth. And back from hell is Kevin Kierce, in the fifth slot and driving like the devil! The high speed round robin continues, with both Rutherford and Taylor dropping to the bottom sporadically. Taylor slowly gets around Espinoza as they all negotiate the lapped traffic. As the fans lean back in their seats, clenching the edge of their seats, Taylor is looming large behind Rutherford. Closer, Closer, Closer….. As the white flag drops, Taylor is giving it his all but Rutherford has the car and the skill. At the checker, Troy bests Greg by half a car. Espinoza earns third and consistent Crawford takes fourth.
In the pits, there is a wake for Wakim’s frame, it is history (yes, Karl, I did check and this frame is history!). A line of people file past the carcass and express their condolences. But it’s just bent metal, spent money, doesn’t mean much. My good friend is rueful but healthy. I see Joe Henderson and Billy Camarillo and they are both ok. That’s all that matters when you crash; that you are safe.
One last thing, Angel Figueroa had the most passes and finished eighth (unless you count Kierce and Case going to the back and then coming back). And I got through the whole article without mentioning Father’s Da………
Troy Rutherford and all that mattersTuesday, June 13, 2006
Race Day #9
June 10, 2006
I don’t really know Jimmy Crawford, but now that he has the points lead, I’m not sure anyone can pry it from his grasp/ greywolfphotos.comQuick trip through the pits…
Lot’s of rumblings coming from Pony Stock Nation so I stuck my head in for a quick look! Talked to Jack Hoyt and got to meet Joel Chavez. They both were up for a night of fun and clean racing. They are together leading the front wheel revolution and both on top the points pile. They each expressed “can’t we all just get along”…. Also got to meet more pony drivers like Brad Long, Tyler Brochett and Randall Dougan (he’s running up front).
Got dirt? Billy Camarillo does. He takes waste product and converts it into turbo charged dirt. He and his crew chief, Wayne Pardini, were tinkering around in a “rare” quiet moment in their trailer. I say rare because these guys manage more cars than Trump has buildings. Six cars in the pits tonight with racing in three classes. Classy operation with a history of supporting Ventura Raceway. I’m talking Hall of Fame support. Lot’s of progressive people, Chuhaloff’s, Kershaw’s, Camarillo’s. Fast people enjoying every minute. They get it……
Lastly checked out Ronnie Case. Has been running here on an inconsistent basis as he finishes building a 410 challenge. Hasn’t done well this year but remains one my favorite people to watch racing. Why? Straight up, nervy, different, edgy racing. Fast as a rocket. Has a no style style that fits him well. I just like his sense of abandon….
Billy and Wayne, faster every yearVRA Sprint Car Heat Races
Heat One on paper looked like a championship fight. You had Crawford, Espinoza, Henderson, Wakim, Rutherford and Buckley. And that was just the first three rows! But they hosed the track right before the heat and everybody had to crawl! Henderson spun into the infield right off the bat and they just left him there. Crawford got out front with Wakim, Espinoza and Buckley spaced out nicely behind him. Rutherford was challenging Buckley but when the music stopped he had no chair.
They picked up some speed on Heat Two, with Errol Sack taking the pole and charging to the front. I don’t know Errol Sack, but he sure is running up front a lot. Rob Kershaw, Michael Trimble and Tom Harper were right behind at first. Greg Taylor started in the last row but you know he’s coming. He’s spray painting his name on the billboards at both ends of the tracks. Trimble asserts his position to second, Taylor settles in behind him with Kershaw holding the transfer spot. Taylor really put the screws to Trimble at the end but everybody held their positions. Jesse Mack just misses the transfer. My sources tell me this guy is the real deal. Hmmmm.
Heat three starts with Brian Camarillo spinning in two. Restart puts dad Billy Camarillo out front but then Brandon Thomson loses it in turn two also. New start has Billy back in front with Tom Hendricks chasing, then Jesse Denome but here comes “Fierce” Kierce. Something in his cereal this morning, he is flying through the pack. Within a few laps he is in second position, but Hendricks is having a great run. Ronnie Case is also putting his foot down, but it might not be enough. Camarillo starts driving down low and notches Kierce. At the checker, Hendricks holds on tight, then Billy Camarillo in second, Kevin Kierce in third with Jesse Denome (?) taking the final transfer.
The final heat has Angel Figueroa on the pole and Jeff Oliver to his right. They have a drag race down the front straightway and there’s Angel getting to the corner first. Flat out drag race! Craig Bailey turns around in turn one while Oren Prosser Jr. and Steve Conrad mix on the back straightaway. Conrad doesn’t recover and leaves to put in a new front end. On the restart Figueroa is still in front, but now John Nock spins and we line up again. It’s still Figueroa with John Wright now in the hunt. Oliver and Prosser are behind them. All of these guys are driving hard, the track is right and everybody’s got attitude! Prosser misses his line up high and here comes Wes Richardson and Jeremy Ellertson. This is a great heat with Wright, Richardson and Ellertson really racing for the place and finish. Angel is way out front when he gets the checker, then Wright, Richardson and Ellertson.
Great to see Angel up front, way out front!
Joel Chavez, pride in the Pony StocksVRA Junior Focus Midget Main
The young uns got out there and put on some great racing! Cody Kershaw got a clean lead going and stuck to it. Robby Jossett and Jonathan Henry were trading positions for second and third, with last race winner Justin Kierce in the fourth spot. Rick White and Dakota Kershaw also put on a great show. These racers are getting better and faster each race. It was bunched up at the end with some real wheel banging. Cody never relinquished her lead and crossed first. Jonathan Henry took second, Robby Jossett in third and Justin Kierce in fourth. Robby leads the points race but not by much. Looking forward to this series playing out.
Ford Focus Main
Great series with some incredible drivers such as Quinton Crye, Bobby Michnowicz, the Veach bros (Cameron and Chris) and not to mention Keith Janca. Tonight we are on a tight schedule and we have fifteen laps to get this one settled. Cameron and Chris Veach are both up front in the beginning, along with Nick Carlson and Brett Engstrom. Cameron is getting the best of it with Chris, Nick and Brett slugging it out in close quarters. Keith Janca is also giving Brian Camarillo a really hard time until Brian looks tired of it and gives him a hard clip on the back straightaway. But they are both out of the money as its Veach and Veach, Inc. then Carlson and Engstrom. Great racing boys!
I had to stop writing for a while and take my two darling kids to the movies. We drove up to Camarillo and watched the new Disney Pixar creation “Cars”, a racing opus based loosely on Ventura Raceway and the VRA series. We had fun picking out the local drivers and their lovable characteristics. It really was a great movie, with lots of life lessons and gentle points. I was thinking to myself what a tribute it was to the great “car culture”. The same carbon culture that mountains in Canada tell me is jacking with the ocean and trees. I’m not trying to make some lame point here, just looking at everything and thinking out loud. My kids are laughing at the cartoon; I’m laughing too but with a little distance. I’m watching the races; it just feels like I’m watching from the edge of the forest.
USAC Midget Main
I watched this one from the stands with my friends. I don’t have any notes but I sure remember Chris Rahe and Gregg Bragg toe to toe for most of the race. Bragg was running the lead and defensively stuffing Rahe on every pass attempt. Finally Rahe came out of four and banged him hard and took the lead. Much like Camarillo finally slapped Janca in the Focus main; sometimes you can only take so much. So it’s Rahe, Bragg, Jerome Rodella and Robby Flock at the end. Garrett Hansen ran a great race as usual but had to wade through too much flotsam. Do you know what the difference is between flotsam and jetsam?
the Rocket, no substitute acceptedVRA Sprint Main
They ran two semis that advance three each for a total main of twenty two drivers. Semi main drivers that survived included Rutherford, Lloyd, Case, Mack, Douglas and Prosser. They stacked up behind a field of California’s best. On the green flag, Taylor took his pole position right to the front. He immediately started in with his patented power slides like nobody’s business. I’ve seen the best here and nobody does it quite like Greg, sweeping wide tattoos with that roaring Raney. John Wright started the front row and was also making hay. Second row was Wakim and Trimble with Crawford and Kierce behind them and on the move. Trimble spins in turn two and goes to the back. On the restart, Crawford now takes the high road and has clicked past Wakim and Wright. Kevin Kierce is driving with great speed and has worked his way from the fifth row to fifth place. Suddenly Rob Kershaw, trying to work up from the eighth row, takes Mr. Toads Wild Ride in turn one and it’s much worse than Walt ever imagined! A real nasty end over end that has everyone stopped breathing…Rob suddenly pops out but he does look a little woozy. I never did find out exactly what happened (calling Loudpedal Productions) but I heard that car was history.
On the restart, Taylor and Wakim wing high while Crawford, Wright and Kierce are hugging the berm. Kierce is really on his game tonight and now is second behind Taylor. Then Crawford, Wakim, Wright and traces of Luis Espinoza. This is a dry slick track and Taylor and Kierce seem to know what that means! Now Jesse Denome twirls in two. Restart, another spin, restart again but Greg maintains that front position. Kevin looks like he’s having a great time! Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford is in the zone, taking care of business. Chris Wakim has gotten his act together and is running up front for the third race in row. Espinoza is behind him trying to hang on to his points lead. And a little further back, I can see Troy Rutherford negotiating the whole mess and moving forward. Now Rutherford passes Espinoza and is running fifth. Trimble and Errol Sack collide and they are both out. Restart has 220 laps completed with ten to go. Rutherford continues to breathe down everybody’s neck. Now Buckley and Figueroa mess badly with Buckley getting the worst of it. Real shame with Derek, trying like a son of a gun, but the car again took a beating. This will be the last crash of the evening as they decide in the tower to curfew it at twenty five laps with twenty one completed. The drivers may not know it, but four laps remain.
On the green, Taylor jumps, Kierce jumps, Crawford gets a hard tap by Wakim and gets a little sideways on the berm. He recovers quickly but now its Taylor, Kierce, Wakim getting the white with Crawford and Rutherford chasing. Greg crosses first with the usual suspects right behind him. Crawford is pretty hot and makes no bones.
Lots of passing tonight in the main; gotta mention Bruce Douglas with nine, Jesse Mack with ten, Troy Rutherford with twelve and Oren Prosser Jr. with a top of the charts thirteen!
They ran an abbreviated Pony Stock Main and it was a good race. Jack Hoyt owned the first half and Joel Chavez owned the second half. On the last lap, Chavez drifted and Hoyt had the opportunity to take him out. Go see “Cars” if you want to see how it ends……..
After the trophies and comments Loudpedal and I sat on top of the tower; watched some replays and talked story. The track was empty and the last thing I saw was Greg Taylor being pushed off the track. His dad Rick was driving the quad with his wife Alecia sitting behind him. She had her arms wrapped around Rick’s waist and they were laughing and talking as they pushed the red #7 off the track. It was cute, they looked like a couple of kids……
Vancouver, the edge of the forestMonday, June 05, 2006
Race Day 8
June 3, 2006
USAC/CRA and VRA Senior Sprints
You better be able to free associate because this article is going to be all over the place. Mike Kirby said it best last night taking his third place trophy; “The level of competition here is so high that a third place feels as good as winning the main event!” Amen Brother, I couldn’t agree more. In a world that phase shifts around me everyday, where the finish line keeps moving and borders aren’t clear, I like to go to the races every Saturday night and see a winner at the end of the evening. That winner has value when you see the whole picture; the competition that starts with the engine makers, is encouraged by the car owners and sponsors, then picked up by pit crews, enabled by the track crew and finally validated by the drivers. Good racing brings out everyone’s best efforts and last night third place Mike Kirby was as proud as a hen at a feather festival!
timeless
If you were not at Ventura Raceway last night it will be hard for me to explain how beautiful it was. This jewel of a track was shining in the late afternoon California gold. The sea was sparkling in the background as race fans put up their feet and kicked back. The concession stands gave everybody a beer and a hot dog. It was poster night for Ventura’s own Cory Kruseman and this town sure is proud of him. I sat on the roof of the tower and watched one of those Amtrak things float by in the background. Two wide sprints, two wide and ten deep on the straightaway slowly creeping up on the cone, the drivers fidgeting as their collective nervous system suddenly tells the right foot to hammer down!.......
Quick trip through the pits:
Rick Hendrix, bringing it to the Senior Sprints
Finally got to meet Tom Stansberry and his dad, Ray. Tom has aced two championships at Ventura and so yeah, he likes this track. They were shaking down a new engine but graciously took time to talk to this pesky fan. Ray just got back from the Indy 500 and was telling me about Little 500, sprints on asphalt. I said it two weeks ago and I’ll say it again, pretty cool to have a dad wrenching your car…. Proudly sponsored by the Bach racing machine…(great shot of Bach by greywolfphotos.com in this week’s program)….
Next it was Danny Sheridan and his gang. Just wanted to tell him how inspiring his ride was back on April 22, Race 2 (see “Holy Sodbuster’s, Batman” in the surfnsprint archives). Still my favorite race for the current season. Danny is running about third or fourth in the USAC/CRA points and that’s no small thing. Loves Ventura, loves Santa Maria and loves racing. He pulled together his hardworking crew so I could take a picture.
Checked out Damion Gardner as he was talking to Heidi and Sam Tresler. This is a very thoughtful guy, soft spoken and reflective, took his time as he answered questions. Interesting story about learning to relax while driving. In the beginning, there would be a yellow and his arms would ache from clenching the wheel and he would realize he wasn’t breathing. Says his results improved once he started breathing while driving. He likes Ventura; this is his fifth race at this venue. Leading the USAC/CRA points, I suspect he will be breathing near the front of the pack tonight.
While all this is going on, the USAC and Ventura officials are running qualifying laps. These guys have killer equipment and they are all about splitting the atom. Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford shows them how it’s done with a 12.182. This is my lucky night because I’ve heard about Mike English for years and tonight I get to see him drive, subbing for an ill Rip Williams. He notches the second fast time with 12.261.Cory is third at 12.27 and Damion fourth with 12.275. The difference between 12.182 and 12.275 is about a tenth of second. I don’t know how to demonstrate a tenth of a second. Perhaps Professor Neutron can explain it to the class one day. (Kierce was in his 360 and was about three tenths of a second behind the leaders! Give em hell, Kevin.)
And Tricephus? That would be Hank Williams III.
Tom and Ray Stansberry, all about racing
VRA Senior Sprints
I was having such a good time in the pits I barely got back in the tower for heat one of the Senior Sprints. I want to say a howdy hey to Joyce who is going have a little shoulder surgery soon. We’re thinking about you and we’ll see right back here in the tower real soon. Heat one has Chuck Tyler is in this race and he goes from the pole to the hole. Wily Miller is charging right behind him as is Rick Hendrix. Bruce Douglas rides up the back of Rick’s rear tire and puts himself out. Rick seems ok and stays in third. Mark Chuhaloff inexplicably leaves the track. On the new start, Wily just grabs what is his and is followed across by Tyler, Hendrix and Harper in that order.
Second heat has Oren Prosser Sr. on the pole with Tim Moon next to him. John Richards and Bob Alderman are right behind them. We have a good start but this heat got sideways in a hurry. Oren had a clear lead, Alderman was making a good faith chase, Tim Moon took a weird trip across the infield and then suddenly Bill Leonard flips it turn four. He’s ok though and refires with a push! On the new green, Prosser holds off Alderman and they are followed across by Moon and John Richards. John Richards hasn’t missed a race yet; he just shows up every week and races his heart out.
Third heat and the crazy stuff continues. Jim Porter spins in the first lap… Chris McArthur is leading on the restart, Ross Millar on his tail, Brett Butler’s in there, so is Grady Wrinkler. Ron Bach, who started in the second row, hooks up with Porter in turn two, they do a little square dancing for the crowd, untangle and resume the race.?...another spin, another yellow…..Now we get racing and Millar edges McArthur for the front…Porter spins again and is asked to leave the dance…..Bach is now swinging high and takes third away from Butler….It’s Millar, McArthur, Bach and Butler. Ross Millar is turning into one fine race driver. Another Cory Kruseman driving school alumnus I do believe.
For the Senior Sprint Main Event, we stayed in the twilight zone and immediately had a yard sale in turn three. Leonard flipped it again, rolled into the infield and called it a night. He was ok. Wily Miller was out. On the new green, Bach and Hendrix start to slug it out when Butler flips it in turn 1.5 and it’s another parts picker picnic. So many cars involved I can’t keep it straight. Mike Cook is out. John Richards was out. Grady Winkler was out. Although spotted at the scene of the crime, Tom Fish and Ron Butler get a push and rejoin the crowd. Green again, yellow again and Jim Porter is sent home. Bob Alderman decides this is too fun and leaves the track. We are green! Hendrix, Bach and McArthur are at it with Harper and Prosser also running up front. Another spin, another yellow… Tim Moon starts looking for a cushion as everyone else is hugging the bottom. You have a dry slick track and it’s a tiny cushion Tim is pinning his hopes to. He starts moving forward and now he is fourth. Rick Hendrix is way out front, Bach is second, McArthur is third and Tim Moon is looking very aggressive in fourth. Now Moon is in third, Bach moves to the high side but misjudges in turn two, hangs up on the wall and loses positions. Tom Harper is really on the gas and it looks like he gets Bach’s spot! Fast and furious last laps with Hendrix firmly in first, followed by Harper, McArthur (who is Chris McArthur!) and the excellent Tim Moon. Tim took that cushion worth a nickel and turned it into a dime. Persistent Bruce Douglas takes fifth.
Never found out where Danny Miller was!
Thanks to everybody that’s been asking about my cousin, Ben, who fell 110 feet from a helicopter, landed on his head and survived! He walked out of intensive car at Tripler Naval Hospital last week, climbed into his wife’s car and they drove over to Rehab Hospital of the Pacific. He’ll be there for four to six weeks and then he gets to go home in time for their first baby. Thanks for all the wishes, prayers and positive feelings. In this life, anything is possible, attitude is everything.
wife Carrisa, Sergeant Ben, mom Lisa
USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
We are broadcasting from high atop of the tower at Ventura Raceway. I can see my racing buddies over at turn one. Washed in the afternoon sunlight, they got a program in one hand, a beer in the other and their eyes are on heat one of the 410 muscle movers. It started out with Chad Boespflug, Tom Stansberry and Greg Taylor converting the front rows to the lead positions. Suddenly Taylor uncharacteristically spins in turn two for no good reason. On the restart, Jimmy Crawford starts in with the high side. It works and soon he’s up to second. A few more laps and he is comfortably out front. Danny Sheridan is blazing second and with Boespflug and Tony Jones also in there swinging. The track seems to be going away for Stansbury and Taylor isn’t getting enough forward motion either. Jimmy Crawford, coming from the fourth row takes first, Sheridan from the third row in second, Tony Jones from the fourth row takes third and Boespflug hangs in there for fourth.
Second heat was clean and lean with front row Matt Stewart jumping ahead of Davey Pombo with Mike Kirby and Mike Spencer pushing them along. The action is hot with a lot of open wheel banging. I see Pombo drift down hard on Kirby but Mike keeps it together. Pombo is driving hard and he finally catches and passes Stewart. It’s Pombo, Stewart, Kirby and Spencer bunched up and crossing in that order. Exciting, skilled and aggressive sprint car driving. Mike English and Wes Richardson are going to the semi.
Josh Ford is heat three pole position and roars to the front on the green. Unfortunately there is a yellow, I didn’t see what happened but young Evan Suggs is out and Cory Kruseman, starting from the third row, spins and now has to go to the back. On the restart, Ford swings low and David Cardey aims high. Troy Rutherford and Blake Miller are also in this race and they take up third and fourth. Now Cardey spins in two and we are yellow again. On the new start, we have Ford and Rutherford dueling and we see Troy lay down a magnificent slide job. It’s now Rutherford, Ford, Miller and Kruseman. Kruseman is now on the gas and the crowd is impressed. I don’t think it took but two or three laps for him to pass the field. He has the speed of a gazelle with catlike reactions. I found myself thinking the other cars needed to get out of his way; they are really slowing him down! Troy and Josh got a thing going on and Blake Miller is definitely in the middle of it all. But it’s really all about the Kruser at the finish. Ford, Miller and Rutherford also cross, a little later in the afternoon! Wow.
Heat four has heavy hitters Damion Gardner, Michael Trimble and Kevin Kierce. Trimble takes the pole to the front but Nadine Keller spins and we are yellow. Trimble again in front, way out as Dwayne Marcum chases. Kevin Kierce and Damion Gardner start banking off the top. This is dusty dry slick and Naylor points out your set up crew better know what they are doing! Gardner on the gas, another display of speed and skill in Ventura’s tight quarters. Soon it’s Damion, Dwayne (don’t know Dwayne), Michael and Kevin. Kevin is really bedeviling Trimble. Nate Ziegler gets turned around in three and we have a green, white, checker to finish. Checkers has Gardner, Marcum, Trimble and Kierce.
Danny “Showtime” Sheridan and his crew pit in Ventura
The twelve lap semi main is a quick affair, putting Mike English on the pole and in the front position. He runs away with it, chased by Suggs, Stansbury and Richardson. It over in twelve laps with two yellows, advancing four (English, Suggs, Richardson and Taylor) with a provisional for David Cardey (don’t ask me!).
I take the main event line up sheet and head down to show my buddies the line up. I am making my way through thick crowds lined up for food and drink. There are a lot of people here tonight! As the cars load the track for the main event, I am up in turn one with friends discussing prospects. As flagman Phillip Stevenson shows the cars one, I am racing across deserted grounds to get back to the tower. There isn’t a soul alive in the concession area; every freaking fan was back in his seat for the start of the main event! And we are green!
With a beautiful roar the USAC/CRA sprints lunge for the first turn, local Kevin Kierce showing his visiting friends around the track! Matt Stewart spins and we are yellow. New start, this time Danny Sheridan is the tour guide, followed by Blake Miller, Mike Spencer and last weeks winner Tony Jones. Sheridan gets a good run going on everyone with Blake and Spencer banging it out behind him. Now Blake is being hassled by Tony Jones. And if things weren’t busy enough for the front runners, here comes Kruseman and Gardner. I don’t think the front runners even have to look; they know those two are coming! Sheridan is doing an incredible job banging the walls and starting to lap cars, but Cory is now on his tail and applying pressure. The pressure is that with Cory at this track you cannot afford the smallest error. I see Danny miss his line by a fraction and Cory picks up ten feet. Cory isn’t going make mistakes here, this racetrack morphs to his expectations. At sixteen laps, David Cardey spins and we are yellow. Amusing sign language as they put Cardey to the rear. The restart gives Cory what he needs and he notches Sheridan for the lead. Behind them it’s Gardner, amazing Mike English, vet Mike Kirby and the dedicated Blake Miller. Further back, erstwhile Josh Ford is collecting the most passes for the main event, moving from eighteenth to a final eighth. With five laps to go, Sheridan is more fired up then ever, he comes up hard behind the Kruser in turn three, catches a tire and goes into the wall! I don’t think it was anything malicious with either party, just racing. Cory shakes it off and continues his lead. On the restart, Gardner tries to seize his last opportunity and he is side by side with Cory in turn three. But forget it, it could have been the Pope Mobile next to him, Cory wasn’t going to follow anyone tonight. With his wife and daughter watching from the stands, his crew, his fans, his town, it looked effortless as he carried them all across the finish line.
Cory and Glenn, building a legend one race at a timeArchives
