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Ever since I was at the Oval Nationals last year, I have been daydreaming about sitting on the curb in turn three and shooting those monster cars as they go drifting by. I have a problem; I can’t drive any distance without falling asleep (would that make me a bad sprint car driver?). “No worries” Runbull tells me, “give me the keys”. So we jumped in a truck, flipped a gas card and lit out for Perris. Of course I fell right asleep and dreamed all sorts of discombobulated static. We pulled into the pit parking lot, passed security (thanks for hooking us up, Jeff) and wandered onto the racetrack. A water truck was laying down long sweeping turns and the water was glinting on top of the dark rich dirt. They were baking the cake….

ALL THRILL NO FILL
Seth Wilson Had The Pole But Couldn’t Capitalize
Sure Looking Good Though

I was sleepwalking and wide eyed. There’s Rip slouched in a lawn chair, shaded and cool in that John Jory thing. Over here is Cowboy giving a TV interview looking like he was born racing. Rickie Gaunt is farting around with everybody. Danny Sheridan is standing with his chin in his hand, looking at his car like it’s a problem child. Cory cruises by and politely gives me a nod and a smile. He doesn’t know me, but he’s seen me stick a camera in his face a couple of hundred times. It’s a hot yet pleasant Saturday afternoon and fans are slowly parking in the stands. Runbull is telling me how perfect it feels to be at the racetrack. It might have something to do with the chili cheese fries we are stuffing in our faces. I’m looking around feeling a little overwhelmed by the size and the vibe. I’m thinking we’re gonna need a bigger fisheye….

I’m Dreaming and My Mother is Yelling Get Down From There

A Lot Of People Dig Rickie Gaunt and I’m One

In Ventura, the sound is always there. This track is so big the sound goes away and then like a tidal wave it comes back around and sweeps over you. Ungodly power, sound and speed. So much faster than what I’m used too. I can see them in the distance driving like hellhounds into turn one. Coming out of two they seem to straighten up and dust themselves off. Then they gas it and instantly they are on you in three. They are not so much turning as power sliding past you, huge momentum and power being controlled by small catlike moves in the cockpit, eyes darting. I don’t know what the hell is happening in turn four because as soon as they pass me another one is landing on top of me. Maybe the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen plenty.

Michael Trimble Always Shows Up and Pours His Heart Into It

Had To Throw This One In

Blake Miller and Mike Spencer take charge right off the bat. Blake looks like a bat outta hell as he manhandles the crew. Spencer is right there when Blake sort of bikes and checks up (broken bleeder valve leaking precious pressure). Spencer tags his rear and they both go to the work area. The controversial Rodney Argo takes over and leads Tony Jones on a merry chase. Rip Williams has begun a great crusade from the fifteenth spot. At nine laps he has moved to sixth. Jones starts hitting the cushion in three and four trying to get up on Rodney. Rodney sticks to the bottom and maintains. Suddenly Sheridan is smoking down the straightaway and bursts into flames as he passes the flagman. Showtime I guess. His engine is done. Visiting dignitary Damian Gardner is also in trouble with his birdcage and out of contention. None of this is fazing Rodney Argo who continues to stuff points leader Tony Jones. Clean fast and furious driving all around. Kruseman, Gaunt and now Williams are driving so hard into the corners my jaw is hurting. Williams nicks Super Ricky and then the Kruser. He is legendary and ripping in third place. It’s high performance and Tony Jones finally gets the situation in hand. He passes Argo, Williams in third and then Kruseman and Gaunt. It’s checkers and cheers. We stumble out of there.

Tony Jones At Home

#3 Pushing Off For Another Perfectly Incredible Run

Runbull is driving again and I’m starting to drift off. I’m thinking about how incongruous it seemed to watch Tony Jones go from rocketing around a track to holding a baby in his arms. The power and the gentleness all roll into one. Rip Williams is pushing off, over and over. More obscure dream images and suddenly I’m home. I’m standing in the driveway in Newbury Park, it’s one a.m. Sunday morning and a half moon is hanging in the dark sky. Dawn is miles away and I’m waking up from my Perris dream.

Crawford
Thanks Jimmy For Your Hospitality and A Place To Hang

posted: 1:57 AM
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I just can’t shut up. Let me give you another stinging indictment of why the Bull Ring is one of the best-run tracks in racing. One hundred and thirteen cars pitted last night in Ventura. Twenty-three sprint cars and the senior class wasn’t even present. Thirty-three dwarf cars showed up (sixteen of them senior class). Twenty-three IMCA Modifieds. Thirty-four, I repeat, thirty-four cars (I use the term loosely) in the kid’s class! OK, maybe they are not cars, but they are racing machines and those kids are racers. Those kids are going to graduate to midgets and then sprints. Jim Naylor and his hardworking organization have built diversification and future growth. Young and old were racing side by side. The stands weren’t full but there was a good crowd having a helluva lotta fun. The announcer and sidekick Cool Race Chick were having a blast shooting t-shirts into the crowd, dancing to the music and looking like George Burns and Gracie Allen. Then Jimmy climbed down mid evening, took out his Cat and cut that track, providing what the Main Event winner called a “Hammer Down track!” With the fog offshore, the train whistle blowing and the drivers strapped in, I was sitting in the pits stands and secretly smiling. Check it out….

Surfnsprint’s New Motto is “All Thrill, No Fill!” We Will Open Each Week with the Best Racing Photo of the Day.
Derek Buckley Gets the Job Done For His Fans Sitting Up in Turn Four. We Saw Your Banners!
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Randy McGraw: Focused and On Fire
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Although the kids ran first, let’s start with the Modifieds. If you really want to experience Modifieds you have to buy a pit ticket and walk pit row when they are lined up to get on the track. Twenty-three cars side-by-side, engines running, Darth Vader helmets locked on, ground shaking, air filled with every chemical known to man except oxygen. It is a holy experience. I hook up with rookie Andrew Grieman; he’s running on spit and hope. Engine’s going, car’s full of borrowed parts and credit’s maxed out. Doesn’t care, he’s on the pole and going to give them hell. I see this year’s standout Randy McGraw, we talk for a few minutes and he gives me a photo. He is ready to go out and win for his sponsor, The Home Mag. It is their inaugural “Home Mag Night at the Races”. They are not disappointed. Andrew blows his engine, Randy wipes the field and the fans are feted with t-shirts and prizes! All these cars are stickered with Main Street America businesses where you and I work. Hats off to anybody that writes a paycheck and also sponsors your favorite driver. Shake their hand.

McGraw Showing Off His Home Mag Sticker and All His Sponsors
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Future ESPN Legend Tommy Velasquez
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Whenever I don’t know what to write I go back and look at the pictures. Check out this picture of Tommy Velasquez. Look at the determination and drive in his expression. You can’ believe how committed these kids are. This is the younger Piston Class and Tommy took second in his heat and first in the main. Cris Noe and Ricky Lewis are second and third in the main.

Supercharged Battle for First
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In this photo, Chase Lippert, Riley Helland and Tyler Jerman battle for positions in the older Supercharger division. Riley Helland in the white #14 went on to win with Tyler Jerman on the right taking second. Devin McCree finished third.

Beautiful, Smart, Confident and Fast Amanda Green
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Half of the VRA Junior Midgets are young women and they win. First in points is Jessica Green followed by Amanda Green in second. Amanda came in second in her heat but won the Main Event. Jessica Clark came in second and Christian Copley took third. Thanks again to Mike Sweeny and his gang that work so hard to give everybody their shot. They win, you win, I win and we’re all wearing sunglasses. Things sure look bright.

Gary Conditt Beats a Jury Of His Peers
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Gary Conditt went out and did what he’s never done before! He went out and beat the best the VRA Senior Dwarfs could throw at him. Jerry Doolittle had the early lead but Conditt was clearly on a mission. Roy Coe got on him but couldn’t keep up with Conditt dicing and slicing the traffic. Bill Van Praag and Tom Bellinger were also on the job finishing second and third. Conditt was downright giddy taking the trophy and thanking Naylor for a beautiful track. Ed Niedzwiecki and Bill Van Praag still lead the point’s race.

The Pro Dwarfs took over and it was veteran Brent Stevens getting up front after a few laps. Banging wheels and crashing cars made it wild and wooly. Jim Scribellito went from the front to the back to the front. Marc Lippert took some early flack that held him back. Rob Anderson was putting heat on the leader but something was wrong and he went out the back. Now it’s Brent Stevens, Jeff Shelton and a battle for third between Lippert and Scribellito. It checkers Stevens, Shelton, Scribellito and Lippert. Incredible racing and Stevens thanks his daughter for being his lucky charm.

Brent Stevens Wins One for the Family
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This Is The Bullfighter
Kevin Kierce

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Naylor swore he would never have a cone start, but here we are. Front row is Brandon Thomson and Dennis Rodriquez they are as restless as schoolboys on the last day of the school year. One false start, then a cluster cluck on the second start. Turn three on restart has up front Chris Wakim going over a tire. He gets turned around and the posse checks up and scatters around him. Newcomer John Niggli is still racing when he gets to Wakim. Ouch! The pileup takes out Justin Kierce, Niggli, and Wakim and sends Myles Bishop, Jonathan Henry and Shawn Torbet to the back. Three of these guys are new to Ventura. Welcome to the Bull Ring. Rodriquez gets the jump on the restart and is looking big. Thomson is hanging but you’ve got Greg Taylor and Rick Hendrix right behind you. Taylor and Hendrix bang wheels hard on the backstretch and you know this a fight. Derek Buckley and Kevin Kierce are also swinging. We get into the rookie traffic early and D-Rod clears. Taylor has moved to second and I know D-Rod can hear him. Kierce is grinding that bottom and you can feel his will. Like destiny. Traffic is heavy, D-Rod is showing his stuff, Taylor starts swinging high and we are halfway there. Taylor finally wrenches it away from D-Rod and Kierce passes Thomson. It’s running Taylor, Rodriquez and Kierce. Steve Conrad (from the fifth row) clears Thomson for fourth. Suddenly with five to go both Kierce and Conrad are in trouble, not sure exactly but Conrad is out and Kierce is changing a tire in the pits. Kierce, in a point’s battle with leader Taylor, is shot down his second week in a row. Crowd groans. His frustration must be tantamount. My experience is that when the odds are stacked and all hope is slipping, the real Kevin Kierce shows up. Stay tuned. With three to go, Kierce refires and Taylor hammers down. It finishes Taylor, Rodriquez (impressive), Thomson (this kid is tough), Templeman (big fan favorite) and Champion Luis Espinoza. Espy is back in form and still in the point’s race pounding third. Taylor wholeheartedly thanks Taylor Racing, all his sponsors including Westco International Consulting and girlfriend Lea. He especially thanks Naylor for a fast track and a great raceway. It doesn’t get any better.

This Is The Bull
Greg Taylor

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Greg Taylor Delivers What The Fans Come For
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I rest my case. In this week’s message board at SCRAFAN “justwondering” writes (in a topic on diminishing car counts) “I have to mention, this does not apply to the VRA, they are unique in that they are a big family with top notch cars and race on a track that puts on an excellent show.” That’s no bull.

posted: 10:17 AM
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Young

I don’t know about anybody else but I had a brutal week. Wherever I was, whatever I was doing, people were just beating on me. Monday through Friday like showing up everyday for a scheduled war. I guess they call it work for a reason. Then I get home and I want to read my five-year a goodnight story. “No” she says, “I want Mommy to read me a story. You’re old, you read too slow!” Like I say, brutal. So I start thinking about Saturday night racing on Monday. And Tuesday. By Friday it’s the only thought getting me through the incredibly pesky annoying day! Come Saturday, I cram my camera, scanner, notebook and sandwiches all in my pack and head for Ventura. My buddy Morris waves me past the loading gate and I’m finally safe. I’m standing in middle of the track. They start rolling out those sprints, engines begin to fire and the week begins to wash away….

Morris Knotts Is From Texas So Don’t Screw With Him
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Morris is the Sheriff; he rules the middle world, the DMZ, all that exists between where you park and where you race. As pit steward, he’s part of that inner core group that makes this raceway smoke. It’s fun watching the balance of power play out. Driver is rude to another driver (a serious situation with an 800 horsepower weapon at your disposal). Offended driver reciprocates in kind. Jimmy raises hell in the tower. Cliff calmly issues instructions for intervention. Morris corners the offenders in the pits. “Is it over?” he asks with that Marlboro voice. “Or do I throw you out of here?” “It’s over” both drivers dutifully respond. Respect for the law prevails. Peace returns to the valley.

Justin Kierce Takes The VRA Junior Focus Midgets
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I was still filming when they ran the VRA Junior Focus Midgets so I don’t have any notes. I do remember Justin Kierce taking the pole and never relinquishing the lead. Lots of wheel banging but Justin stayed focused on the job. Lance Butler hit the wall pretty hard, enough of a glance to walk away. Austin Mero gave it a great effort and took second. Alex Bowman took third. Justin continues to exponentially improve at his game.

Lance Butler Hits Turn One Hard
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I Owe Nic Faas A Photo From The May 20 Race, Here You Go Nic!
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This is a bunch of guys that want to race. Incredible talent in the Ford Focus Series. It was Nick Carlson out front and running but he had serious competition in Robby Josett and Nic Faas. Much of the race had these three bunched and banging. Carlson was desperately trying to block both cars, but Josett and Faas reminded me of two raptors in Jurassic Park. They knew if one went high and one went low he could not block both. Carlson drifted up to block Josett, Faas slide under him. The center did not hold and now Josett also passes. It’s Faas, Josett and Carlson but wait, last laps and Josett slides Faas for the lead. Carlson moves back to second and it finishes Josett, Carlson and Faas. Crowd goes nuts.

Don’t Be Fooled By Ole Blue Eyes Robby Josett Will Slide You
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Joel Chavez Gets Turned Around By Bill Changus But Wins Main
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This is number five win in a row for Joel Chavez and there’s nothing anybody can do about it! Joel seems to have figured out something that everybody else is missing. That is, how to go fast! Brad Long took an early lead but he was bedeviled by both Randall Dougan and Joel Chavez. Long finally shoved Dougan into the wall but Chavez took the lead at that point. Chavez quickly got way out front. Dougan lost a wheel and was black-flagged. Wrong car saw the black flag and left the track for no reason. Then Dougan left. Next Roger Sutton was out with a busted radiator. Now it looks like Chavez is only racing himself. “Is this a good time to order coffee” crash crewmember intones on the radio? It finishes Chavez, Peterson and Long. Don’t think anybody fetched the coffee.

Steady John Nock
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I wish I had an alarm clock as dependable as John Nock. Guys like this are the backbone of the sprint series. Shows up every race (don’t think he’s missed one this year) and puts in a yeoman’s effort. Used to run in the back of the pack, now running towards the front. Just missed the transfer in heat three and took second in the semi main. Steve Conrad (in his new car) dominated the semi, but Nock was hanging with him from the start to the finish. Incredible job of driving. John and his dad do it all by themselves. Dedicated drivers keep this track alive. Trophies to follow.

Greg Bragg Examining His Safety Straps During Heat Race
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Chris Rahe led the USAC Midget race from the green to the checkers. But Jerome Rodella sure gave it a go. Big heart effort from both drivers kept the race exciting. Matt Mitchell was also on the gas sharing most passes with Quinton Crye. It finished Rahe, Rodella, Johnny Rodriquez and Mitchell. Ventura is a beautiful track for the midgets; I think they should adopt it as a home track.

Chris Rahe Picks Up a Ventura USAC Midget Win
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Rick Hendrix Was Fast, Clean and Young
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Rick Hendrix took this one from the outside front row and drove for what he’s wanted all season. He gets right out front and starts socking away the real estate. Espinoza was on the pole and also on the move but commented later “where’d he go”! The real battles were further back, Jonathan Henry getting right up there and the usual slugging with Kierce, Rutherford, Taylor and Wakim. Steve Conrad (Stealth) ran from the back all the way to seventh for most passes. What else is new? Hendrix was way out front at twenty-five continuous laps but this wily veteran knows the quick and the slow all meet at the ferry. Sure enough Brent Camarillo spins and we are finally yellow. But Rick had enough lapped cars between him and the others to eliminate any real threat. He hit the throttle, drove five perfect laps and cinched his first VRA Sprint victory. After twenty-five years of all kinds of racing and championships, Rick Hendrix has settled in at Ventura. Naylor runs the usual interview and then asks one last question! How old are you he asks the taciturn driver. Rick thinks a half second and spits out “fifty-four.” I’m reeling because I’m fifty-three. Here is this tough piece of beef jerky standing next to fresh face Jonathan Henry (incredible second place) and twenty something champion Luis Espinoza (third place) and he just beat the pants off both of them. Hell, he was already gone when they both realized they were in a race! Rick’s a year older than me! That means I’m young! The last of this week’s bitterness fell from my shoulders. I’m young!

posted: 3:06 PM
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Stones lyric. Playing in my head as I dragged my exhausted butt across the parking lot to my truck. I’m a fan. My friends are fans. We wait for the USAC/CRA 410’s the way kids wait for Christmas. “Why?” Gaunt asked me when I told him how much we appreciate them coming out. As VRA loyalists, we get very few nights off to make the drive to Perris to see them. Our heroes wear helmets. Super Rickie, Cowboy, Josh, Showtime, Kruser, Cardey, Spencer…..Jimmy, how can you pack all that talent and horsepower into this small track? The weak stayed away, the tough showed up, the fans raged and rising star Blake Miller threw it down. But for me, talking to a guy who raises turtles (raises, not races) for a few minutes was the night’s biggest bomb…

Chairman of the Board
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Rip Williams showed up again to race Ventura. Another track, another roadhouse, another lap on his road to glory. As my pal Truex puts it, “the last of the gladiators”. Look around. How many of these guys here raced Ascot? Rip’s coming up on thirty years of being strapped in a sprint car and running up front. Hard to comprehend the talent, the commitment, the hardships, the friendships and the stories. So it meant a lot to say hi, get a picture and talk a few minutes. I’m a fan.

USAC/CRA Points Leader Tony Jones Takes It to the Fans
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I asked Ventura local Chris Wakim why he was throwing his 360 against the 410’s. “It’s the chance to race the pros”, he tells me smiling. In heat three Chris went up against powerhouse Tony Jones and won the heat. We should have gone for pizza right then. Chris wrecked in the main and unfortunately took out race leader David Cardey. Other brave VRA souls included Jonathan Henry, Kevin Kierce, Luis Espinoza, Brent Camarillo, Brian Camarillo and Wes Richardson. Only Jonathan Henry survived the main finishing twelfth.

J Hicks Finished Top Ten and Shared Most Passes
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Qualifying was remarkable for seeing Kevin Kierce ace second fastest on his first lap. On the second lap he lifted hard coming of turn two and rolled it over. Blake Miller was fastest, for the second time in two weeks, with 12.11. The Ripper nailed third and Danny Sheridan was fourth with 12.43. Rickie Gaunt timed fifth and Jimmy Crawford locked sixth.

They Call It the Bull Ring
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The car count was slightly less than expected (24) and there was some speculation that cars stay away due to the carnage factor. There certainly were a significant amount of crashes with six cars out of twenty-one failing to finish. Kierce had an especially rough go with his earnest pit crew working overtime. There should be a camera crew capturing these pit crews taking a wrecked car and making it race ready again. When Kevin finally lost a tire at lap six of the main event he told the crash crew “I’m done.”

Every Time Crawford Goes Out He Hooks Me Up With A Photo
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Lots of musical cars in the pits. Jimmy Crawford was scorching in the Ron Bach #75. Conrad is ready to roll out a new car with a little help from his friends. Not sure what’s up with Carpet Coop car. Talented Brandon Thomson is searching for a ride. Checked out Ronnie Case walking the scene, somebody reach out and put him in the lineup. America sleeps.

Danny Sheridan
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Every time Danny Sheridan hits Ventura we get a hell of a show. One of my favorite racers, this guy puts one hundred per cent of his heart into it every time. Never forget him battling Josh Ford two years ago. Ford has been unlucky lately but always brings his best game. Incredible driver. Mike Spencer is always ready to go off. Great car, great team behind him, he always does good at this track. Everybody that I know wants to see Tony Jones drive. I wanted to hook up and talk to this driver, we’ll take care of it in October. Beautiful car. Also gotta mention David Cardey, huge effort tonight, more about that later.

Ron Bach Back In Contention
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Senior car count was also a little light tonight. Didn’t matter, the heavy hitters were here. Ron Bach took the lead from the second row and ran. Huge effort by Bill Badger, Steve Stassa and John Woodward challenging him constantly. It was Woodward who almost caught him, passing for the lead and being put back on a yellow. Crowd was into it. That Woodward car is a firecracker this year! Wily veteran Ron Bach takes it all in, stays the course and makes it two in a row. It finishes Bach, Woodward, Stassa, Badger and Alderman. Consistent top five Bob Alderman moves into the point lead with everybody a heat race behind him.

Blake Miller Is Excited About His Car and His Team
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Love the sound of the 410’s when the hammer drops. Wakes up sheep in Montana. David Cardey takes the front row into the hole and gets away. Pole sitter Jonathan Henry is also on it but here comes the USAC/CRA Calvary. Rickie Gaunt and Blake Miller are all over it. Jake Hodges spins in turn three on lap three. Green again and Blake Miller moves up to second. Sixth lap Kierce loses a tire and retires. Blake’s on the bottom, Cardey is high and it’s a battle. Trimble and Crawford mix up in turn three and we are yellow. Again Blake takes it to the bottom as is his style. But Cardey is conceding nothing. Kruseman up to third and on the gas. Here comes Sheridan and Gaunt is still in the game. At twenty laps Wakim bounces off the wall out of turn four and the front end comes down in front of leader Cardey. Cardey clips Wakim’s left side and spins to a stop. Heartbreaker, I don’t think anybody was going to catch Cardey although Blake was right there. At the same time, Gaunt and the Kruser got locked up in turn three. Everybody refires except Wakim, but it’s a new paradigm. Green and its Miller, Sheridan, Jones and Spencer in the hunt. Lap twenty-four and Ford and Henry are crashing in the backstretch. Ford wants to go over and see if Henry’s okay but they hold him back. LOL. Seven laps to go and Blake Miller demonstrates his incredible driving skills. Drives the bottom like diamond cutter as Spencer, Sheridan and Williams finish behind him. The Miller family continues to tear up Southern California tracks. Blake Miller takes his second fast time and first place win in as many weeks. Profusely credits his car, sponsors and pit crew. Amazing watching this kid grow up.

Rip This Joint
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Walking to my truck to leave, I see the John Jory monster trailer trundling out the gate. I give the drivers a thumbs up. I hope Rip gives a year’s notice before he retires. That way, all the tracks he races can give him a fitting goodbye. In the meantime, whether it’s three days or thirty more years, I’m soaking up every Rip Williams race I see. Peace out, Rip. Thanks for the ride.

posted: 1:24 PM
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