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Legendary

Race 23

Final Race of the 2006 Season

November 18^th, 2006

It’s Saturday morning and I’m writing the review for tonight’s race. I’m not going to be there and it’s almost killing me. However, I’m predicting that Luis Espinoza ends a brilliant year by winning the 2006 VRA Sprint Championship despite a heroic late season rally by Ventura’s great Greg Taylor……..

It’s hard to imagine the blood, sweat and tears that Luis Espinoza has poured into the 2006 season. At the end of last season, he was discouraged by his lackluster finish and determined to forget the points, cut back his schedule and race for the fun of it. But at season’s start, it seemed that he was shot out of a cannon and streaked to the front of the pack. Quick readjustment of his game plan and he has finished top ten in twenty out of twenty two races. Strength, speed and unbridled dedication to car preparation and maintenance have defined this champion’s approach. True to his friends, fierce competitor, all about having fun with life, Luis Espinoza conducts himself as a champion both on and off the track.

And although I am spot on about that, I may have the finish wrong…

Greg Taylor has consistently blown away all of the standard descriptions that apply to greatness. Scorching speed and broad sweeping power turns. He has an uncanny feel for the Ventura mud lapping underneath his wheels. A close relationship with his father has bequeathed Greg light years of experience and understanding in sprint car construction and racing. Greg has applied a strong work ethic to that knowledge and seems to be taking it to a new level. The red 47 has almost a mythical quality when it rolls on the track. Fans and drivers alike afford it a rare respect. Taylor leads in main event wins this season with five victories in twenty one races!

At the end of a year where I have been immersed in race results, I have almost a resigned reaction to tonight’s ending. For me, both Greg and Luis are champions and if not tonight, sooner than later. It has been a year where I have been able to get to know them both. Luis is like a big kid, happy and thrilled to be excelling at something he loves. Greg is quiet and unassuming, until he climbs into a race car and asserts himself. I call them both friends and that has been a rich reward for me. In this life, what I most appreciate and enjoy is people who do difficult things with grace and style.

Something else will happen tonight. I don’t know who or when, but someone else will step up and do something great. Drivers like Conrad, Wakim, Kershaw, Kierce and Crawford make anything possible. Henderson, Buckley, Figueroa and Hendricks will be smashing the bar soon. You can’t pay for dedication the likes of Conway, Thomson or Nock. You couldn’t begin to hope for the heart in people like Rutherford, Rodriquez or Camarillo. The whole stage is loaded with talent, drama, action, tragedy and unbelievable heartwarming endings. How did we get here?

I need to comment on a few things as I exit stage right….

All of the articles, photos, musing and rantings were enabled and encouraged by my good friend, Frank Bigham. It has been a gas to work with this edgy, funny, dedicated, soulful race car loving talent. That was a good time, Frank!

Thanks to Morris and the whole Ventura track crew. You guys do an incredible job of taking care of everyone in what can be a dangerous sport. It was also special to be in the tower this year with a lot of hard working people. I want to thank Scott Holder and his team for all the good times and consideration they showed me. Mike Truex is the most knowledgeable and pleasant person I have ever talked racing with! Thanks for all the fog shrouded nights we sat on the roof and talked speedway. Loudpedal rules! The biggest privilege was sitting next to Cliff Morgan all season. As racing director, Cliff is the glue that holds all the pieces together over the course of a race night. Big family man, I got to meet his daughter, son in law, son and grand kids. Over the course of the season, they would all climb the stairs and visit. Cliff gave me a good education in the mechanics of racing. And don’t forget that cool race chick; Jammy has always about a big smile and a helping hand. Lastly, thanks to the guy who puts us all in the pits, in the stands, in the cars and on the track. Strong enough to make it happen, tough enough to ignore the criticism, smart enough to understand all the angles, Jim Naylor has had the heart to put it together for thirty years! Thirty years of promoting racing at Ventura Raceway! There’s only one way to describe that kind of history. Legendary.

posted: 3:13 PM
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Walk the Walk

Saturday, November 11^th, 2006

Ventura Raceway

The kids are alright. Junior Midgets and Junior Dwarfs closed out a spectacular season with trophies and jackets! Brian Saxton did his thing and repeated as Pro Dwarf Champion! John Lynch achieved his first Senior Dwarf Championship! The Jim Kierce Memorial Race got off to a heartwarming start with the poignant win! And finally Ron Bach drove his way to the top, again. Ron Bach has five race cars, five or six drivers, two or three trailers, one master mechanic, a pair of inscrutable sunglasses, a very cool wife and another VRA Senior Sprint Championship! I think the real winners are his team drivers. Must be nice to have a sponsor that can not only talk the talk, but he can walk the walk…..

Not many people really know what it takes to be number one. Ron Bach.
Photo: surfnsprint

VRA Junior Midgets and Junior Dwarfs

The kids tore up the house. Hard to convey the speed, the intensity, the competition with which these kids and teenagers race. The establishment and first season of these inaugural classes is a sweeping unqualified success! Hats off to Mike Sweeney Sr., Steve Chuhaloff, Mike Cappmeyer, Cliff Morgan, Jim Naylor, the parents and all those who worked so hard this season. In the VRA Junior Midgets (they oughta just call them junior sprints) Christian Copley finally bagged the championship. But you have to mention Charlie Butcher’s great season and also Chris Olson, Ramon Rivas and Michaela Stanton. That’s your top five in this first season. Charlie Butcher won the final race of this season. It’s also a kick to see how many young girls are competing. Over in the Junior Dwarfs, they didn’t keep points because all these youngsters are champs. Gotta mention Austin Figueroa, Riley Helland, Tommy Velasquez Tanner Kershaw, Emma Alderman, Matt Orozco, Tyler Jerman, cool Chase Lippert, Devin McCree, Joey Freshour, Elysse Blade, Chris Noe, Eddie Vasquez, Juan Acevedo, Kayle Brazel. Ricky Lewis, Jacob Humblad, Garret Nagel, Kaylyn Hamilton, Nick Velasquez, Kayla Chavez, Cameron McCaule, Meagan Kautz and Austin Agiular. Did I miss anybody? These two classes are going to get bigger and bigger. We’re talking about a lot of fun even for seasoned race fans!

Christian Copley, VRA Junior Midget Champion
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Senior Dwarf Main

In their final race of the season, the senior dwarfs got eleven laps out quick before the first yellow. Line up on the yellow showed stalwarts Tom Bellinger and Ed Neidzwiecki leading the rush with Dave Revard, Bill Van Praag and John Lynch also in the hunt. Lynch was in the hunt also for the championship as he carefully negotiated the lapped traffic. He actually went from eight to fourth in a hurry. Tom Bellinger has had an awesome drive this season, but he had his hands full here trying to hold back Neidzwiecki. He did pretty good but soon enough Ed nicked him in turn two with only a few laps to go. It ended Neidzwiecki, Bellinger, Van Praag and Lynch. That fourth place finish for John Lynch made him the 2006 Senior Dwarf Champion at last!

Pro Dwarf Main

More dwarfs (a total of forty dwarfs pitted) rolled out for the Pro Dwarf Main. A quick cluster cluck coming out of turn four crashed Chuck Lippert and forced him to watch the rest of the race from the infield. Chuck Lippert has given the Pro drivers a hell of a run, bringing first class competition and thrills for both drivers and fans. It was a bummer to see him out of the final race, sitting on top of his car in the infield. Saxton and Anderson were now on the gas when another yellow slowed things up. On the restart it again Saxton but Anderson was all over him. Anderson stole the lead with a beautiful slide job in turn four. These dwarf cars live and die in turn four. Rob was probably thinking about the three way photo finish from two weeks ago where he got robbed by Brian at the finish line. Now he had the lead and he was building on it. Traffic was thick and working against the “Flying Brian”. Dave Mosier had moved into second. Didn’t matter though, when the race finished with Anderson, Mosier, Saxton and Chad Kincaid, that gave Brian Saxton his second consecutive VRA Pro Dwarf Championship. When Jim Naylor interviewed Anderson at the end of the race, he succinctly pointed out that the level of competition in this class is off the Richter scale. Anderson, Cook, Lippert, Saxton, the list goes on and on. Smart fans are all over the VRA Dwarf class.

Pony Stock Main

Jack Hoyt parked the crown a few weeks ago, but he showed up tonight for the final race with his wife and son in the stands. Joel Chavez worked his way to the lead on this race and never gave it up. Brandon Mattos and Mike Weigal took second and third with Jim Evans clinching fourth. Hoyt started in the back and couldn’t quite get through the traffic. But he had the Championship locked and the respect of most drivers. This has been a tough year for the ponies with a lot of bad blood. Jack Hoyt is the right leader to turn that around next year.

Jack Hoyt and family
Photo: surfnsprint

VRA Senior Sprint Main

Steve Stassa looked strong out of the gate and never flinched. Ron Tjaarda was chasing with Wiley Miller in third. Tom Harper was on it but hit the berm in turn two and bounced back a couple of spots. Bill Badger was slugging away. Ron Bach started back in sixth and was minding his own business (which happened to be finishing the race and win the championship). Wiley Miller was looking for a win and passed Tjaarda for second. He was steadily applying pressure but Stassa was driving hard. Stassa looked a little shaky coming out of four a few times but kept it together. Porter and Millar mixed in four and we were yellow with five laps to go. All through the race I’m keeping my eye on Ron Bach, negotiating the traffic. He’s doing just fine, checking up when he has to, accelerating in the open. The ending was a battle between Stassa and Miller, Stassa going high and everyone knows the Millers like the bottom. But Stassa had what was needed and crossed first in this great race. Wiley Miller took second, Tom Harper in third and Ron Tjaarda in fourth. I think Ron missed the tech which would make Bill Badger top four. Ron Bach came in seventh and that was all he needed for the Senior Sprint Championship.

Ron and Laura Bach with crew chief Joe Richardson.
Photo: surfnsprint

Jim Kierce Memorial Classic

Perhaps the best moment of the inaugural Jim Kierce Memorial Race was watching Kevin Kierce lean back in a chair as he reminisced with Jim Naylor about the old days. Jim Kierce started racing in 1963 and Kevin was born a few years later. Kevin was a turn one brat at Ascot who got to meet all the greats his dad was racing against. I’m sure his father would be tickled to find that Kevin has now named a race after him. Kevin selects a field of eight deserving VRA Seniors and they dash twelve laps for the cash. Dale Harwood wins a total of $1,800 dollars, Dale knew Jim and it was an important and emotional win for him. Really a perfect ending for the VRA Senior Sprint season.

Dale Harwood wins the Jim Kierce Memorial Race
Photo: surfnsprint

posted: 7:53 PM
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The View from Ventura

Oval Nationals

November 4. 2006

How cool is my wife? On our eleventh wedding anniversary we were sitting in turn four at the Perris Speedway watching the Oval Nationals. That’s smoking! As we walked from the ticket booth to the midway, they had all cars and drivers lined up as you passed through. When we got to the end of the line, I said to my wife “take a picture of me with this guy”. I went over and shook his hand and she snapped the picture. “Who is that” she asked? “His name is Dave Darland”, I replied. That’s the only picture we took all day.

Perris Speedway is a race watcher’s dream. Sun to your back, full moon in your face, sixty or seventy cars in the infield. So many freaking cars that they ran a D main, a C main, a B main and then the main event. And that was after two full nights of racing already under their belts. My hat is off to the whole gaggle of Kazarians. What an absolutely outstanding show! One day there will be a statue in Perris for that family.

Lots of Ventura locals in the stands, Galen, Reed, Ken, Tom, Luis, Thunderhead, Steve Jr. and Steve Sr.…..lots of Ventura drivers in the pits. I didn’t go into the pits, I wanted to hang with my sweetheart and just watch the show. I was really looking forward to seeing Kierce out on the track but he had flipped hard the night before and was already on his way home nursing a headache and an unfilled dream. But there were plenty of other friends on the track all through the night. As the first pack pushed off, somebody behind me yelled, “Now we’re at the races!”

Twenty two cars, fifteen laps, the first eight will transfer into the “next race. Lot of cars I didn’t know, but I definitely recognized Matt Mitchell in the “D” main. He was at Ventura for the first USAC race and finished second when Mike Spencer showed him a wheel on the final lap. That was my first good look at Spencer, didn’t really recognize what we were dealing with! After tonight, I know what we are dealing with! More on that later. Matt finished second this main also. Matt Mitchell has a bright future!

In the ‘C” main Rip Williams hit the track and demonstrated his greatness. When I need drywall, I’m going to John Jory! What a honest to God thrill to watch the “Ripper” shred that main! His teammate Matt Mitchell was the sole survivor from the “D’ main to go to the “B”. Ventura exparts Ballard and Ford finished second and third. Now we be moving!

Did I mention Blake Miller! This kid is huge. Has adapted nicely to the faster 410’s and was running a strong second until his engine took a crap. Plenty of support from his family, Blake takes that gift and actually steps up to the plate. Will soon be knocking them out of the park!

Showtime for the “B” Main. I was in turn four so I couldn’t see the action in one where leader Johnny Rodriquez took a flyer from a Sheridan slide job. But I had an excellent view of the helmet beaning he gave Danny on the yellow! I like it when drivers throw helmets. It’s not good for anyone’s health to hold in anger and frustration. Drivers need to express themselves like anyone else. Nothing wrong with a good punch or even a bar fight every now and then. I’m not dead, just married. Anyhow, I’m a big Danny Sheridan fan; the guy has a lot of heart. And from the looks of it, I guess I‘m a Johnny Rodriquez fan too! Kiss my ass racing! And how about Greg Taylor! Finished second in the “B” main and made the big show three nights in a row. You gotta respect that! You can find him currently trying to pass Luis Espinoza in turn four of the VRA point’s race! Tune in November 18! Mitchell finally misses a transfer!

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Main Event! Dave Darland takes the pole and beats everybody over the head with it. But just as you are wondering if this is a cakewalk, Mike Spencer gets on the gas and drives the bottom. Unbelievable watching him lifting that left front tire over the bottom berm and carry it all the way around past turn four. His wheel kept hovering over the curb like a hand hovering over a weegee board! He actually took the lead away for several laps, but Darland kept to his game plan and kept rocketing high out of four. Age and slyness overcame youth and ambition as journeyman Dave punched his everyday time clock and took home the thirty thousand dollar paycheck. Ventura hero Cory Kruseman looked good in fourth. And who the hell is Brady Bacon? Lastly, how about that Levi Jones? Started eleventh and ended second. I think Dave was glad this one was called at forty. Levi was getting a little too close for comfort there at the end.

One last thank you to the Kazarian family! Nice place you got out there! You will always be VIP in Ventura. Jeff at Racewayvideo.com, I will be sending in my check for the DVD’s. As for my wife, racing’s not really her thing, she’s into the theater and stuff like that. I can live with that. But I gotta say, thanks for coming, honey!

posted: 12:15 AM
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