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Bandit-VRA Grand Slam #2 at Santa Maria Raceway

July 29, 2006

First I must thank Santa Maria for the first cool evening I’ve had in a week. But the real news is how well this track is working. Like Ventura, Santa Maria seems to be firing on all cylinders. Drivers and fans are benefiting from the hard work of seasoned track officials. I had my lounge chair, my scanner and the delicious bouquet of eucalyptus methanol. I was surrounded by citizens of Steinbeck country who seemed real pleased to see their beach cousins. The second round of the Bandit-VRA Grand Slam didn’t just talk the talk. It swore; it stalked the walk; it was vicious in the corners and side by side in the straight-aways. Thanks to Dave Swindell and Cliff Morgan for directing a hard core staff of professionals and providing drivers and fans the best in West Coast dirt racing.....

A Quick Trip through the Pits:

Met with Jon Paquet who arranged for vrafan.com to be on the front lines. Thanks for showing us around. Took the opportunity to meet some Bandits, especially wanted to talk to Davey Pombo, which turned out to be timely. He’s just coming off pneumonia but was excited to be here. Loves having the VRA here;”the more the merrier”. Lives in Kerman, about 15 miles west of Fresno. Works for “a phone company” and has been racing for about ten years. Drives a 410 also and is working the USAC thing with good results. Every time I see this guy he is running up front and tonight was no different. More about that later…. My friend Richard Terry was pitting for Jimmy Crawford so I stopped in there and said hi. Jimmy was pretty relaxed and glad to be racing the 17c again. Come to think of it, he looked pretty relaxed after the race too…went into the infield and checked in with the Mini Stock corporation....Andrew Greiman is currently CEO, used to be a Ventura local but got tired of fighting with certain folk down there. Phone home, Andrew. He went out and smoked the main event for all his old friends….thanks for plugging vrafan.com….had a nice visit with Jim Evans too but I can’t use that picture until you win!.....

Davey Pombo Fast

Photo: Jon Paquet

Bandit-VRA Qualifying Laps

Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford takes it a tenth of a second faster than anyone else with 14.605. Jeff Fiscus is second fastest and Mike Knopf clocks right behind him with 14.735. Ross Millar takes the fourth spot with 14.764. That’s pretty damn impressive for this VRA senior sprint driver. Luis Espinoza rounds out the top five.

Crawford clocks everybody with 14.605

Photo: Jon Paquet

Bandit-VRA Heat Races

Heat one is a monster from the front to the back. Oliver, Taylor, Wakim, Pombo, Espinoza, Crawford and that’s just the first three rows. Green flag and Taylor, Pombo and Espinoza lock down the first three spots. The only real battle was for transfer number four and that had Crawford and Oliver trading positions. Wakim never really got it going. It was Crawford’s to transfer but he got put in the wall on the white flag. Checkered had Taylor, Pombo, Espinoza (continuing his incredible season) and the very fast Jeff Oliver.

Heat two continued the fun but then it got ugly in a hurry. Second row Troy Rutherford was challenging front row Rusty Carlile with slide job in turn four that didn’t quite get the job done. Wheels touched, Carlile went to the back and Rutherford hit the pits with a broken front axle. Just behind them, completely separate, Jonathan Logan got upside down and twisted. On the new start, Bruce Douglas and Jeff Fiscus (both in 13 cars) battled for first. Todd Hunsaker was also there with Tom Schneider. Fiscus got up on Douglas and then Hunsaker nicked him also. But Bruce is no quitter and fought his way back to second. Schneider toughed his way to third and it finished Fiscus (by a country mile), Douglas, Schneider (constantly improving) and Hunsaker.

The grapes of wrath rolled on in heat three. Although I was sitting cool on my concrete terrace, my heart was with the drivers down in the dirt, hot, bothered and getting knocked around. I was starting to see a lot of sign language, starting with Rutherford and continuing all evening. This is a brutal sport, turns on a dime and most complaints are valid. Let’s face it, when this much metal is moving this fast, all hell can break loose any moment and usually does. What’s the difference between this track and the freeway behind it? Drivers, hold your lines….Ron Wade and Michael Trimble got out front on the first lap but Jim Thomson hit the back wall and we are restarting. Again it’s Trimble and Wade but here comes third row local motion Mike Knopf in a hurry. He wrestles the lead away from the frontrunners and never gives it up. Trimble starts going backwards but I think it has more to do with his car than his driving… Joey Laymen and Brian Camarillo aren’t asking any questions, they just take over for third and fourth. It’s done with Knopf, Wade, Laymen and Camarillo. (I gotta comment that Jim and Brandon Thomson drive all the way from Norwalk, Jim crashes on his first lap and he’s done for the night! This is a brutal sport. I dig Jim Thomson….)

Photo: shootnsprint

Bandit-VRA Semi-Main #1

The two semis were defined by two drivers. Semi number one was all about Heidi Tresler. She only came in fifth but boy did she make the first four work for it! The hand of fate shoved lots of top notch drivers into the two semis. First off Jimmy Crawford took the pole position with Heidi sitting to his outside. I really think he had to be kinda shocked two, three laps later when she is still hanging with him. Jimmy is a bad ass driver and this sixteen year old girl was showing no signs of intimidation! Michael Trimble was running third and he was having a problem getting around her. No fear!

Next up was veteran Rusty Carlile. She stuffed him repeatedly like a pimento olive! Lastly came Angel Figueroa! He did finally get around her, but everybody had to show some respect. It finished Crawford, Trimble, Carlile and Figueroa. But watching that kid harass those top drivers was a lot of fun. Start working out, Heidi. You are going to need the muscles where you’re going!

Bandit-VRA Semi-Main #2

Semi number two was all about Chris Wakim with a healthy dose of Troy Rutherford and Hey Joe Henderson, where are you going with that gun in your hand? Rutherford took an early lead, being chased by an extremely aggressive Joe Henderson. Wakim was all over it and Ross Millar was also in contention. Wakim notches Mighty Joe but he doesn’t exactly shake him! Joe Henderson is on the gas! Suddenly Albert Pombo (brother to Davey) flips bad in turn one and even gets a small fire going! Pombo decides to leave the bbq, the track goes red and most cars are stopped right at the pits access. A bunch of pit guys run out and start jacking on cars, a big no no! I listen on the scanner as the whole mess gets sorted out and three cars are sent to the back, including Conrad, Richardson and Millar. Bummer in the summer. On the restart is when things really get interesting. The killer instinct is showing for all top four, Rutherford, Wakim, Henderson and Eric Severson. Hey guys, it’s just a b main but nobody’s listening. Wakim is starting his patented slingshots out of turns two and four and this crowd is getting turned on. Rutherford is driving the bottom hard; Severson and Henderson are duking out the third position and now this track seeing some unbelievable racing! Wakim steps it up and he is screaming a half inch off the wall all the way from turn three to turn four! Rutherford misses by the tiniest fraction and Chris takes it away. Can he hold? Wakim is completely insane, Rutherford is possessed, Henderson again gets past Severson, the crowd is going off and… are we are seeing the best five laps of the entire evening? We can all argue about that later! Chris Wakim blasts the finish line with Rutherford, Henderson and Severson in that order. That’s my kind of racing. How can a stupid semi be this good?

Sitting Out The Qualifying Laps

Photo: shootsprint

Bandit-VRA Main Event

I only have two small constructive criticisms for the awesome crew at Santa Maria. First, what’s with the trophy girls? Isn’t that kind of last century? Isn’t it going to look weird when Heidi Tresler comes up in a year or two and wins a main event? Are they going to put the trophy girls up next to her? Second, you gotta do something about those pit crews dashing for the infield right before the main event. That looks kinda dangerous and I remember the same thing last year. All night I listened on the scanner while you folks ran the tightest ship. In any case, that really caught my attention.

Twenty two cars, perfect summer evening, sprints circling the track as lazily as the bugs in the arc lights. Jesse Mack pulls off with drive line problems and alternate Eric Severson moves from that B main fourth place into the big show. Hard working Scott Holder calls the line up right, Dave Swindell blesses the track and at 10:10 the hammer comes down…Trimble’s car breaks coming out of the shoot, some front end problem and we are yellow.

Restart, we are double wide and Kevin Kierce takes them into the hole shot. Espinoza and Davey Pombo are right there with him and here comes Jeff Fiscus and Mike Knopf! Watching the wide angle, it’s immediately apparent that Pombo and Knopf are very fast and gaining. It doesn’t take long and Davey Pombo is out front and distancing. But Fiscus is also cranking the volume and nicks Espinoza. The cars are spaced out nicely and we are Pombo, Kierce, Fiscus, Espinoza and Knopf. We are about twenty laps and moving fast when suddenly Jeff Fiscus notches Kierce and starts threatening Pombo. For the second time tonight we are seeing hand to hand combat and now Pombo gets behind a lapped car, Fiscus get under him and moves to first. The crowd is loving this action, especially when Pombo takes it right back! Off in the distance, Jeff Oliver gets turned around and we are finally yellow.

I have to think a lot of drivers were praying for that yellow from exhaustion and no hope of catching Davey Boy. On the yellow laps they decide Kevin Kierce’s tire is flat and send him to the infield. About twenty guys from three different crews swarm the car and get him right back on the track. Albeit from third to the back! In the background I hear ace announcer Jim Pluhar talking about good luck, bad luck and racing luck. This is rotten luck for the hard charging Kevin Kierce. Restart, second position Jeff Fiscus crashes in turn one. That’s it for one of the evening’s star drivers. Bad gets worse. Restart has a cluster cluck in four with Wade, Wakim, Rutherford and Oliver. Wakim gets the hook along with Rutherford; Espinoza gets sent to the infield for a flat and goes from second to the back at fifteen miles an hour! Who’s left from this psychotic shuffling of the cards? It finished seven laps later with the fastest car Davey Pombo in first and die hard Jimmy Crawford in second. Gritty Mike Knopf is third with the great Greg Porte in fourth. Behind them was Taylor, Henderson (incredible), Wade, Kierce (from the back again!), Brian Camarillo (very impressive) and Espinoza. That’s your top ten! Now how about the points?

Davey Pombo Focused

Photo: shootnsprint

Bandit-VRA Grand Slam Points Race

Greg Taylor with his fifth place finish maintains first place in the Grand Slam. Michael Trimble with his DNF drops from second to sixth. Jimmy Crawford moves from fourth to second with his decisive second place last night. Kevin Kierce moves from fifth to third. Troy Rutherford drops from third to tenth with his DNF. Luis Espinoza moves from ninth to fourth. Ron Wade made a massive move from eighteenth to fifth. That’s your top five.

Even though Davey Pombo won the main event last night, he missed the first race and is currently in seventeenth position for points. vrafan.com should have all the details up by the time this is posted (Monday morning or afternoon). Or check out the excellent scrafan.com.

VRA Sprints Points Race

Luis Espinoza told me last night “this point thing sucks!” That’s the right attitude, Luis. As soon as you get fond of being the point’s leader, it will turn around and bite you like a bad dog. In the meantime, Luis is holding back the bristling pack with a 620 point lead over growling Jimmy Crawford. Troy Rutherford was the unlucky dog last night dropping from second to fourth. Third place is Greg Taylor, pulling himself up hand over fist, week after week. Kevin Kierce maintains his fifth position, now right behind Troy. Incredible race to the trophy, all five are within striking distance. Fifteen races completed with eight to go.

Santa Maria Speedway

I love the Santa Maria Raceway! From the gentle guy on the pit gate to the friendly food service, I was knocked out by these professionals. The track management leans to high tech, with the savvy Jay Schlemer interviewing the right people with the right questions over the PA system. What a database to work from! The Bandits are stuffed with world class talent, with the soft spoken Davey Pombo showing everybody how fast that speedway is! Most of all, you can really feel the positive vibe the track seems to be humming to. I got to meet Nettie Fort’s son, Larry Ulam at the end of the evening. He has turned over management to Dave Swindell with excellent results. I asked him how next year looks. “Real good!” he says with a big grin. “Real good!

”Steinbeck Country

Photo: Frank Bigham

posted: 7:27 PM
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Race Day 14

July 22, 2006

They say I am prone to hyperbole and exaggeration, so let me go off here. I have seen some cool things in my life. I saw the Beatles at Dodger Station. I have drifted through Glacier Bay National Park seated on the bow of a ship drinking hot grog. I have swum out to Waimea Bay and photographed Darrick Doerner as he paddled into a thirty foot wave. But perhaps one of the greatest sights I’ve seen is when Greg Taylor takes that red #7 car and completely dominates the Ventura Raceway. I saw two races last night, there was Greg “Full Throttle” Taylor and then there was everybody else. When Greg gets out front on a clean track with a monster engine, he gets so gone he exists alone, spinning laps like some ancient Chumash dream weaver. I just think it’s the most beautiful thing….

red number 7 that would be Greg Taylor

photo: Dave Wolf

Quick trip through the pits:

I see Trimble’s back and that looks like a new car. Troy is back in #11 and he looks a little tired. He and Raney traded sleep for an engine party. I grab Rick Hendrix and ask him why the switch from the seniors to the VRA. He says that was his first intention and once the senior’s point race went away from him, he decided to get back on the original plan. Heidi Tresler is getting some help from Biggie trying to figure out why her ride is going backwards. Jimmy Crawford is back in the TwisterWest.com number #17. Somebody else is suiting up over by the #1 school car. Geez Cory, do you have a waiting list for those things? Saw Andrew Greiman helping his friends in the pony corral. Says he’ll be here for the Fair races, in the meantime he’s mining gold up in the Santa Maria area. Oliver is a no show; I hear he’s at Manzanita getting in some sun. Prosser is missing in action. Wiley is here. I got to meet the incredibly cool kiwi known as the Buzzard. He has agreed to cover for me the next time I am dragged away from the track. Get ready for the Buzzard’s beak.

VRA Sprint Car Heat Races

Heat one had last weeks hellcat Hobie Conway on the pole, but it was Brian Camarillo and Steve Conrad who were on the gas. Decisive driving put Brian in front, then Conrad, then Brian’s dad Billy, then Hobie. Michael Trimble passed Hobie for fourth when suddenly Billy spun in two. On the restart, Trimble again passed Conway with some aggressive driving. First father, now son as Brian Camarillo spins in two! That makes it Conrad, Trimble, Conway and Victor Davis (banged up but unbowed!).

Heat Two was loaded with talent. Tom Schneider on the pole with Espinoza on his shoulder. Espinoza took it into turn one, followed by Schneider and Greg Taylor. Behind them Richard McCormick and Kevin Kierce were racing for fourth when they got in the wall at turn two. Both out! On the restart Greg looks hooked up and chases down Espinoza for the lead. Schneider is holding third and Kruse school driver Zak Hawthorne is fourth (don’t really know anything about Zak, somebody help me out!). Jim Thomson was in the hunt but came up empty handed. There’s nothing I hate more than a sprint car on the hook; the yellow #2 leaves the track. It was the beginning of the end for Kevin’s night.

Heat three featured a magnificent battle between Jeremy Ellertson and Troy Rutherford. Angel Figueroa was fast in third chased by Dennis Rodriquez. That all held for a while, Dave Lidren (who? help me out!) is having car problems in the Agromin 10c. Suddenly the high speed match between Troy and Jeremy is over when Ellertson spins coming out of three! Two laps to finish, we are green, white, checker with Rutherford, Figueroa, Rodriquez and Nock on the last lap. Determined Jeremy Ellertson actually got on Nock on the last lap and stole it fair and square coming out of four! Awesome.

Heat four was all about Rick Hendrix. Shot out of a cannon. Joe Henderson and Wes Richardson are solid in second and third. Jimmy Crawford has dusted off the 17c and is getting it figured out. He has last week’s winner Chris Wakim on his butt, but he’s handling it. The last five laps are unchanged, finishing Hendrix, Henderson, Richardson and Crawford. Wakim will join Kierce and the Camarillo’s in the B Main. Be there.

the inscrutable, enigmatic and fast Hobie Conway

photo: shootnsprint

VRA Junior Midget Main Event

From the crowd reaction, I’d have to say that people like these little backfires. Charlie Butcher took an early lead, followed by Chris Olson and Ramon Rivas. Erich Loesch spins in turn one and after the restart again in turn two. He’s out, but the 7 car driven by Ramon Rivas is on the move. He passes Olson for the second spot and going into the final lap its Butcher, Rivas, Olson and Taylor Wright. Some spectacular last moment strategy by Rivas and he takes the lead to the applause of the crowd. Michaela Stanton and Christian Copley both had car problems. Copley is second in points behind Ramon Rivas. I promise we’ll get some photos up soon of these speed devils.

VRA Mini Dwarf

Sparkplug Austin Figueroa continues to dominate this exciting first year series! He tore out of turn two on the first lap with the lead and never relinquished it. Although it was only twelve laps, all eight cars finished the main event and the ending was a nail biter! The whole race had run Figueroa, Tommy Velasquez, Tanner Kershaw and Chase Lippert in that order. But there was an exciting battle for second when Tanner almost nicked Velasquez at the finish line. I think they had to get a photo confirmation on that! Crowd is digging this action! I’m not being facetious, this class has a lot of fans.

VRA Semi Main

In this twelve lap, four transfer event, you have heavies Kevin Kierce, Chris Wakim and Billy Camarillo. Chris is up front, Kevin and Billy in the back. Naylor has spritzed the track and it can only be described as cautious. Jim Thomason starts in the front row and he grabs the lead. Wakim is on him, Nock also in pursuit. Guy Woodward is running fourth. In the back I start seeing Kierce move forward, but he is way back there and this is only twelve laps. Wakim finally nicks Thomson and takes the front position. It’s Wakim, Thomson, Nock and Woodward. Kierce is up to seventh when Heidi Tresler does a curly q in two. On the restart, I am thinking about points. The casual observer doesn’t realize that Kevin has worked his way up to third in points. Not transferring out of this semi event is a small earthquake in the pitched point’s race! I’m not the only one watching. But it’s a green, white, checker and two laps can’t get it done. It’s Wakim way out, Thomson, Nock and Woodward. For the first time this season, Kevin Kierce will not be entertaining the main event crowd.

IMC Modifieds Main Event

For once, the Mods got a perfect track delivered by the sprints, instead of vice versa. It was slick when they held the sprint b main, now the conditions were just right for hungry mods. Last weeks spin fest was a dirty old memory as they tore up a terrific main for the fans. It was a packed house, they were double wide and ten deep at the green. Gary Curtis led Rick Rodarte and Randy Gens (someone call 911!) for the first few laps. David Addamo was also there along with Rick Johnston. Debris on the track and we are yellow. On the restart, Curtis was looking unbeatable although Rodarte was giving it a go. Here comes Randy McGraw tip toe up behind them, he sneaks past both Gens and Addamo! This trail looks good from the top to the bottom and they are using every inch of it. John Uccellini gets broken and we are yellow. It’s still Curtis and Rodarte although now McGraw is swinging high and slingshots his way past Rodarte. I look further back and I see Jack “Passing Thru” Parker just getting tore up. The middle of a modified pack is a tough place to be! Like a lynch mob! Up front it’s a frontier justice with Curtis, McGraw and Addamo when suddenly the gallows floor drops out in turn three. I don’t know who was guilty, but it seemed like everybody is strung up except McGraw who was on the high ridge and fleeing. Now it’s McGraw and I don’t know who because there are so many lapped cars. I figure Ryan Roath and Steve Smith are there because the heat sheet says so. In the back, Collier was in hot pursuit with Brad Prows and Jack Parker and they are three wide. But it’s too late, this place is looking like a train and Randy McGraw is looking like Jesse James! It’s McGraw, Roath, Smith, Prows and Curtis! Later I’m on top of the tower and I can see Jack Parker down in the pits and he is carefully examining his car for damage. Like I say, this is a tough crowd. He is still point’s leader, but it’s thin as beef jerky.

Randy McGraw escaped the ambush in turn three and drove it home

photo: Dave Wolf

VRA Senior Sprints Main Event

The seniors kick in with Ron Bach and Steve Stasa charging the front. John Richards and Bruce Douglas are pounding away when Stasa drifts and takes Bach with him. They regain their footing, but they have lost position. Now it’s Richards, Willey Miller and Douglas just pounding the turns. Bill Leonard spins top a stop on the front straight away and comes to a complete stop. Willey Miller is rocketing out of four and almost takes him out save for some skillful driving. On the restart Douglas is up front and looking good! Willey passes Richards and is now pressuring Douglas. The driving is ferocious, almost vicious I remember thinking. Suddenly Richards gets sideways and takes out Alderman, Stasa and Porter. Porter and Stasa are gone for good. About here Leonard is also black flagged for a flat tire; he gives Alderman a love pat on the butt as he heads out the back? All of this puts Bach back up to third, following Miller following Douglas on the restart. More ferocious racing, Miller passes Douglas in four (using as much of the infield as I’ve ever seen Cliff allow) and Bach says that works for me and does the same on the next lap. There are five laps to go and the rest is details. The two wily past champions teach Bruce a few new tricks on the way to the checker. It’s Miller over Bach by barely a car length, Douglas and the ever present Tim Moon in fourth. What a bunch of kick ass punks!

Pony Main

Man, this track looks good for the Pony Stocks! It starts clean and fast with Paul Johnson and Steve Klingberg out front. Jack Trigg and Jack Hoyt were also on it when suddenly Klingberg catches a wheel and goes infield. Now it’s Hoyt up front with Joel Chavez trying to run him down. They get past the first round of lapped traffic and running clear and even. They are bumper to bumper for most of the race but Joel just couldn’t get around the “Jack Attack”. Now they hit more lapped traffic, Jack clears it but Joel gets stuffed behind some cars and loses ground. It finishes “Jack Attack’ Hoyt, Joel Chavez, Jack Trigg and Jim Evans. Hoyt, Evans and Chavez are all fighting the point’s battle.

VRA Sprints Main Event

Ok, its 10:30 on Sunday night, the kids are asleep, the wife’s watching Desperate Housewives and I’m out of gas! Here are the headlines! For starters, Espinoza spun coming out of three and set off a reaction that put Conway and Schneider in the turn four wall. I heard Luis was tapped from behind. On the restart, Trimble got in front with Rutherford and Taylor duking it out behind him. Steve Conrad comes out of his cave and decides to rejoin the VRA. Taylor dispatches Rutherford and begins applying pressure to Trimble. Brandon Thompson takes the yellow brick road and we are restarting for the last time this evening? Now Greg Taylor has his passport in order and when the green drops he just gets on his jet and splits. See the first paragraph. For the rest of them, it was an exciting battle between Conrad (on fire), Rutherford, Crawford, Wakim, Trimble and Espinoza. They finished second, third, ect… in that order. I checked to see if Kierce had finished in the top ten even though wasn’t on the track! He’s that fast, but nope, I guess not…Nock, Richardson and Rodriquez were all top ten. Wakim had the most passes with twelve. So Luis hangs onto the points lead, followed by Rutherford and Crawford. Taylor moves up to fourth, Kevin drops to fifth and here comes Wakim and Conrad. We have our own race to the Cup and it’s tighter than my last client. Greg Taylor’s win give him thirty main event wins at Ventura Raceway and that’s a record! When this youngster is finished it may be a record for the ages. I for one am glad Greg Taylor chooses to race here and extend my personal congratulations and appreciation! How freaking good is Greg Taylor! How freaking good is all of this!

One last note, next season Jim Naylor will celebrate his thirtieth year of promoting races at Ventura Raceway! That’s right, THIRTY CONSECUTIVE YEARS. Tell some of the guys on the message board to stick that in their pipe and smoke it! More about that anniversary later. Thirty is a nice number.

it’s a family tradition; Alecia, Greg and Rick

photo: shootnsprint

posted: 6:34 PM
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Don’t Look Back

Race Day #13

July 17, 2006

OK already, so much went down on Ventura Point last night; I don’t know how we can cram it all into one post. Lock into your Hans Device (TwisterWest.com, don’t mention it Jimmy!) and hang on. How about Hobie Conway! Most improved (and popular) driver for my money. She’s everywhere on the crash crew and she was top ten in the main event last night. Bob Alderman came back from his bad crash last month and now he can shave again. Still has to catch the crafty Ron Bach in points though! Randy McGraw took home another Mod main event, but more significant is Brad Prows moving from third to second in points! It was Chris Veach in his Ford Focus for a beautiful main event! Rick Wright clocked his first win in the VRA Junior Focus Midgets. That field is leveling out nicely, but they are still all chasing Robby Jossett. Finally, an incredible main event that had the winners crashed on the first lap and radical twists in the point’s race all night long. And why is another driver’s crew more stoked than anyone for the current point’s leader! Lastly, don’t look back, we’ll profile a few drivers gaining on the leaders…..

classic lines, design and sunshine, Bob Alderman

Photo: Frank Bigham

Quick trip through the pits:

I was getting tired of writing about the same sprint drivers every week, so I’m looking for a few guys who are so close to winning their first main event. Didn’t have to go far….ran into Oren Prosser Jr. and his legendary dad, Oren Sr. This guy is in the same tough business as me, construction, so he’s got my respect. Let’s not dance around it, he’s a little controversial, he took some heat on the message board a few weeks ago. But at the end of the day, I think this guy is fast, fair and he just wants to win. I’ll be stoked when he’s up there for one of those Naylor interviews…..

I failed the first time to get a good shot of Wes Richardson and his dad, Joe. But we tried again, nailed it and I’m printing it here. And that describes Wes, hasn’t won yet but is putting in the time and he will nail it. Represents the Bach Team and does a great job. His enthusiasm for racing is as obvious as sunshine. He has finished top five, if he can get out front he will take it home. This is another driver who makes Ventura such a great place to watch racing….

I think Mighty Joe Henderson is as close as your finger and thumb separated by a dime. He ripped a great race last night in the main event, finishing ninth just ahead of last year’s champion. Sketchy first half of the season, seems to be stabilizing and moving forward. Skillful driver, tough competitor, he’s a thin guy but it’s not food he’s hungry for. He wants to win bad. He told me so. I predict it’s going to be any race now……

Wes and Joe Richardson, it’s the journey, not the destination.

Photo: shootnsprint

VRA Sprint Car Heat Races

Driving up from work, it was 113 in the San Fernando Valley, 107 in Agoura, 97 in Newbury Park, 85 in Camarillo and by the time I hit the track it was a cool 78 degrees. The fans were sun drenched and cool as heat one kicked in. Rick Hendrix is racing VRA, not sure what’s up with that. He’s been with the seniors the first half. (By the way, this heat, race not temperature, officially kicks off the second half of the VRA Sprint season.) We are green and Nock and Wakim bang wheels on the back straightaway. Hobie Conway is on the gas and almost puts herself into the wall. Now Billy Camarillo and Victor Davis do get together in turn three and Victor is upside down. On the restart, Conrad drives low, but it isn’t working. Everyone else is high and going faster. Woodward spins and is out. Restart, it’s Camarillo, Hendrix, Wakim and Brandon Thomson. That holds until Nock clears Thomson, Conrad is just getting stuffed in the fifth position. That’s pretty much how the rest of his night went. Finishes Camarillo, Hendrix, Wakim and Nock.

Heat Two featured the first cluster cluck of the night. Jimmy Crawford uncharacteristically drifted in turn two and gathered up half his heat. What was hysterical was that he stayed on the gas, almost took out a few photographers, toured the infield and got back in his heat, or what was left of it! Gone was Taylor (Ouch!), Tjaarda, Houghton and Case. With all that competition gone, Crawford easily dominated for eight laps, with Buckley, Sack and Tresler behind him. But you really only had to watch the first lap! Crawford later did apologize for making such a mess. Sloppy driving isn’t really his style.

Heat three was a dogfight. Hunsaker got out front and Billy Camarillo got in behind him. But Jeff Oliver (Loudpedal says keep an eye on this guy!) was throttled down and first passes Camarillo, then Hunsaker. Prosser was in the transfer spot, but he made the slightest bobble and Wes Richardson was right there! Fast and intense racing, it finished Oliver, Hunsaker, Camarillo and Richardson. I thought Wes cleared Billy also, but the printout says otherwise! I remember what my dad used to say, “Believe only half of what you see, nothing of what you read!” Damn good advice….

Heat Four was the evening’s “tough” heat, with Kierce, Rutherford, Espinoza and Blake Miller. Kierce got out front right away on this track that was dry slick. I don’t know if anyone can drive a slick Ventura track like Kevin Kierce. He looked so relaxed, comfortable and fast as he drove away from everybody. Dennis Rodriquez was in second and he put up a hell of a fight. But he had Luis Espinoza on his case and soon fell. Joe Henderson was also getting down and fought his way to third. Poor Dennis was in pitched battle for third when he took a spin in two. Blake Miller finally notched the transfer, but the real story was points leader Rutherford (in a borrowed school car) finishing sixth behind Tom Harper and going to the B Main. So that’s Taylor, Conrad and Rutherford in the semi, if you’re counting. It checkers with Fierce, Hollywood, Mighty Joe and the Bullet……

Plain Fast Prosser

Photo: shootnsprint

VRA Junior Focus Midget Main Event

Robby Josett has been the man (teenager?) to beat, but he had a passel of problems tonight. With a peculiar dry slick screech, Rick Wright got out front and stayed there. The battle for second was between Justin Kierce and Jonathan Henry. Kierce got the best of that, he’s got a dry slick expert for a dad and is learning the art of “feathering the gas”. Josett was trying but obviously having car problems. There were a lot of spins and yellows, but it got done with Wright, Kierce, Henry and Owens in that order. I believe that is Rick Wright’s first main event win and it’s no small feat.

VRA Sprints B Main

The semi opened with Figueroa having a plywood party in turn three. Greg Taylor got out front and that’s where he lives. Prosser, Conway and Case were all in the chase, with Rutherford running fifth and trying, Conrad right behind him. There was a pileup in turn two that involved a bunch of school cars including Schneider and Tjaarda. The main fight was for the final transfer spot, with Rutherford, Case, Conrad and Conway. Case was typically on the gas. Conway was doing a spectacular job of holding off some of Ventura’s finest. It’s running Taylor, Prosser, Case and Conway. The music is coming to a close and Troy and Steve are frantically trying to find a chair. At the last minute, Case drops down on Prosser and takes second. The flag says Taylor, Case, Prosser and Conway. Probably the last time Rutherford will take the school bus. He and Conrad both show up at the main as alternates, but everybody fires and they are out. Didn’t really help Troy’s point lead.

IMCA Modifieds Main Event

This track was really going slick and the modifieds suffered greatly. Although Rick Rodarte got a jump on the crowd, it was one yellow after another. The photographers moved closer to the center of the infield and watched nervously. It was Rodarte and Steve Smith and Brad Prows running up front. Eric Evans and Jack Parker partied in turn two, John Uccellini was done. This was all in the first three laps. Now Rodarte is out after spinning in the fourth lap. Now it’s Steve Smith, Dave Addamo and Brad Prows up front with Randy McGraw chasing. It also looks like Bob Williamson is on the gas. Steve Smith is suddenly going backwards and it’s Randy McGraw in tight combat with Bob Williamson. The lead is changing faster than poker hands, now Steve Smith is challenging again. Prows was also still in it but gets crossed up in the last lap. It finishes McGraw, Williamson, Smith and Eric Evans. Prows was pissed! But he has moved up to second in the point’s race. Tough race for a lot of people. Too much yellow.

hungry Joe Henderson

Photo: shootnsprint

VRA Senior Sprint Main Event

Ron Bach runs the senior division, but here comes Alderman and Douglas. This race started with Bruce Douglas and Steve Stasa bumping in turn two, Winkler, Marini and Richards were out before they started. Now Bach gets out front, with Mark Chuhaloff and Bruce Douglas matching up. Danny Miller and Oren Prosser, Sr. mix in three, Millar and Brett Butler dance in two. Brett is gone. With one lap completed, four cars are gone and we restart. This track is dry and slick. Alderman figures it out and goes low. Bach is hitting some bumps and suffering. It’s Alderman, Chuhaloff, Douglas and Ron Butler. Butler slips slightly and Chuck Tyler grabs his transfer. Douglas now gets up real high on the tiny cushion and starts riding his rail. It’s working, he moves to second (maybe the last time tonight anybody squeezed anything from the top!). Now Stasa sneaks third from Chuhaloff and they all streak to the finish. Alderman, Douglas, Stasa and the hard working Mark Chuhaloff. The only points positions that change is Stasa passing Hendrix (who seems to have defected to the VRA) for fourth. Alderman is only 310 behind Bach, Douglas also improving his lot in life (third). What a great series, point race and bunch of racers!

Ford Focus Main Event

We are all looking at the clock and sweating bullets as the Ford Focus swarm takes the track. They are known for massacres in the turns and we are running late. But fate is a funny thing and these guys pull off a beautiful race with only one yellow. They are all on the bottom; the top is starting to look like a moonscape with weird ridges and bumps. Their meaty little tires starting putting a hard rubber glaze on the bottom, which is used later by the Sprint main event. The vabulous Veach Brothers are in the house and tonight it’s Chris Veach. He gets out front early and never lets it go. Hard to pass on this track and the order never really changed. Chris Veach, Keith Janca and Joseph Fabrozzi locked into win, place and show. There was a battle for fourth between Cameron Veach and Quinton Crye, Quinton settled that one! Excellent racing under tough conditions. We could have used more passing, but at least we didn’t yellow to death!

VRA Sprint Main Event

The flag came down, Oliver got sideways at the start and suddenly we have a five car pile up with Tresler’s car on top of Wakim, Luis Espinoza crossed up and Errol Sack dragged into the mess. I can see Chris pounding his steering wheel (Loudpedal.com clip of the week, Mike and Tim don’t miss much!). Oliver is gone; all the innocent bystanders go to the back! Green with Crawford getting up on Kierce. The track is completely blue and the bottom is crusty rubber. Tires start hooking up! Crawford, Kierce, Nock, Taylor, Hendrix and Billy Camarillo are all in the hunt. Five short laps go by and all of the sudden here are Wakim and Espinoza, risen from the dead and running in the top seven! The top has turned into no man’s land, get out of the bottom groove and your wheels let go! Taylor unleashes his horsepower and moves to second behind Crawford. Nock spins and goes to the back. With only eight or nine laps completed, Wakim and Espinoza have moved into the second and third positions. Freaking unbelievable. Now Taylor trips over somebody (Crawford?), something is broken and he drifts up into the wall, where he is smacked by a blue car. He’s out and that hard on his points chase. Ten completed twenty to go. Hendrix leaves the track. Now a bunch of trash unfolds, but some people are recycling. Conway and Blake Miller touch, Hobie spins and recovers. Somebody takes out Case and he gathers up Prosser. Not sure what happened but I remember thinking Robbie was robbed! Same for Prosser. It’s Kierce and Wakim at the front. Buckley tries to get around the bottom crowd, hits the loose stuff and hits the wall in three. Crawford spins and goes to the back! Lot of points at stake here! Blake has done a great job but suddenly drifts and loses positions. Kierce and Wakim are playing cat and mouse. It looks like Kevin’s wheels unhook coming out of three, he drifts too far on four and Wakim is under him. From the back to the front, Wakim is dominating this main. Two laps later Espinoza moves into second. Kierce is third, Billy Camarillo is holding fourth and Blake Miller has come back up to fifth. On the scanner I hear Naylor commenting that Blake’s looking a little wild, I think it has more to do with the track! The track is taking rubber; they are fast in the straight-aways, slow in the corners. Wes Richardson hits the wall in two, restart with nine to go.

Another Lazarus has risen, here comes Crawford from the back! Hunsaker is also in this last run, but he’s only getting top five. The phenomenal Chris Wakim drives the last laps with technical precision, Espinoza can’t get around him but he’s ok with second, which will put him on top of the points. Billy had third locked up but drifted in turn two. Crawford will take third, thank you very much (but something happened on the way to tech, he never made it and the hard earned points blew away like smoke!). The 2 crew took fourth; Kevin Kierce will kill you with consistency and is easily the most eloquent speaker on the podium. Always thanking his crew, owner and Naylor.

What a great season and race for the championship. This is close! Points? Espinoza moved back to first, Rutherford and Crawford probably in that order and Kierce in fourth. But don’t look back, here comes Taylor and Wakim! Later the point’s leader, Luis Espinoza, split a midnight pizza with his long time friend Wakim. Clearly no one is happier for Luis than Chris’s crew! As Tricephus says, “It takes a certain kind of living, a certain kind of style…..”

Chris Wakim’s shockingly good looking crew

Photo: Dave Wolf

posted: 2:36 PM
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