Brudder Brett and I ride together so we pulled into Carrow’s after last night’s race. Had a delightful breakfast with Mike Cook and a bunch of his fast friends. Mike told me an interesting story. Back in about 1994 he was racing Perris with a bunch of cronies like Williams, Marcum and others. Perris was just a chicken track back then. Troy Rutherford showed up and he was just a punk kid, all shy and nervous. He says to Cook “Man, I don’t know any of these drivers and I hope I don’t get in the way.” Apparently it was his first 360 race out there. “Don’t worry,” Mike tells the kid, “you’ll be fine”. Troy went out and spanked everybody….
All Thrill No Fill! Greg Taylor Has His Eye on Where He’s Going
Naylor says he’s doesn’t always understand what I’m writing about but he loves it. Works for me, Jimmy, let’s rip! Jack Parker parked a second IMCA Modified Championship right next to his first one. It was a scant seven points ahead of tonight’s main event winner, Randy McGraw, but it got the job done. Parker loves the quality of the competition and boy is he right! Randy McGraw, Steve Smith, Damon Redman, Austin Rodarte and a host of others destroyed the track this year. As many as twenty-three cars have been pitting lately which bodes well for next year. Last night was a nail biter for Parker, he got gathered up early in the race and did some damage. He paced it for the rest of the race, counting cars and keeping his nose clean. No such strategy for Randy McGraw, he took his ninth place start and started in for the front. Randy Miller had a headlock on the lead and was holding off Rob Green and Brad Prows. Prows broke and had to split. Rick Rodarte and son Austin Rodarte took that spot. It was running Miller, Green, Austin Rodarte and Rick Rodarte. Damon Redman was again shaking the ground and moved up to fourth. McGraw has moved from ninth to seventh. A couple more yellows and its now Miller, Green, Austin Rodarte and Redman. McGraw has moved to sixth and Parker has the eleventh spot. “Awesome Austin” makes a dramatic pass on Miller coming out of four and takes the lead. Miller is second and McGraw has slugged his way to third. Redmond is fourth. We are slinging into the final laps and you can feel McGraw’s intensity. Parker is locked as the field drops to twelve. He’s just smiling and keeping his car on the road. But the action at the front is intense. McGraw passes Miller for second and the white flag is out. Austin and McGraw are drag racing down the back and sliding through the final turns. Coming out of four McGraw muscles his car next to Austin and seems to carry him across the finish line. Race ends McGraw, Austin Rodarte, Damon Redman and Randy Miller. On the victory stand, McGraw is flanked by his dedicated, stoic and sharp looking pit crew. In the point’s championship, McGraw follows Parker in second, Steve Smith in third and Damon Redman riding to fourth. I keep trying to hook up with Jack for a decent portrait; we’ll tackle him again next week with Vic and Del. Hi Tech makes it happen. The fans send out props to all you hard working drivers and crews. Landmark year!
McGraw Wins the Battle, Loses the War
As Rob (Buzzard) pointed out in Saturday’s program, senior sprints are raging. Last night’s main event featured the skilled and passionate driving Ventura fans have come to expect. It also demonstrated the danger of sprint car driving when Bob Alderman took a particularly bad crash in turn one. Bob walked away from it but I heard he later went to the hospital for a check up. Bob, take two aspirin and call your fans in the morning. Racing got underway with the incredibly consistent Wiley Miller taking the lead. Brother Danny was on his case with Ron Butler scooting right along. Bob Alderman was in the mix and got one up on Butler. Wiley and Danny were having a hoot in the front and Alderman was starting to mix with them. Jeff Culver, longtime racer and college professor, was also coming on strong. I was sitting with the Buzz and his friends in the grandstand and we were focused on Culver’s strength. Stassa had started ninth but he was also up to fifth. About halfway through the race I think Alderman was trying to go around a lapped car when his universe exploded. He got turned around in turn one and caught the chain link with his rear end. It tore the tank off the car but wouldn’t let go. With a horrendous screeching that fence sucked him in and spun him up and over. It seemed he was airborne the whole length of the turn before he hit the billboards and was released. With parts flying through the air, the car’s broken frame landed right side up and quietly rolled down the track incline until it hit the berm. We were red and it was a long nervous wait in the stands until Bob climbed out. With characteristic Alderman aplomb, he refused a ride in the ambulance and walked off rolling and shrugging his shoulders. Classic. Wiley got back on the gas and he’s hard to catch in the open. Danny gave it his all but had to settle for second. Culver had third wrapped up but overdrove turn two in the last laps, giving Brian Williams (I never even saw him coming) the spot followed by Steve Stassa in fourth. Ever present John Richards took that top five slot. Except for that one misstep, Jeff Culver was looking big. I guess you could say the same for Alderman. Hope you’re both feeling better. I don’t think anyone is going to catch Danny Miller.
The Quiet Samaritan Bob Alderman Right Before He Locked In
Joel Chavez didn’t complete a lap last night but he is still sitting on a mountain of points. Randall Dougan took it home for the win, his third of the season. David Peterson took second and Trevor Fitzgibbon claimed third. Joel has put in the time, showing up for all ten races this season, taking an amazing five wins. David Peterson is the only other driver to make all ten races. He hasn’t won a main but he is still second in points with seven top fives. There are two more races to go for this class. Peterson, Mike Frazier and Brent Underwood will all be in it for a main event win before the season ends.
Randall Dougan Wins in Sport Compacts
We had thirty cars in the hunt, weeded down to your top twenty. Morris tells me “now we’ll know what there is to know”….Troy on the pole with Josh Ford to his right. Point leaders Kierce on row three and Taylor on row seven. Troy got out front and that Raney was gone from go. Josh Ford hard on the gas in second, Brian Camarillo looking very solid in third and Kevin Kierce right into fourth. Dwayne Marcum gets sideways in lap two turn four and Chris Wakim has nowhere to go. He plows in to Marcum, breaks his front end and tips over. About ten feet from the spot where he flipped last week. Chris is the middle of some weird karmic redistribution program that’s running on another network in a reverse parallel world. I say reverse because few people have provided as many thrills for the fans or as much help for the drivers as Chris Wakim. Whatever, Chris keeps coming back. Marcum and Wakim out. Green again and everybody starts high. The rain that almost killed the race has made the track sticky and fast. Now Ford and Kierce start running the bottom. Rutherford in control, Ford wobbles and Camarillo is second, Kierce third. Eric Severson is in his 36 car and moves to fifth. Kierce and Ford are battling and Ford moves back to third. Rutherford out front, Camarillo second, Ford in third and Kierce is working the bottom and the top. Severson with an exciting pass on the bottom takes fourth from Kierce. We are now in traffic but everybody can hear Greg Taylor coming from the back. Its Rutherford, Camarillo and Ford battling for second, Kierce again in third and Severson in fourth. Taylor is now fifth from thirteenth. He’s looking for Rutherford! Camarillo (in the best drive I’ve ever seen him in) finally falls to Ford. Rutherford starts hoarding some real estate, Ford is one fast driver but he’s not going to catch him. We get some debris from some contact and we are yellow with five to go. The line up is Rutherford, Ford, Kierce, Camarillo and Taylor. Naylor is commenting on how fast these boys are traveling. “As fast as you can go here!” We are green and Troy is the fastest of all. Ford follows him across the finish, Taylor trumps Kierce and Severson gets by Camarillo. Rutherford, Ford, Taylor, Kierce and Severson. Super fast.
Rutherford For His Third Main Event Win In A Row
Bruce Douglas Contemplates a Blown Engine
I’m not sure I got that story about Rutherford exactly right, but he knows everybody now and he’s still whipping em! I really like seeing Josh Ford when he comes to Ventura. This guy is dedicated and hard-core. He was gracious but I think second place is tough for him. Very competitive! I should also mention Camarillo (brilliant), Dennis Rodriquez (huge from the back), Clark Templeman (most passes from twentieth), Jonathan Henry and Steve Conrad were all top ten. It was a tough night for a lot of people. Bruce Douglas threw an engine in the heat race. We talked about Alderman, Marcum and Wakim. Track had a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Brandon Thomson had a nasty flip in his heat that knocked him out. He’s trying to scrape together a couple of dollars for the Oval Nationals. Skip a frappacino and send him a few bucks. You gotta a lot of heart, Brandon. I’ll notify Dave Darland that you’re coming.
I worry about the stupidest things. It really bummed me that Luis Espinoza was not at Ventura Raceway last night. He picked up a 410 ride at Perris and more power to him. But I’m used to Luis sitting all cool and champion in his trailer. I like seeing his folks every week. I’m used to hanging out with Super Dave. I don’t like change. They say you have to live in the moment but the moment keeps changing on me. The days are getting shorter and the sun is going down earlier every week. That’s really hurting my pictures of the sprint car heats. What’s up with that? Jimmy cuts the track. Rutherford rips the Main. Everything seems normal but the ground is moving under me and the landscape is shifting…
All Thrill No Fill! Tom Hendricks Is Running Up Front
The Great Campaign is coming to an end. Next weekend is the final race for the IMCA Modifieds and last year’s champion and this year’s point leader Jack Parker is trying to outrun the avalanche. I have become a great fan of the “bellowing behemoths”. It’s because of outstanding talent up front by drivers Jack Parker, Randy McGraw, Steve Smith and Damon Redman. Big breakout year also for Austin Rodarte! Last night McGraw knew it was make it or break it. After a couple of laps led by Shane Jones, McGraw willed his way to the front and made it stick. Shane was still in it but he had lots of company. Austin Rodarte was running third with Redman in fourth. Patient Jack Parker kept to it and was rocking in fifth. We were talking in turn one about what a technician Jack is. No wasted motion there. Andrew Grieman took a beating and was out mid race. Austin got past Shane for second. This is a hard crowd with lots of elbowing and bent metal. Robert “Joey” Claborn (down from Santa Maria and enjoying the view) was on the gas at the end and passed Parker, Redman and Shane for the third spot. No quarter offered as they checkered McGraw (breezing), Austin Rodarte, Joey Claborn, Shane Jones and Damon Redman. Jack Parker came in sixth and preserved a fifteen-point lead over Randy McGraw for this year’s championship. Shootout at the OK Corral next Saturday night and only one will be left standing!
Damon Redman Has Given The Fans A Great Show This Year
Pistons! Tommy Velasquez took first place in the Mini Dwarfs Piston class. Cameron McCaule took second place while James Billings captured third. Outstanding driving has Tommy in second place points behind Ricky Lewis.
In the Mini Dwarf Supercharger class, Devin McCree drove his way to first. Brennan Rogers was in second place and Chase Lippert landed third. Riley Helland, who finished sixth, is still leading the point’s race.
In the VRA Junior Midgets, Jessica Clark barely beat Amanda Green for the checkered flag. Michaela Stanton took third. Jessica is also holding off Amanda for the points lead.
In all of these classes, three races to go. Last year’s inaugural race for these classes fielded twenty-one cars. Last night thirty-four cars checked in. Hat’s off to the hardworking officials and parents. This series is a smashing success. Kids gotta race!
Tommy’s Checking Out the Photographers
Devin’s Good With First Place in the Superchargers
Mike Van Acker Took Care of Senior Dwarf Regionals
Western States Dwarf Car Regional pulled into V-town and took care of business. For the Senior Dwarf Car Regionals it was visitor Mike Van Acker who got out front and never looked back. If he did, he saw VRA veteran John Lynch giving it hell. When John developed car trouble it was VRA point’s leader Ed Niedzwiecki who took over the chase. For Mike to stay out in front of both John and Ed the whole race is a testament to his abilities. It finished at the checker with Van Acker, Niedzwiecki, Gordon Brand, Bill Van Praag and Gary Conditt.
There was big anticipation for the Pro Dwarf Regionals. Sprint car observers were surprised to see local Angel Figueroa climb into the ring. Hand to hand, wheel to wheel, the action was intense from the flag. Brent Stevens was in the lead but Angel and Jim Scribellito were right with him. Clusters took out drivers here and there but Stevens and Figueroa were hanging tough. Chris Olson got up there and they were three wide in front of the grandstands. Angel Figueroa made his move and split Stevens and Olsen like a ripe melon. Kevin Drake got up to third but Scribellito took that back. Stevens was all over Angel but then got a little loose coming down the front. That put him back a couple and Scribellito was up to second. But Angel was in his element and on the gas. He was tracking beautiful lines and best times. Stevens was back up to third but got stuffed behind some bad traffic, bounced off the berm and took it out the back. Angel took it home, Drake second, Scribellito third but stayed first in VRA points. Incredible driving by the well liked Angel Figueroa. First class racing all around.
The Most Underrated Driver in Ventura. Pro Dwarf Regional Winner Angel Figueroa With Team
Hey Mike, Thanks For Making The Drive
Great to see Jesse Mack, Mike Knopf, Bobby Michnowicz, Tom Stansberry and others on the heat sheet. This was going to be a party and everybody got right on it. Chris Wakim made the first turn and looked huge rocketing out of turn two. Unfortunately he biked badly coming out of four and flipped hard. We are red and it’s migraine #476 for Chris Wakim. Crowd adjusted for the restart and Tom Hendricks got on the pole. He got out front with Greg Taylor and Dennis Rodriquez battling for second. Taylor took care of that and here comes Troy Rutherford and Rick Hendrix. Brent Camarillo and Jake Hodges mixed in turn two for the first yellow. We fire again and you just want to see who’s going high and who’s going low. Hendricks’s low, Taylor high and Rutherford low. Taylor is cranking his patented power turns and he quickly takes the lead. Rutherford doesn’t have to be told twice and he gets right up high and takes the second spot. Jonathan Henry (great start to the year, tough follow through) now hits the wall in four and we are yellow. Richard McCormick also goes to the work area with a flat. The lineup includes Taylor, Rutherford, Hendricks, D-Rod and Hendrix. Kevin Kierce has driven from the fourteenth spot to sixth and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. Naylor interviews Wakim in the booth and the crowd gives him spontaneous applause. Chris thanks the fans for support in a tough year. Sometimes your fans are all you have. We are green and it’s power ballet with Taylor and Rutherford. Everybody follows them to the top except Kierce who continues to polish the bottom like a diamond. Taylor gets into traffic and Rutherford muscles around him for the lead. Rutherford and Taylor are alone out front when Brent Camarillo hits the wall and we are yellow. Kierce needs that yellow to reel in the front-runners. He has moved up to fourth the old fashioned way, hardcore racing. We are green and Kierce takes the third spot. Stansberry has car problems in turn four and we are yellow again. Green and Taylor and Kierce briefly switch second and third. Your two point’s leaders are fighting for every point. Another yellow as Dwayne Marcum has problems and we have five to go. Rutherford sails away with the win, Taylor holds off Kierce and Kevin takes third with the most passes. Troy Rutherford has two wins in three races. Taylor is still your point’s leader and Kierce will never give up. Seven races to go in that awesome chase.
Rutherford Credits Hard Work and Crew For Victory
Naylor Says It’s All About Giving The Drivers A Chance To Excel
The ground is moving and the landscape is shifting. I’m worried about work and I’m worried about racing. I’m trying to get in the moment but the moment is wandering. It’s been wandering for thirty years and here we are. I think I’m writing because I want to capture quicksilver in a bottle. I regret I will never see Rick Taylor win at Ventura. I would like to be able to read about that. I would have liked to seen some pictures. This community and these races are something special spinning in time. We come, we race and then it’s gone. I’m just trying to nail that one long shining moment.
Inspiring. How can you cram this much inspiration into a little fifth mile dirt track? Four wide the 410 Sprints paraded down the front straightaway that had a packed house on its feet. Promoter Jim Naylor shouts the talk while the outstanding Ventura track crew walks the walk. The USAC-CRA powerhouse organization rolled into our little beach town and forgot the brakes! Hardcore Ventura fans expect consistent racing, but those officials and drivers took us to the next level. Elbows up and hammer down, they carried us into the heart and art of racing….
All Thrill No Fill! Blake Miller Meets the Wall in Turn Two
The track was not ideal for qualifying. A brisk afternoon breeze kept it dry and hardscrabble. Garret Hansen drove the fastest time at 12.758. Last year at this time Blake Miller drove the fastest time at 11.953. So we were off almost a full second from a year ago. Cory Kruseman hit second fastest with 12.763. Mike Spencer clocked third with 12.809. Greg Taylor, despite over reaching a turn, snapped off a fourth fastest with 12.82. Scotty Weir closed out the top five with a 12.846. The longest lap ran 15.717.
Does Anybody Have More Fun Racing Than Rickie Gaunt
John Richards Is Game On
VRA Senior Sprints was about survival of the fittest. Danny Miller took his pole position and beat the pack to turn one. I don’t think they got even one lap off before his brother Wiley hit a tire in turn three and flew all the way to turn four. Topped the fence from where I was sitting. I don’t recall ever seeing Wiley airborne before. Back on the green, Danny led again with a determined and pedal down Richard McCormick behind him. John Woodward and Tony Dighera were running third and fourth. Now Chuck Tyler gets undone and he’s cartwheeling down the front straightaway. Nasty crash but he jumps out and seems okay. Green again and Danny Miller has Dighera, Jeff Culver and McCormick in pursuit in that order. Steve Stassa inexplicably goes to the infield. Another yellow with Miller drifting through turn three and getting T-boned by Dighera. Dighera goes to the back and Miller stays on point. Another yellow when Ron Bach and Ron Tjaarda cross wires in turn one. Miller still leads the pack followed by Culver, McCormick and here comes Bruce Douglas. John Woodward hits the wall at turn four and rolls to a stop. Tough week. Green again and the front-runners unchanged but Douglas is gassing it. Danny Miller puts some distance between himself and the gang while McCormick and Culver are fighting for second. Douglas finally nicks Culver for third and they finish Miller, a very determined McCormick, a brash Bruce Douglas and Jeff Culver. A consistent Bob Alderman finishes fifth but Danny Miller moves into the point lead with Stassa second and Alderman third. Douglas and Wiley are still in contention. Does not look like Bach will repeat this year. Oh yeah, just in the spirit of things, the last lap also took out Oren Prosser Sr., Ron Butler and John Richards. Piled up, I wonder if they were talking about the good ole days? Congratulations to Danny Miller for keeping on in a tough main.
Danny Miller is Leading the Hunt
Danny Sheridan Brought the Heart of Racing
How can I get all this in? In six or seven minutes concentrated minutes it all went down. But it’s lifetimes of experience, practice, history, effort and steely determination that play out in those precious moments. Last week’s Perris winner David Cardey on the front row with Rodney Argo on the pole. A million miles of talent stretched out behind them. Cardey gets to the turn first but Argo is hanging. Next lap Scotty Weir clips the back of Cardey and spins, gathering up Mike Spencer and Garret Hansen. It’s a twist of fate that bedevils many drivers tonight. Track looks lovely and then just slaps you when you get a little fresh. Three top contenders go to the back. Tower puts Cardey in front of Argo and we are green again. Cardey and Argo are up front with Greg Taylor and Rickie Gaunt in pursuit. Cory Kruseman is swinging high in fifth and packing that cushion. Gaunt, Taylor and Kruseman are three wide in the back and Taylor is getting squeezed. He gets sideways and goes to the back. Four laps completed and it’s Cardey, Argo, Gaunt and Kruseman. Local hotshot Dennis Rodriquez has run his 360 from tenth to fifth. Kruseman is high. Now he goes to the bottom. Now he’s swinging high again and we are watching this driver pick openings like an artist picking colors or notes. Cardey and Argo are in pitched battle with Kruseman closing in. Gaunt is half a heartbeat behind. Rodriquez is screaming that engine and Michael Trimble is up there. Further back it becomes apparent that Danny Sheridan has aspirations. He has taken the high groove and seems to be flinging his car into contention. Now Cory has tightened up the third spot and seems to be willing himself past Argo. Argo has fought with determination and concedes nothing. But it’s amazing watching how Cory can come out of two, get checked up by Cardey and Argo both, but not lose momentum going towards three, hanging on to all of his speed despite the blocking. I am watching the art of racing. He passes Argo and starts in on Cardey. It’s Cardey, Kruseman, Argo, Gaunt and Rodriquez. That blue Sheridan thing is a blur. Cardey is driving a brilliant race but Kruseman is at home and sitting in his easy chair. He gets past Cardey coming out of four and he’s gone! Now D-Rod hits the wall in turn two and we are yellow. Naylor is screaming “Is that racing????!!!!” at the stoked crowd. Eighteen laps are completed and Sheridan has moved into sixth position! We go green with Kruseman, Cardey, Argo, Gaunt, Trimble and Sheridan. D-Rod has a hangover from turn two and gets black-flagged. Suddenly the hand of fate drops again and Rip Williams, Blake Miller and Josh Ford are clustered in turn two. They all go the work area and they all refire. But again, three of the best are at the back. The battle continues in the front with Danny Sheridan now capturing the crowd’s imagination. It’s Showtime! Incredible seat of your pants driving from has him working his way up. He slams the wall coming out of two and doesn’t flinch. I am watching the heart of racing.
He passes Gaunt and Argo, Gaunt passes Argo and somehow Greg Taylor has come from the back and is giving them all hell. Sheridan’s critical moment comes passing Cardey on the front stretch. They are side by side at the tower with Cardey’s rear end wickedly fishtailing at Sheridan. But Sheridan has the speed and clears the scorpion bite that would have sent him flying. You can see it all from Jeff and Mike at racewayvideo.com. Freaking incredible. Now Gaunt hits the wall at turn two and flips. He jumps out of the car and strolls away. Just another night of hardcore racing for Super Ricky. Huge fan appreciation. “This is how you race!!!” Naylor is pumping the crowd. Damn right! This is how you race, drive, flag, officiate, watch and even crash. Everyone in the arena is at the top of his or her game and we are green again. It’s Kruseman, Sheridan, Cardey, Taylor and Argo. Everyone but Cardey is high and the white flag comes out. Now Argo (after a great night) loses control in turn two and picks up Taylor and Troy Rutherford. Heartbreak for Taylor Racing after going from the front to the back to the front and now the back again. USAC flagman throws both the green and white flag together and Kruseman, Sheridan and Cardey make the last dash. Sheridan is high in turn one as Kruseman and Cardey grind the bottom. Kruseman goes high in turn four, he knows he has to block Sheridan; they do a touchy feely dance high in the corner as Cardey tries to slide through on the bottom. But Cory Kruseman clears them both and Danny Sheridan ends his great run by barely nicking Cardey for second. It’s Kruseman, Sheridan, Cardey, Tyler Brown (from eighteenth!), Trimble, Luis Espinoza (excellent outing in the 92 car), Rip Williams, Blake Miller and Alex Schutte closes your top ten.
Cory Jones Brought the Art of Racing
I gotta go to work. About a dozen things I still want to say about this race but I’m outta time. I can’t say enough about the awesome USAC organization. Watched those guys at work in the pits, on the track and in the tower. Just a fantastic racing machine bringing it to all the fans like me at tracks everywhere. They are back in October and I will be first in line. Jim Naylor continues his extraordinary 30-year celebration. October has VRA, USAC, Wagsdash, Grand Slam and more! How do you do it, Jimmy!
Cory and Danny Celebrate With David Cardey in the Background
What a weekend! Saturday night I sat in America’s only air conditioned raceway and watched cool Troy Rutherford rip the VRA Sprint Main Event. Sunday we drove into the Fontana furnace and watched hot local Jimmie Johnson ignite the California Speedway. The track nearly spontaneously combusted.An amazing amalgam of parallels and incongruities between the two events. This will be short and sweet, I still need to get some UV rays, burn some burgers for the kids and throw the dog in the pool. Hang on….
All Thrill No Fill! Chris Wakim Launches Labor Day Weekend
The IMCA Modified mobsters were back Saturday Night snarling and spitting. Rob Green was on the pole but Ron Wiley came from the second row and wrenched it away from him. Andrew Grieman and Randy Miller also were in the leading laps. Joe Weaver was stepping on it and also visiting driver Robert “Joey” Clab. It’s Wiley, Weaver and Green. Battle for fourth shaping up between Clab and Randy Miller. Clab wins that tussle and clearly has a heavy foot. Rob Green spins in turn two and now front-runner Wiley can really feel Joey Clab breathing down his neck. But Wiley is hanging in there. Last week’s winner Austin Rodarte is swinging high but the action is on the bottom. Clab is really putting pressure on the front but the laps are spinning out. It’s Wiley, Clab, Weaver and Randy McGraw all on the white flag. It’s looks like a lock for Wiley but something happens to his steering on the last turn and he goes into the wall. Robert “Joey” Clab hits the checker and has the gas money to get home!
Joey Clab Drops Into Ventura and Takes The IMCA Checkered Flag
Senior Pro Dwarfs kicked off with Tom Bellinger looking real strong. But then his passenger door somehow opened and that’s a disadvantage when you’re racing. Especially when you’re racing Ed Niedzwiecki. Ed took the lead away and was being followed by Bill Van Praag and Kevin Alverson. Tom got the door closed and then a few laps later it flew open again! That had to be aggravating. Ed is long gone and doing his aggressive yet incredibly smooth driving thing. Alverson and Van Praag do their best to keep up. Gary Conditt spins in turn one. David Hume shows up late for the final laps. Ed is locking down the final lap as Alverson gives it huge effort. Hume passes Van Praag for third. That’s Niedzwiecki, Alverson, Hume and Van Praag in that order. I don’t think Bill Van Praag can catch Ed Niedzwiecki in the point’s race. Ed is driving at the top of his game. But I suspect Bill isn’t about to lie down. These guys put on spectacular racing.
It’s All Been Said, Ed Niedzwiecki
Pro Dwarf Class is rocked by the return of “Flying Brian” Saxton for his second race. Cory Pollock took the pole and shot to the lead. Jeff Shelton was on his case as was Thomas Velasquez. Shelton took the lead but fourth place Saxton was on a mission. Clearly and undeniably on the gas, Saxton passes them all and begins negotiating heavy traffic. Cory Pollock is running a solid third when he takes a spin in turn four. The Amtrak Surfliner floats by in the background. Shelton and Brent Stevens are desperately trying to catch Flying Brian. They start throwing Kryptonite at him but nothings working. With only several laps remaining, Eric Lopez starts having a go at the frontrunner. It’s now Saxton, Lopez, Michael Lewis and Lars Wolfe. Outstanding effort by Lopez, but it’s too little, too late. Brian Saxton shreds another trophy to the delight of his many Ventura fans. Don’t be such a stranger, Brian! Great race announcing by the inimitable Jaime.
They Were Throwing Kryptonite at Flying Brian
Jimmy McDonald takes the checkered flag for the VRA Mini Dwarfs Piston Class. Ricky Lewis still controls the point’s lead. Tyler Jerman clocks the Supercharger Class. He is one heat race behind Riley Helland in the point’s battle. Jessica Clark dominates the VRA Junior Midgets with a strong victory. She is also leading in points. Incredible racing moves by many drivers in all the classes. Congratulations to all the parents who are remarkably restrained. Trust me, I know how hard it is to be humble when your kid’s a dang genius!
Jessica Clark Races To Win
Jimmy McDonald Claims His Prize
Tyler Jerman Tore Up the Superchargers
VRA Sprint Main. Greg Taylor is on the front row for the second week in a row and I don’t think he going to make the same mistake twice. He shoots the hole and takes control. Kevin Kierce slices and dices from the second row down the front straightaway and lickity split he’s in second place. Here comes big Troy Rutherford from the third row for third place. Taylor is pulling away as Kierce and Rutherford start the battle for second. Guy Woodward takes a horrific flyer from turn four and cascades all the way down the front stretch past the flag tower. Looked like he caught Eric Severson’s rear tire. Quickly pulls himself from the wreckage and briskly walks out the loading ramp, blowing Eric a few kisses on the way. Crowd was immensely relieved, as this looked particularly bad. Woodward is a tough and well liked stalwart of the VRA crew. Jonathan Henry and Rick Hendrix caught some flak but both refire. Green and Taylor are back on the lead. Kierce is back to battling Rutherford with a waked up Chris Wakim in fourth. Brian Camarillo is fifth and John Nock is sixth. Nock clearly is now comfortable running top five every week. Rutherford, turbocharged by a Raney power plant, gets around Kierce and this is a bulletin. Kierce and Taylor are clearly the biggest sharks in this tank, both efficient racing machines at this advanced point of the season. However, Troy’s performance is showing the depth and breadth of this VRA talent pool. It’s Taylor, Rutherford, Kierce and Wakim. Wakim is pounding on the door but Kierce is keeping it locked. All are high on the cushion. The track is holding up beautifully. Espinoza suddenly spins in two and goes to the infield. Smoking engine he tells me later. (Rumor has it Espy will be driving a 410 next week at the USAC shootout. If he likes it he may just drive it down to Perris) Green again and Rutherford passes Taylor on the bottom. Then Taylor takes it back, but Tom Hendricks stops in turn four and he’s gone (he just got back from his bike accident). The lead goes back to Rutherford for the completed lap. Tremendous sweeping power turns off the cushion by all front four, Troy, Greg, Kevin and Chris with Clark Templeman now showing up. Troy and Greg are in lockstep and Kevin and Chris also banging wheels. Wakim bounces slightly off the front wall and he gets the hook at turn three. Templeman passed while Kierce and Wakim were involved. Now it’s Rutherford, Taylor, Templeman and Kierce. Troy Rutherford shows Taylor how those power turns look from behind, Templeman and Kierce are pitched for third position. Dennis Rodriquez has passed Nock for fifth. The laps run out as the crowd watches clean and powerful moves from VRA’s best. As a fan, I am in awe of Ventura’s high caliber homeboys. Greg and Troy go way back. On the winner’s stand Troy alludes to the satisfaction of clean racing with talented friends.
Winning In Life and In Racing, Skylar, Troy and Logan.
State of exhaustion watching all that racing. Maybe 900 fans at Ventura. Maybe 92,000 fans at Fontana. Needed a sweater Saturday night. Needed a cat scan Sunday night. Troy Rutherford at Ventura. Jimmie Johnson at CaliforniaSpeedway. Templeman, Earnhardt, Crawford, Gordon…. What’s it all mean? As Sir Paul McCartney once opined, “Relax dude, it’s just an energy field.”
