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USAC/CRA Race 3

October 28, 2006

Ventura Raceway

I drove through the strawberry fields of Ventura County on my way to the racetrack. The sun was glinting hard off the ocean as I made my way listening to loud Neil Young singing, “Cortez the Killer”. Abstract lyrics and a long sinewy guitar lead floated around the cab of my truck as I contemplated tonight’s racing. Images of the Wagsdash racing family were moving around in my head. I could see the Ventura track crew; I can see Morris smoking his cigarette and Naylor on the grader, the blade working that brown clay. There were red sprint cars with drivers coming from long distances and others with their hands buried in this dirt. “He came dancing across the water, with his galleons and guns, looking for the New World and a palace in the sun”……

Quick Trip through the Pits:

There are a lot of people here from everywhere. Oval Nationals is in the air. Sixty sprints in the pits for USAC/CRA, Wagsdash and VRA Seniors. That’s a lot of racing. Wags are in the aisles selling cookies and pictures and good will. It’s hard sometimes to describe the special feelings that come with being at a racetrack. It’s always about holding out a helping hand. New friends are now old friends. Smells of hope and methanol drift in the air. You and your buddies have practiced familiarity in the grandstands as you handicap the cars. Little pieces of information take on big meanings as you drift through the pits. The setting sun gives way to vapor lights and heats give way to semis. Hope gives way to despair and more hope gives way to victory and exuberance. Vigorous discussions about the relationship of moisture to the clay every hour…and everywhere teams are in action. “People worked together and they lifted many stones.”

USAC/CRA Qualifying and Heat Races:

Ventura Champion Blake Miller stands it up on the backstretch and takes qualifying with 11.953. This driver is a bundle of talent and going places. Fast, obviously. Top five his rookie season in USAC. Other fast cars included David Cardey, Tony Jones, Mike Spencer and Damion Gardner. Heat One Rip Williams gets out front and never gives it up. Rick Ziehl is here from New Mexico and nabs second. Third is a battle between Garrett Hansen and Damion Gardner with the Demon taking precedence. Always nice to see Garrett Hansen at this track, he‘s had some good racing here. Fast time Blake Miller and Steve Conrad (360) go to the B Main. Second heat has Josh Ford dominating until Cory Kruseman gets around all the traffic. Now Cory is out front cleanly with Ford and Danny Sheridan doing the boogaloo. But the interesting fight is Wes Richardson (driving that 360 like he stole it!) holding off Ventura strongman Greg Taylor for the final transfer. It’s Taylor, Cardey and Hunsaker to the B Main. Third heat is Troy Rutherford looking great until he drifts and gathers up both Tony and Levi Jones along with Dennis Rodriquez. Everybody refires except Rodriquez. Now Crawford is in charge with Ronnie Case giving him hell. Another yellow and we only have one lap completed. Green and again Case is bedeviling Crawford. There is some contact and I see Crawford beginning to smoke. He ignores the smoke and throws the car into overdrive. Tony and Levi are working their way up quickly and they both get around the Rocket. Crawford is whipping his ride but Tony Jones nicks him for first followed by Levi Jones and Scotty Weir. I don’t know Scotty Weir. Rutherford had worked his way back to fifth but he and Case are going down to B Main. Fourth and final heat has a quick yellow in turn one that gathers up Hendrix, Ballard, Hicks and a wrecked Matt Mitchell. He leaves for repairs. We go green and again another yellow for a checkup that takes out almost everybody but Neely and Kierce. Darren Simas goes to the work area. Now its Mat Neely and Rodney Argo battling for first. Kierce works his way into this fight while Hicks and Spencer trade blows just behind them. Spencer works his way to fourth and its Mat Neely taking first, Rodney Argo in second, Kevin Kierce in third and Mike Spencer fourth. Ballard and Hicks go to the Semi. Excellent heat racing all around.

To much Crawford? I don't care, it's just a great shot!
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Senior Sprints:

Bruce Douglas got on the gas and he was out front. Ron Tjaarda was in second with Ron Bach and Steve Stassa hunting. Tjaarda hits the wall, loses control of his steering and takes out about ninety seven cars. Tjaarda out. Badger and Woodward are out. Green again, yellow again. This time Millar drifts and gathers up a few. Danny Miller doesn’t see the yellow and goes over Chris McArthur’s tire and takes a vicious flip on the front drag. Everyone is relieved to see him climb out. Hobie Conway is track crew and she is everywhere on her quad. Hobie brings certain flair to her work, a sense of excellence. Funny on that scanner too. Green again and Douglas just looks so comfortable out front. Stassa is still in second. Wiley Miller has moved to third as Ron Bach catches the berm and wobbles to fourth. Stassa is really trying hard but Bruce is running a perfect race. He stays ahead and grabs the checker, followed by Stassa, Miller and Bach. Erstwhile Alderman is fifth, McArthur in sixth and steady Tim Moon in seventh. Butler, Prosser and Myerly finish the top ten. The inscrutable Ron Bach retains his point lead, one race to go on November 11^th. Douglas and Bach will both return for the Wagsdash tonight!

Bruce Douglass and the lovely Deborah
photo: surfnsprint

USAC/CRA Main Event:

Miller, Ballard, Morgan and Hicks advanced from the semi to the main. With qualifying times that put Miller on the fifth row with Ballard. Danny Sheridan got the pole with Kierce on his shoulder. Kierce was driving a new 410 set up. Crawford and Levi Jones were second row. Cory Kruseman and Damion Gardner sat third row, separated only by a point. Green. Sheridan slams it into the turn and is banging wheels with Kierce. “Tough crowd” I think to myself. It’s Sheridan, Kruseman, Miller and Kierce. Now we have a wipeout in turn three taking Wes Richardson to the work area. Rick Ziehl restarts as does Scotty Weir. Green again has Sheridan making high sweeping turns, Kruseman nicks him on the bottom and takes first. Miller and Spencer are stalking. Now it’s Kruseman swinging high with Sheridan and Miller. Miller comes out of four too hard hit the wall and takes a flip. He gathers up Damian Gardner and gives him a broken right front shock. Gardner goes to the work area and they drag Miller’s broken ride to the infield. Now what happened next is a mess about getting Damion back on the track. His crew claims he was ready to go before the green but no push truck. His crew told me that USAC was waving them on to the track, but the push truck was late and they started the race with out him. Damion was so burned up with frustration he threw his helmet out on the track while the race was in progress! I have talked to Damion on a number of occasions and always found him to be a very gracious guy. I think his actions speak to his level of frustration. I ‘m sure we’ll get some feedback from some readers who saw what happened. I’m seeing and hearing all of this from the tower so it’s second hand. Anyhow, I’m not sure if he was watching as Cory drove away with the points lead. Now another yellow with Rip in turn one and Rutherford in turn four. Green again; it’s Cory and he is getting fast. Sheridan is trying to run him down but its not working. Tony Jones is really gassing as is Spencer when Scotty Weir gets backwards in turn three. Another green and Cory is decidedly getting gone. Sheridan and Tony Jones are racing hard while Spencer and Ford are trying to get up there. The Kruser is cruising and we are treated to a real battle between Sheridan and Tony Jones. Danny Sheridan has been on fire recently and he keeps it together here. It finishes Kruseman, Sheridan, Jones and Spencer. Spencer won the last USAC event here and deserves a lot of respect. It is so much fun watching Tony Jones race. Sheridan is becoming a Ventura favorite because he shows his heart every time he comes here. Kruseman? Once I was looking for a quote and I asked him “tell me something most people don’t know?” “Just tell people I am living the dream”, he replied. “Every day I get up and my job is racing!” Looking at him now, relaxed with the trophy, hugging his family and smiling for pictures, he does look like he’s living his dream. But like most winners, he seems to spread the dream around. It feels like the whole town is dreaming with him.

Dream time for the Kruseman's
photo: surfnsprint

Wagsdash:

It was another fantastic Wagsdash where Allan Ballard reprised his win from two years ago. But the real story is the tremendous effort put out by third place winner Brandon Thomson. Incredible gut busting effort by this youngster to take that third place. Brandon continues to inspire Ventura fans. Other highlights included Kevin Kierce doing a slide job on his sponsor Bruce Douglas. There was something great about that and it spoke volumes about this racing dynamic duo! But it was Allan Ballard who drove from the back, negotiated all of these first class racers and exhibited the Wags spirit for the win.

“He came dancing across the water….. Cortez, Cortez…. what a killer….”

Allan Ballard meets the wags family

posted: 5:25 PM
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Race 22

October 21, 2006

Ventura Raceway

Mother told me there would be days like this. Under a perfect foggy and spooky Ventura evening, there was a clean up on aisle two that wiped out Luis “Hollywood” Espinoza’s lock on the VRA Sprint Championship. He still leads Greg “Full Throttle” Taylor by 700 points, but the tale will now be told on November 18, a full month of waiting and wondering. It only took the first lap for the racing gods to reach down and wreck that which had been so skillfully assembled. Espinoza has dominated this 2006 season like few before, with an incredible run of speed, strength and consistency. He needs to avoid inertia however; Taylor plans to run both Wagsdash and the Oval Nationals. Luis needs to weigh rest versus reflexes for the end of the season spectacular. In the meantime, unbelievable point battles across the Dwarf Middle Earth. The USAC Ford Focus gets a champ (by one point!) and a local legend boldly grabs the Sprint Main Event…….

Bobby Michnowicz is USAC’s California Ford Focus Dirt Series Champion by one point!
Photo: surfnsprint

A Quick Trip through the Pits:

Got to meet and hear from Sean Buckley who has blazed a racing enterprise under the name Jackslash! Sean is the brother of VRA firebrand Derek Buckley and is town for a week or two. Every week I like to check out his website (Jackslash.com) for my fix of racing with an edge. In a world of weekend warriors and backyard wonders, Sean is the real deal, covering sprint cars in the heartland of America. Check out his radio show to meet today’s best drivers. Trust me; nobody’s got their foot on the brakes!

The pits stands are looking better and better. A stucco color coat and expanded concrete apron have taken it another step towards being the official winner’s circle. Bob “the Mayor” Hedlund and his sons Eric and Kevin are once again in the middle of the action.

Although it won’t be finished this season, plans are currently being developed for lighting and audio. In the meantime, drivers and crews take their rightful place at the best seat in the house.

Imagine raising these two sodbusters and still looking elegant and cool. The charming Candy Buckley with her sons Sean and Derek.
Photo: surfnsprint

VRA Junior Dwarf Cars

Cameron McCaule took the Junior Dwarf Semi Main and Tyler Jerman claimed the Main Event. These two hardy racers represent the vitality and enthusiasm of this inaugural class. These kids are getting a jump on the adrenalin and excitement racing brings. Bring em back next year!

VRA Junior Midgets

Christian Copley snagged another first place finish in the hotly contested Junior Midgets. It finished Copley, Drew Wright, Charlie Butcher and Chris Olson. Olson is just 110 points behind Copley with one race to go, November 11.

Christian Copley 2010

Chris Olson 1900

Charlie Butcher 1880

Ramon Rivas 1780

Michaela Stanton 1520

Cameron McCaule can barely contain his grin as he hauls home his first place trophy from the Semi Main.
Photo: surfnsprint

Senior Dwarf Main

In a race where it seems like everybody had the lead at one time, it got down to Ed Niedzwiecki and John Lynch continuing their heated point’s battle! Wes Harris and Jon Prechtl shared the early lead, and then John Haag and Tom Bellinger got out front. Ed had started third row and John had started fifth row. It’s funny how things sort themselves out over twenty laps. They have now worked themselves to the front with Ed in first and John in second. John Lynch gave it the gas but wicked Niedzwiecki was gone gone gone! It finished Niedzwiecki, Lynch, Tom Bellinger and Prechtl. Senior is a state of mind! John Lynch needs forty points next race to claim his crown. Be there for their last race on November 11.

John Lynch 2150

Ed Niedzwiecki 2005

Tom Bellinger 1940

Gary Conditt 1595

Jon Prechtl 1495

Pro Dwarf Main

Probably the best race of the night, a hugely competitive blowout between point leaders. Rob Anderson got the ball rolling by taking the lead and holding it tightly. It didn’t take point leader Chuck Lippert long to catch up and he put on plenty of pressure. Here comes Brian Saxton from the back and he cranks it up another notch. A couple of lapped cars got eliminated one by one and soon it is Tres Amigos on the gas. These guys are the best of the best and this was a first class chase going down. As the first fingers of fog rolled across the track we get the white flag with all three hurling around the last lap. Saxton was in third but he came tight into turn four. All three cars were side by side as they came screaming down the straightaway. Brian Saxton nosed the checkered flag, followed by Anderson and then Lippert! I was sitting in the tower right above the finish line and I couldn’t tell. But the scorers got together and compared their results. It was Swinging Saxton! Check out your Loudpedal video! Chad Kincaid took the fourth spot. Credit these guys for hard boiled wheel to wheel racing and holding it together!

Brian Saxton 2020

Chuck Lippert 2005

Curt Cook 1705

Brian Saxton, Regine “the Blanket Lady” and Ed Niedzwiecki get together for another victory photo. Regine has neck wrapped the winners all season and deserves your business!
Photo: surfnsprint

USAC California Ford Focus (including VRA Ford Focus)

The fog is definitely in, the track is wet and these wasps are loaded with two way radio and a stern taskmaster in the tower. Twenty laps for point leaders Bobby Michnowicz and Chris Veach to work it out! Jody Banfield takes it to the hole, followed by Nic Faas. Quinton Crye comes in tight on turn four and gathers up Michael Faccinto who takes a flyer. Keith Janca catches the leftovers and he goes to the back. Crye and Faccinto are gone! Again it’s Banfield and Faas in a tight foxhole. They are dead even each time they pass the flag tower. Suddenly Gordon Edwards contacts Joseph Fabrozzi and Nick Carlson and they go to the rear. Nic Faas is now up front when Banfield and Chris Veach touch and Banfield flips but lands right side up and keeps going. More racing with Faas out front, Chris Veach in second (racing for a championship, second in points by a whisper), Jenna Frazier in third and Thomas Grey in fourth. Michnowicz is working hard as he negotiates traffic and stays focused on the job at hand! He is running about seventh with a bullet next to his name. As the laps spin out, they finish in that order with Nic Faas winning the event and Chris Veach is second. Not good enough, Bobby places sixth! Pat Johnson, the USAC Western States Register leans over to me and says “Michnowicz is champion by a point if my calculations are correct”. I check their website the next morning and it’s a fact! One point! The closest championship in USAC history! You saw it at Ventura Raceway, folks!

VRA Sprint Car Main Event

Crawford didn’t show, he was down in Perris getting his 410 tuned up for Wagsdash. We are green, but it only took half a lap for a turn two cluster that took out Espinoza, Kershaw, Thomson and Prosser. Greg Taylor and Derek Buckley were fortunate to refire, keeping Taylor’s point hopes alive! On the double wide restart its Rick Hendrix out front and looking fast. Wakim is second but here comes Kevin Kierce. First Kierce notches Wakim and then three or four laps later he takes Hendrix. Kierce was driving a land jet, you really can’t say enough about his mechanics Bruce and the 2 crew. They have consistently delivered the car and the set up to Kevin. I can only describe Kevin’s driving as bold, explosive and massive acceleration coming into the corners, getting under the car in front, expert handling as he rockets out. The guy’s experience and racing smarts are always on display. Once out front, Kevin settled into high speed laps and negotiated some heavy traffic. Wakim gave it the gas but didn’t fare as well in the heavy traffic. Twenty three laps ran green with the incredible Steve Conrad going from the second to last row to third position (fourteen passes)! This cool racer is the Steve McQueen of Ventura Raceway. Angel Figueroa and Mike Knopf were also in the thick of things. At twenty three laps Zak Hawthorne spins in three and we are yellow. On the green we roll seven laps to the checkered flag with Kierce, Wakim, Conrad and from the back Greg Taylor! It’s probably a toss up whether Taylor or Conrad passed more cars. Greg Taylor keeps a small candle burning in the point’s race; he is seven hundred points behind Luis with one race to go!

Luis Espinoza is made out of steel. What makes his point lead so impressive is the quality of his competition. Taylor, Kierce, Crawford, Wakim, Conrad. They will sort it out on November 18.

Espinoza 18415

Taylor 17715

Kierce 16375

Crawford 16365

Wakim 14955

Wakim congratulates Kierce, two longtime competitors
Photo: surfnsprint

posted: 6:14 PM
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October 14, 2006

The 21^st Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial Sprint Car Race

The Bandit-VRA Grand Slam Final

Santa Maria, California

I like writing about Danny “Showtime” Sheridan. When I first became aware of him, I thought that the “Showtime” moniker was a bit precious. But all of that changed when I saw him race April 22 of this year at Ventura. He only took third in that main event but put on a show Ventura fans will never forget, the most hairball deep gut racing you could imagine. Last week in Perris he claimed his first USAC-CRA 410 victory. Last night he ripped the classic Bud Stanfield Memorial in verdant Santa Maria, California. In an evening stuffed with memories and champions, homegrown Sheridan showed family and friends why he is considered one the West Coast’s hottest sprint car drivers…….

Danny Sheridan takes it home
Photo: Frank Bigham

What a gas to be here for the Bud Stanfield Memorial! I thought I was just heading north for the final event of the Bandit-VRA Grand Slam. But somebody was standing on it and suddenly we are racing for all kinds of money, points, trophies and bragging rights. Eddie Stanfield Century 21 Hometown Realty sponsored the purse for these racers. I got to meet Eddie and Allen Stanfield who were both at the track promoting the heartfelt tribute to their father. E.H. (Bud) Stanfield was a military veteran who loved racing and shared that with his family. He was crew chief for a young Mike Knopf when he was tragically killed by an out of control sprint car during a race in 1984. This was the 21^st memorial race and it has clearly become a classic.

Eddie and Allen Stanfield keep the memory going
Photo: surfnsprint

Quick Trip through the Pits:

I checked in with wiry Jeff Fiscus who was planning to lock up the Bandit Championship tonight. He was stoked to have the VRA drivers in his house and was looking forward to some hard racing. As it turned out, Jeff’s warhorse inexplicably lay down and he was forced into another car. He crashed that in his heat race and couldn’t get it back together for the semi. Didn’t matter, he had enough points to slide tonight and still finish on top. This guy is a friendly, enthusiastic and skilled driver with some distinct edge.

I also went down to the infield and visited with mini stock champion Andrew Greiman and in car camera maestro Frank Bigham. Frank was hooking up the in car camera on the 00 driven by Ken Kehs. This was timely as tonight this car was locking down the #2 mini stock finish (#1 having already been slotted by Greiman). It was untimely in that they put a forward looking camera on the car. The car went out and dominated the main event. They had plenty of video of open road in front of this winner. Allen Stanfield is also crew on this car! Congratulations to the entire Ken Kehs team.

Lastly got to chat with Clark Templeman III who was setting up his car for Steve Conrad to drive. Clark is still recovering from a couple of mind bending crashes he took this year; however he feels good and says I can look for him at Ventura next year. I expect I’ll see him up front.

Jeff Fiscus takes the Bandit season.
Photo: surfnsprint

Dash for Cash and Sprint Heat Races:

47 freaking sprint cars show up. An overcast afternoon turned into a clear, crisp fall evening. Probably the best rendition of the National Anthem I’ve ever heard was sung by a faultless Rosa Garcia. Santa Maria’s sterling track crew swung into action and we had a Dash for Cash by the six top qualifiers: Davey Pombo had qualified first with a top 14.844. That produces speeds approaching 80 miles per hour. The other top six were Josh Ford, Rusty Carlile, Kevin Kierce, Danny Sheridan and Luis Espinoza. Josh Ford got out front in this quick ten lapper and took home the cash provided by Autotrader.com. Fun!

Five heat races scheduled with nine or ten drivers per heat. The top three will transfer with two semis adding eight more drivers for a total of 23 in the main event. The competition is fierce. First heat kicked off with top Ventura driver Luis Espinoza failing to qualify. Trimble also tripped. Mack, Pombo and Dennis Rodriquez were in. Second heat had Josh Ford, Jimmy Crawford (leading Grand Slam points) and Jimmy Thompson advancing. I wish I knew more about this Thompson. He is obviously a fast guy in these parts. Joe Henderson lost a driveshaft stemming from a hot lap mishap. Josh Ford was really on the gas with Tom Hendricks just missing the cut. Heat three featured the incredible Greg Porte going from fourth to first. I love watching this guy run! Fiscus was in a courtesy car but hit the wall and had to leave. Ventura’s rising star Brian Camarillo clocked second with Steve Conrad driving a Templeton car to third. Carlile is going to the semi. Heat four advanced the rapidly improving Tom Harper in first, Joey Layman and Steve Demott hooked up second and third. These guys are up front in Bandit points and just plain fast. Ventura heavyweight Greg Taylor (second in VRA points) fails to pass and is going to the semi. Kevin Kierce will join Greg in the semi. Fifth and final heat is good for Mike Knopf. Mike is a longtime Santa Maria local who is also at home in Ventura. He comes down frequently and we love him there! He slams first place. Chris Wakim drives a very strong second place followed by Danny Sheridan in third.

Electrons on display, Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford Grand Slams!
Photo: surfnsprint

Semi Main Events:

Semi #1 represents critical VRA points for both Espinoza and Taylor. But the top story is how Rusty Carlile gets out front and dominates the race. This guy is tough as nails and holds a determined Eric Severson at bay. Severson was all over Rusty, an exciting and high speed race, with Rusty only allowing him to get by after the checkers. Espinoza and Taylor took third and fourth. Wes Richardson was driving it like he stole it, but just missed the transfer. The second semi was notable in that Jeff Fiscus wasn’t ready to start and is out for the night, yet champion for the Bandit season. Congratulations Jeff! Kierce got on it first, chased by the sharp looking Jason May. Patrick Frisco is solid in third with Ventura rising star Hobie Conway battling San Jose veteran Michael Trimble for the final transfer. Whilst May is nicking Kierce for first, Trimble gets on the gas on the backstretch, comes hard into three and gets crossed up. He gathers up Albert Pombo, Trimble is done and Pombo to the back! Conway will take that fourth as May, Kierce and Frisco are bunched and battling as they cross the finish. It’s May, Kierce, Frisco and Conway getting the final transfers. Tough break for Albert Pombo.

Santa Maria Speedway makes it happen for their fans
Photo: surfnsprint

The Bud Stanfield Memorial Sprint Car Race and VRA-Bandit Grand Slam Final

More words than your typical race, more cars, more laps, more money, more champions and more action than you can throw a crankshaft at. Forty freaking laps and the winner takes home 2.5K.

The beautiful Santa Maria Speedway has it all going tonight; the stands are full, the pits are packed, the beer and food stands are in overdrive, the weather is beautiful and we are racing!

Ventura’s Tom Harper is on the pole, but Greg Porte shoots the hole and takes the lead barely over Jimmy Thompson. Sheridan and Ford are behind them with Davey Pombo, Harper, Crawford and Wakim also in the hunt. Twenty three sprint car engines are at full throttle and I think it’s shaking the crops all the way to Fresno! Huge deafening roar as they all get sorted out in a great start. The track appears dry slick but seems to be taking rubber. With the exception of Danny Sheridan moving past Thompson for the second spot, positions aren’t changing much. It looks like a giant dragon chasing its own tail as it flies around the track. Ten laps and Danny Sheridan is challenging Porte for the lead. Incredible high stake turns as these two stars fight for first. Sheridan locks into first and now Ford moves up to fourth past Pombo. It’s Sheridan Porte, Thompson, Ford and Pombo and they are all on the gas. Porte is smoking but he drives like that’s a good thing. He is all over Danny Sheridan and both drivers look like they are having the best time! The cars are taking a beating! We have to be about thirty laps by now when suddenly Patrick Frisco’s ride loses control. He is out and the machines take a yellow. From the line up it looks like we are getting some lapped cars. Green again and the dragon is in full flight. Suddenly Pombo who was making a move catches Porte’s wheel and takes a vicious flyer in turn three. We are red as they activate all safety systems. This ace track crew gets it all back together in a hurry (Pombo was fine) and we start to push off again. While this was going on, Ventura’s top runner Crawford took a tire change and goes to the back. I don’t know what was happening to everybody else tires after a thirty lap green, but it couldn’t have been pretty! You had one pit member per car during the red. We are now green with six laps to go. Porte hits a rut in turn two, wobbles, Ford and Thompson capitalize with second and third. Now Carlile hits the wall in four, we are yellow, he refires to the back. Brian Camarillo takes a new tire and also goes to the back. Still six to go and now everybody is going to blow out the stops. Ventura’s Chris Wakim is screaming fifth with hard driving Eric Severson trying to take it away from him. Sheridan, Ford, Porte and Thompson are top four as the white comes out. It was Ford that stole it away from Sheridan on that gutsy race in April! He is again trying to ruin Danny’s night, but this is Sheridan’s track! They have spent all they have and in the final lap no quarter is given. Danny Sheridan wows the home crowd with a scorching first place finish. Gotta love that Josh Ford in second place; Strawberry Fields Forever. Unbelievable effort by Porte in third, exciting Jimmy Thompson in fourth and Ventura great Chris Wakim in fifth (shout out to Arnie and Clint). Jimmy Crawford crosses thirteenth but that’s the lucky number for the Grand Slam Champion. Congratulations to the supercharged Jimmy “Neutron“ Crawford!

Danny “Showtime” Sheridan and crew with the “Trophy”
Photo: surfnsprint

So much to say, so little time…. Thanks Santa Maria for hosting your brothers from the south. I have really enjoyed learning about great racers like Carlile, Hunsaker, Layman, Denome, May, Simas, Severson, Mack and others too many to mention. I dig Santa Maria Speedway, the track officials and the fans. Sincere thanks to Cliff Morgan and Dave Swindell for the Grand Slam Series. Thanks for putting it together for the drivers and fans like me! Let’s all hook up again!

Grand Slam Points

Crawford 410

Kierce 408

Taylor 396

Espinoza 388

Wakim 378

VRA Points

Espinoza 18165 we will resume normal programming next week

Taylor 16825 (1340 to catch Espy)

Crawford 16365 (so near yet so far)

Kierce 15325 (Coming! The Jim Kierce Memorial!)

Wakim 13955

Bandit Season Champion

Congratulations Jeff Fiscus

posted: 5:24 PM
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Angel Figueroa rips turn four earlier this year. Last night he ripped second place in the main event.
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Heat Races

Taylor gets skunked in heat one, stuffed behind determined Tom Hendricks and John Nock. Greg will be on the pole in the semi. The heat is won by Rick Hendrix followed by Luis Espinoza. A flock of birds flies overhead, heading south. Heat two is Conrad, Wakim, Buckley and Brian Camarillo. Camarillo would have done better but for a bobble in two. Wakim will pick up front row in the main thanks to the invert. Heat three has team Bach on the front row; Angel and Wes. They are a hard driving pair of Gemini twins but here comes Crawford. He splits the two as clean a peach, but Angel stands on the pedal. Crawford lays out an awesome driving display but Angel is taking this one back to pits and giving it to the boss. Figueroa first, Crawford, Cody Kershaw looking sharp and resilient Tom Schneider in fourth. Final heat had Tom Harper gassing it, Kierce lost a hub cap and went to the back but what does he care? He still finished third behind a revitalized Dennis Rodriquez (who is driving a Harlan Willis reissue). Heidi Tressler took the last transfer being offered.

VRA Junior Focus Midgets Main Event

It usually comes down to Robby Josett duking it out with Jonathon Henry and tonight was no exception! Robby took an early lead and held off some aggressive moves by the racer with two first names. Justin Kierce was also in the hunt. These guys finished just like the points race, Robby in first, Jonathan in second and Justin in third. This championship race is tighter than the fairgrounds budget! It will all be settled when these boys come back October 21^st. Excellent racing, gentlemen!

Josett 9970

Henry 9750 (only twenty points behind)

Kierce 9075

VRA Sprint Car Semi Main

With Taylor and Rob Kershaw on the front pole, I didn’t have much hope for anybody else. Modified master Donald Houghton drove an impressive third with Wes Richardson taking the final transfer. Wes does drive it like he stole it, just having some bad ass breaks. Jesse Denome was the alternate, which did come into play in the main. Brandon Thomson had the most passes with ten, but starting at the back it wasn’t enough! Last week’s third place finish was standing on the platform when the train pulled out.

John Lynch out front in VRA Senior Dwarfs
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Senior Dwarf Main Event

John Lynch got on this and dominated the event. Mike Van Acker took second with the Mike Sweeney in the third slot. Ed Niedzwiecki didn’t show this weekend so John Lynch figured he would take those first place points. Thank you very much! This very close championship race has two more events before it gets put to bed.

Lynch 1960

Niedzwiecki 1785 (that’s about a race on a good night)

Bellinger 1740

VRA Pro Dwarf Main Event

More big point moves! Jeff Fillingame started on the front row but got clipped early and lost a tire. Chuck Lippert stepped up, took that lead and ran. First Chad Kincaid had a go at him to no avail. Next Brent Stevens pulled up and challenged. Not good enough! Then it was Rob Anderson, side by side in the straightaway, but he drifted in turn three! Where is point leader Brian Saxton? He started in the back and is on the move. Here comes Brent Stevens again and this time it sticks. Meanwhile Brian Saxton is getting the most passes with an incredible ten, but he is still third and this blue light special is coming to an end! Brent Stevens takes the checker, Chuck Lippert is second and takes the points lead! Brain Saxton is third and one plain nickel behind Lippert for the championship! Two to go! Make your reservations now.

Lippert 1805

Saxton 1800 (five, count em, five points behind)

Cook 1545

Willey Miller; winning is a family tradition
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Senior Sprint Main Event

There is some guy on the crash team who is a poet philosopher. If you listen to the track scanner, every so often he drops a one-liner about this or that. Nothing profound, just a great sense of timing and deadpan. “Bad moon rising” he intones as the seniors push off. Tim Moon takes the pole and shoots the hole.Alderman is all over it with Willey Miller in town and on the gas. Point leader Bach is in the fourth slot and racing hard. But last years champion Miller is scorching tonight. He first takes down Alderman and then gets around Moon also for the lead. Suddenly Millar and Stassa cross up and Millar is out. That’s just five laps with fifteen to go! That puts Moon back in front of Miller, with Alderman and Bach chasing. Moon tries blocking but Willey’s seen it all before. Now it’s Miller, Moon and Alderman. Bach’s got a bad case of something and he’s drifting aimlessly around the track. Broken tie rod and he’s gone! Willey “Way Out” is wayout. Now Alderman, Moon and Oren Prosser Sr. are tearing it up good and Jim Porter wants in. They sort it out at the finish line and its Miller, Alderman, Prosser and Porter. Prosser was put back three spots for jumping the green (hey, what’s wrong with a little enthusiasm) and it’s now Porter and Douglas move up to third and fourth. Two more to go for the seniors with Bach out front about one solid race. Wiley tells me he will be full time next year. He’s only missed three races this year and sits fifth in points. Hard core Ventura racer.

Bach 11175

Douglas 10210

Alderman 9855

VRA Pony Stock Main

These guys take the track and the tower starts sending out sig-alerts. This is wheel banging machismo at its best. Ventura Raceway doesn’t like it when you drive through cars rather than around them. They tend to start flagging you. Screw you; we’re from Pony Stock Nation. Randall Dougan got out front with Steve Klingberg and Jack Hoyt pushing from behind. Joel Chavez bangs Hoyt and gets a warning. Now it’s Dougan, Greg Rapp and Chavez. Once again Chavez has an incident and he gets black flagged! Dougan leaves the track from damage. Raap has taken the lead with Brad Long and Hoyt following. Jim Evans persists for the fourth slot. For the record, Chavez says he didn’t start it, he just finished it. All debts get settled November 11. No reservations are being accepted.

Hoyt 2545 (champion as far as I can tell)

Evans 2195

Chavez 2080

Robby Josett leading all season
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Sprints Main Event

Dennis Rodriquez is on the pole with Wakim outside. Dennis gets the jump and fires up his new Harlan Willis toy. Second row is the Hardy Boys, Luis Espinoza and Jimmy Crawford. First lap is Rodriquez, Wakim, Espinoza and Crawford. Then Tom Harper, Tom Hendricks and Angel Figueroa and that is all going to matter tonight! Even further back Kierce and Taylor are working up their mojo. A few laps fly by when suddenly Kierce catches a wheel with Harper. The yellow #2 launches and takes a vicious cartwheel. Ventura’s most exciting driver calmly climbs out and walks away. Fuel spills all over turn three as they wheel the car away. The racetrack dirt ignites and burns for awhile. Taylor has moved from seventeenth to eighth in four laps. I repeat, Taylor has moved from seventeenth to eighth in four laps. We’re not in Kansas anymore…. Green, now Kershaw is crashing with Kershaw, son Cody refires while Dad takes a hike. Taylor picked up one more. Dennis is still out front but Espinoza notches Wakim for second. Espinoza claims manifest destiny and moves it into first. Crawford is very much in the game and moves past Wakim for third. It’s Espinoza, Rodriquez, Crawford and Wakim. Wakim is going backwards with the wrong setup and even the cars on the 101 can hear Taylor coming. Taylor takes fourth. Harper and Rodriquez are still in the middle of this #($@storm and having a grand old time. Rick Hendrix and Steve Conrad are also tripping. Now things start to get interesting. Crawford moves from third to second and Taylor moves from fourth to third. Your VRA Sprint point leaders have all their ducks lined up. It’s Espinoza, Crawford and Taylor. We are seeing Ventura’s best work it out the old fashioned way, who is fastest? Harper, Rodriquez and Conrad are running third to sixth. Suddenly Crawford and Taylor bang hard in turn three and Taylor is spinning, gathering up Wakim in the process. Taylor and Wakim dust themselves off and go to the back of the pack. On the scanner, I hear the crash team philosopher softly ask “Are we having fun yet?” Fifteen laps to go. Green and its Espinoza, Crawford, Harper, Rodriquez, Conrad and a fast moving Angel Figueroa. Now Crawford seems to realize it’s now or never. Thrilled fans are seeing high speed seat of your pants racing, Espinoza perfect, Crawford striving. They bang out the laps and just when you think Luis is pulling away, Crawford reels him back in. On the backstretch, under a Harvest moon, Jimmy Crawford finally steals it away, but suddenly all hell breaks loose. Crawford starts hitting the wall driving down the front stretch and finally gets sucked in completely at the start of turn one. We are yellow and Luis slowly drives past Jimmy’s broken spaceship. Taylor is somewhere about a race behind him and I suspect Luis was admiring the moonlight. The rest of the race was uneventful unless you’re Angel Figueroa, Tom Harper, Rick Hendrix or Dennis Rodriquez. They all finished top five in that order and it was great seeing all of them up on the podium. Change is like fresh air and everybody needs it. Stop at the Thunderhead booth and vote for a rising star, anyone of them. Now we take it north for the final event of the VRA/Bandit Grand Slam. That should be Luis’ final mountain to climb. Greg Taylor moves to second place in the points and you just can’t rule him out! Crawford is first in Grand Slam points. How about Angel! Gets up on that podium and says it’s all about Joe Richardson and Ron Bach. Class act.

Espinoza 17225

Taylor 15930

Crawford 15565

Kierce 14340

Wakim 12905

Chainsaw, Hollywood and Super Dave
photo: surfnsprint

Don’t forget to contribute to the Jim Kierce Invitational Race. Let’s help Kevin make it an unforgettable event!

Send bank drafts or cold hard cash to:

Jim Kierce Invitational

c/o Kevin Kierce

12460 Weddington Street #4

Valley Village, CA 91607

posted: 5:32 PM
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Race # 19

September 30, 2006

Today is my daughter’s ninth birthday party, watch me race through this review! Significant VRA championship moves last night from Ventura’s great drivers! Incredible USAC Midget precision driving was also on the program. Also on display were some interesting parallels. Point leaders Espinoza and Crawford both had to go to the semi. Wakim and Kierce both have a tendency to DNF then come back and win. And lastly, multiple rising stars have finally found their grip as we come out of turn four. We are seeing incredible new talent emerging. But before the end of the evening, we will have parallel lines diverging….

Midgets in the mud!
Matt Streeter leads Christian, Stewart, Decker and Hansen through the turns, heat three.
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Sprint Heats:

Steve Conrad took heat one and put himself in the second row of the main event. Stansbury is starting to show up again and he’s getting back in the groove, second place in that same heat. Most impressive is Buckley making hustle from the third row to the third spot. Conway went from the pole to fourth, but Espinoza couldn’t get around this nominated rising star! Wakim had to leave the track due to a mud packed tire, he will be at the back of the semi and Luis will be at the front.

Second heat has Wes Richardson dominating from the front row to the checkers. Fast and clean. Tom Schneider and Tom Harper took second and third. The crowd was focused on the fight for four between Joe Henderson and Jimmy Crawford, both coming from the fourth row. Jimmy could have had a monster advantage in the main, but Mighty Joe put him in the semi where he would sit front row next his point buddy.

Third heat featured Kevin Kierce tearing to the front and stretching out. He blew past Taylor over in turn two and I’m still trying to figure out how he did it. He was flatfooted and flying. Taylor in second, the always charging Guy Woodward in third and Ron Tjaarda denies Rob Kershaw. Kershaw will be second row in the semi.

The final heat belongs to two nominated rising stars, Brandon Thomson taking first and hard working Angel Figueroa in second. Brandon was huge, powerful sweeping turns and confidence. Mike Knopf was back and in third. Persistent John Nock nailed fourth. Bruce Douglas and Tom Hendricks were going to the semi; Brandon would be on the pole in the main.

The semi would contain heavyweights Espinoza, Crawford and Wakim. The main event front row would contain young talent Brandon Thomson and Wes Richardson. The winds of change were blowing in from the ocean.

The young Justin Kierce is putting in the time,
VRA Junior Focus Midgets
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Junior Focus Midgets Main Event:

The talented Jonathan Henry clocked this event from start to finish. Point’s leader Robby Jossett (with an incredible 992.2 average) gave him a go as did Rick Wright and Brent Owens. Kierce left with an axle problem and finished fifth. With only six cars in the series, that didn’t hurt too badly. Jossett leads the series with Jonathan and Justin in striking distance with only two events to go. Smoking!

Jossett 8930

Henry 8770

Kierce 8175

VRA Sprint Semi Main:

With leaders Espinoza and Crawford on the front line, this was a closely watched match. Fireworks at the green flag took out Victor Davis and sent Brian Camarillo, Wakim and Tressler to the back. Crawford got to the hole and locked into first. Espinoza hung for ten laps and took second, Hendricks in third and Douglas nabbed fourth. Wakim came from the back with too little too late and missed qualifying for the first time in a long time.

VRA/USAC Ford Focus Midgets Main Event:

Dennis Howell got out front and was never seriously challenged. Point’s leader Bobby Michnowicz was on the job but his fight was with third place Quinton Crye in heavy traffic. Brian Camarillo flipped in lap seventeen and they decided to checker. Gordon Edwards had the most passes with nine. Interestingly, I think it was Edwards who tangled with Camarillo on the lap that checkered it at seventeen. Also a tight point’s race with Michnowicz barely holding Chris Veach and Keith Janca. Beautiful buzzing bees that sting. One more Ventura race in late October.

Michnowicz 8110

Chris Veach 7850

Janca 7560

Sea Park Sunset
photo: surfnsprint

USAC Midgets Main Event

After a couple of ducks quacked up the start, the USAC Midgets roared into action with Greg Bragg out front. Josh Lakatos was running third but was on the gas and worked up to first. He clearly had the fastest car, but about halfway through the event Rick Hendrix got sideways in three and gathered him up. Really a shame because Lakatos was on his game. On the restart, Bragg again got to the front but he was under heavy pressure from Danny Ebberts and Garrett Hansen. Hansen was in a hurry and muscled past Ebberts and Bragg into first. Chris Rahe was right behind him and settled into second. First class racing with Hansen, Rahe and Bragg side by side for a few laps. Once Hansen got into some clear air he pulled ahead and took the A train to the checkered. Rahe in second and Bragg in third. Ryan Kaplan took the fourth spot. Jereome Rodela leads the points with Chase Barber behind him.

These guys won’t be back to Ventura this season. Thanks for coming!

Always a fashion statement.
Brother Brett
photo: surfnsprint

VRA Sprint Main Event:

Interesting because a DNF for either Espinoza or Crawford would be deadly. Here, they are both starting at the back and have to shoot the gauntlet. Also interesting with Brandon Thomson on the pole and Wes Richardson on his shoulder. Those two came out swinging with Richardson to turn one and two but Brandon taking three and four. But Stansbury gets sideways in three and gathers Woodward who is out. Green restart and this time Thomson picks off the lead. These two youngsters (Hey Wes, you can thank me later for calling you a youngster) clearly in control except that here comes the yellow car and the red car. Kevin Kierce stands on it and takes it from Richardson. Taylor is right behind him and also clears. Brandon is out in the clean air but Kierce and Taylor is a lot of pressure. Conrad is in the middle of all of this but lacked the set up. Espinoza and Crawford are trading blows and have actually moved to mid pack mid race! Kierce finally gets around Brandon but the kid isn’t done and continues to stuff Taylor. We are at fifteen laps when Mighty Joe Henderson takes a doozy coming into turn three, flipping hard enough for the track to go red! He gets out and walks off into the darkness. Closed red, no pit crew access which turned out to hurt some drivers. On the new green, Kierce is now in control and shoots the hole cleanly. Another awesome driving display from one of Ventura’s greatest. Championship or no championship, this guy is at the top of his game and makes it happen for every fan in the stands! Thomson is holding down second, huge battle in third between Conrad, Taylor and “Espinoza”! The point’s leader has slogged his way to fifth and the Neutron isn’t too far behind him. But with only a few laps to go, Crawford’s tire is going flat and he is slowing down dramatically! It almost looks like he isn’t going to make it but his steel will keeps pushing the car towards the finish. Taylor finally nicks Thomson for second and the leaders blast the finish, Kierce, Taylor, Thomson (incredible top three finish), Espinoza and Tom Stansbury! Crawford crosses wounded in the twelfth spot. Espinoza took it from the semi to the back of the main and raced his way to fourth. That’s a championship performance. That’s deep.

Espinoza 16180

Crawford 15270

Taylor 15250

Kevin Kierce 14200

Chris Wakim 12260

Justin and Kevin Kierce wind it down
photo: surfnsprint

PS The poor pony stocks can’t get no respect. They ran post main with Joel Chavez taking the win!

posted: 2:01 PM
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