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Not Exactly Everything

All right already, I’m finally going to shut up. Yesterday I was dragging and so glad the season was ending. But when I got to the track, that cool Ventura fog was floating around and my head started to feel better. I hooked up with a couple of friends and we got laughing about a couple of things. By the time I got up to the pits stand and watched a couple of senior sprints push off I was getting fired up. What’s better than a Saturday night under the lights at your local short track? I let it all go, kicked back and watched the small town heroes take us home…

Kevin Kierce Brought It To All Twenty-Five Races

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Senior Sprints settle the closest championship race of the season. It’s Danny Miller, brother Wiley Miller, Steve Stassa and Bruce Douglas battling to the end. But everybody seems to feel this is between Danny and Wiley, two brothers who have carved a significant racing family out of the Southern California trackscape. The tale may be have been told in the heat races. A win by Wiley and a fourth place finish by Danny set the stage for the Main Event. Wiley is in the enviable second row, Bruce third row, Danny fifth row and Steve Stassa tenth row. Twenty-two cars jump and Ron Bach gets cream spinach in the first lap. This champion is gone. Restart and Rob Kershaw gets the jump. That’s Ron Butler, Wiley and Bruce right on top of him. Tim Moon and Danny Miller are running fifth and sixth. Cliff tells me it’s all about where Wiley finishes! With Danny only leading by forty points, if Wiley wins this race Danny has to finish second to keep the point’s lead. Danny seems to know this and gets past Moon for fifth (remember started tenth!). We are in traffic and now it’s Butler, Wiley, Kershaw, Douglas and Danny. Wiley gets past Butler. Mark Chuhaloff spins in turn two and they put Wiley back behind Butler. Butler is driving with almost vicious intensity. State of the art racing for several laps as Wiley tries to take down the cunning Butler with no luck. Gil Mahoney hits the wall in turn one and we are yellow. Restart with thirteen completed and seven to go. Wiley resumes his assault on Butler’s first place, Danny is striving in fifth. Kershaw gets in the back of Butler and goes to the back. Danny is now fourth. Green and its Butler, Wiley, Douglas (an outstanding run), Danny and Tim Moon. With about two laps to go, Wiley gets under Butler and grabs the lead. White flag and its Danny last chance. But Wiley clinches his fourth Senior Championship, Ron Butler is inspiring in second, Bruce Douglas looking ahead in third and Danny Miller misses his first championship really by a heat race.

Champion Line Up

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Tommy Velasquez III got it done in VRA Mini Dwarf Pistons. Ricky Lewis had a pretty good lead on him most of the year. Tommy began chipping away at the points around September and posted consistent results for the rest of the year. He actually finished first in the last four races, an honor he shares with Sprint Car racer Troy Rutherford. Good sport Ricky took second in points, Cris Noe nabbed third, Cameron McCauley in fourth and Jimmy McDonald closes out your top five. I’ve said it before; kid’s classes are vital for the track’s future. Take a bow everyone.

Tommy Velasquez in Winner’s Circle With Ricky Lewis

Devin McCree took first in the last two VRA Mini Dwarf Super Charger races, but it was Riley Helland that finished as this year’s champion. Riley along with Brennan Rogers, Cameron Dougan and Tyler Jerman made all twelve races. They are Super Chargers. Devin McCree took second in points; Rogers in third, Dougan in fourth and Tyler Jerman top five. Get out of the way in 2008.

Mr. Casual, Riley Helland

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Michaela Stanton wins her first VRA Junior Midget Main Event Saturday night and she was a pleased as a plum. But the second place finish of Amanda Green gave her the 2008 Championship over hard charging Jessica Clark. Amanda Green, Jessica Clark, Ramon Rivas, Luke Boles and Michaela Stanton made all thirteen races and finished in that point’s order. Brilliant work by all the Ventura Raceway staff and parents for an epic season.

Michaela Takes Her First VRA Main

VRA Junior Midget Champion Amanda Green

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If you were watching carefully, you saw Ed Niedzwiecki take his heat and run from the back to the front. Then he went into the main event and ran from the seventh spot to the checkered flag. The guy shows up with that beat up of piece of whatever with a gas tank, simple flat trailer and a couple of tools. He sits there and eats his wrapped sandwich. Humble as dirt. Then he goes out and completely shreds his class. Maybe the best driver in Ventura, just my opinion. Put this guy in a sprint car or even NASCAR. Probably a country music star in his spare time. What makes it sweet is the quality of his peers. Van Pragg, Bellinger, Prechtl and Wes Harris didn’t miss one race. The Wild Bunch. The Senior Dwarfs went out every race and kicked butt from turn one to four and back again. We are not worthy.

Probably A Country Music Star In His Spare Time

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Only three Pro Dwarfs made all fifteen races and you have to give them credit. That would be Chris Olson, Michael Sweeny Jr. and Dillon Hume. But Jim Scribellito only needed fourteen races to lock his 2007 VRA Pro Dwarf Championship. We watched as number two in points Brent Stevens gave him hell for ten laps before his car developed engine problems. Tough Marc Lippert ran second in the main. Finishing top five in points are Scribellito, Stevens, consistent Jeff Shelton, Greg Goodwin and hard charging rookie Chris Olson. It was cool watching Scribellito and Stevens go at it all season long. Hard to express the intensity of dwarfs three wide down the front! Get out of town!

Thanks To Jim Scribellito For Excelling

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I would like to commend a few people for putting up with me this year. From the pit booth to the tower thanks to everyone in the first class Ventura Raceway staff. Hey Morris I’ll get that jerky next year! Buy Loudpedal, Mike has to be the coolest dad in the world to load up Tim with camera and tape (it seems like yesterday he was a kid)! Buy Raceway Video and insist that it’s Jeff original! Hey Buzzard you are the bomb, always speaking the truth. Check out Jon’s awesome photography at vrafan.com! Wolfman, you will always be the King. Special thanks to Scott, Mike, Jammy, Jedi Master Cliff and Jim Naylor. Thanks to both Wakim crew and K2 crew for inspiration. Every damn driver and crew on that holy ground. Hi Tech rules. Thanks to my editor Frank the Runbull for taking care of my s#&* and getting us all to look at racing in a different way. Raticall6 you have the most important job, keep that track clear and safe!

The Track Belongs To Those Who Rock Steady: John and Guy Woodward

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Hats off to Kevin Kierce, Dennis Rodriquez and Jonathan Henry, the three sprint car drivers who made all twenty-five races this season. That’s dedication mixed with a pure love of racing. Huge Main Event kicked with pole sitter Oren Prosser getting out front. John Nock was in second and Troy Rutherford in third when all hell broke loose. Coming around turn four, something snapped on Clark Templeman’s car and it wrenched left! He almost took out Hendrix but Rick squeaked out of there. Gathered up in the carnage at the flag stand included Jonathan Henry, Dennis Rodriquez, Richard McCormick, Tony Dighera, Wakim caught a wheel and launched (Chris has more frequent flyer miles this year than most presidential candidates) and Mike Knopf got some air too. Wakim unbelievably landed upright and actually got the car to refire. The six other cars were out and we are green again. Before another lap can be completed Mark Weitzman gets tapped and gathers Chris Wakim. You can’t fight fate! Green again and we are delivered the most classic case of youthful exuberance this year. Clark Henry, a talented rookie, is running fourth and trying to hang with Nock, Rutherford and Kierce. He is passing down the backstretch and I think he just forget about turn three in his enthusiasm. He starts biking at the radius and then just completely leaves earth. He reconnects at the billboards in an explosion of wood meeting attitude (and altitude). I don’t know if you should say “way to go” to a guy who almost killed himself but I was impressed. (Is this a good spot to commend the awesome Ventura track crew?). Two laps are completed and we have eleven cars left. Green light and Oren Prosser finally connects with his car (he says Gary Howard stopped by)! Incredible seat of your pants racing as he stuffs red-hot Troy for several laps. It’s shaking out as Prosser, Rutherford, Nock and Hendrix but here comes Kierce. They are all riding high as Kierce gets around Hendrix. Wes Richardson bikes hard in turn two and loses a tire. I guess he can say the wheels finally came off (Wes tells me he will be running a reduced schedule next year)! Great guy with a lot of tough luck this year. We go green again and Prosser continues to thrill the crowd. At the halfway mark Rutherford finally slides him in two and starts his victory laps. Prosser tells me the first fifteen laps took forever and the last fifteen disappeared like a bullet train! But it ain’t over yet! Kierce now clears Nock and he is on the gas. Now he clears Prosser and he is bearing down on Rutherford as we enter final laps. It’s Rutherford, Kierce, Prosser and Nock in heavy traffic. Kierce brings all of his savvy and skill of his outstanding year (overall second) as they pass the white flag. But Troy Rutherford is on some kind of crazy rocket ship and takes that last lap of 2007 a nanosecond faster than the whole rest of the world. The fans fall out of the stands and Scott Holder starts rewriting the record books. Troy has seven wins in eight races and for once I’m speechless. Really an amazing run, Troy.

Warp Speed Ending

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So at the end of the day someone got it right. In a world filled with missed opportunities and second-rate efforts someone took thirty years and got it perfectly right. You have all somehow ended up with a racing legend. Naylor insists it’s all about the people. This wild bullring is a place where people can connect. I think it’s where character roams and you can find the most interesting dramas. This place was built so you can win. But life is full of ironies. Tonight for me the most revealing moment was two brothers racing for a championship. One comes up short. I didn’t talk to Danny after that race, but I suspect it didn’t bother him. Hang around here long enough and you learn a powerful truth. Winning is not exactly everything.

The Fans Win

I’m spending more time with sprint cars than my own kids lately, but that’s okay. I’m just blowing out Naylor’s Thirtieth Anniversary season the only way I know how. Had to be a hundred plus cars pitted in his seaside palace yesterday. You had sprints, dwarfs, TQ’s and Sports. Plenty of hot dogs, lame ducks, prima donnas, fisticuffs, drag racing, winners and losers. But the featured act of the Main Event was the quiet riot Greg Taylor, who took nine years, thirty nine main event wins and about two million power laps to etch his name on the concrete corners of Ventura Raceway, VRA Sprint Car Champion of 2007…

All Thrill No Fill: Greg Taylor Early In His Championship Season

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How about that Oval Nationals they ran down at the Perris Auto Speedway. Outstanding! As a fan, I was just blown away by the quality of the staging, the level of competition and that unbelievable finish of the main event. Ventura locals who ran strong included Cory Kruseman, Troy Rutherford, and Blake Miller. Chris Wakim pulled out his 360 and held up the bank for a couple of K. Jimmy Crawford had the best spot in the pits. Stuck right at turn three, those bad boys could stroll over, check out the atomic wheel lifting and then wander back to working on that car (brake bedeviled bermwhacking baby)! Sincere thanks to Don the promoter and Scott the announcer and the whole damn staff for making magic happen. If you haven’t gone to Perris get down. I was sitting on the wall with Oren Prosser Sr. and he was telling me this is “just how Ascot was”. Oren should know.

Outstanding Oval Nationals

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Devin McCree Is A Super Charger Main Event Winner

The kids are restless. Last night in the Piston Class Mini Dwarf Tommy Velasquez took the lead from the start and cashed in. Point’s leader Ricky Lewis had car trouble and went from a fifty-five-point lead to a twenty-five-point deficit. I talked to Ricky after the race and he patiently explained to me how it has to go next week for him to prevail. He was good with it all. I also saw the soft-spoken Tommy Velasquez in the winner’s circle and it’s striking how young these kids are. Serious racers. Last night’s Pistons finished Velasquez, Jimmy McDonald, Chris Noe (third in points also), Nick Velasquez and Zachary Gilmore. Tommy and Ricky settle up next weekend.

Super Chargers have had a seesaw point’s battle between Riley Helland and Tyler Jerman all season long. Helland’s second place finish last night put him back in cat’s seat. Jerman is going to need a very good session next week to put things back together. Devin McCree won the feature race with Helland second, Cameron Dougan third, announcer Jammy Earnest’s son Joey Freshour in fourth and Austin Figueroa as top five. Both Riley and Tyler are in for all the marbles and it will be exciting next weekend from the heats to the beats.

Christian Copley Captured VRA Midget Main Event

Christian Copley nailed the main event of the VRA Junior Midgets. Amanda Green took second, Luke Boles in third, Michaela Stanton locked fourth and Drew Wright in the top five. Amanda Green has been trying to catch Jessica Clark all season long. Jessica started fourth row last night, was spun out in early in the race, went to the rear and raced her way back to a sixth place finish trying to protect her lead. I did not get an updated point’s sheet but they are neck and neck going into next week’s championship race. I suspect Clark has a slim twenty-five points over Green. Let’s run the race tomorrow, I’m not sure I want to wait a whole week.

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Is There Anyone Cooler At Ventura Raceway Than Mike Dyer? I Don’t Think So.

Sports Compacts ran a race for second. Joel Chavez clinched that championship two weeks ago and we talked about that. Last night he ran another first place finish followed across by Randall Dougan and David Peterson in that order. That order is how the points finally racked up for the whole season. Congratulations to second place Randall and David in third. But the real excitement for the evening was track veteran staff Mike Dyer climbing into car and showing the boys what it’s all about. His participation has reignited press interest in the Sport’s Compacts and bodes well for next year’s coverage. Mike ran a smoking race!

Nobody Could Touch Him All Year, Joel Chavez

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On the VRA Senior Dwarfs Tom Bellinger got out front but lost it to Ed Niedzwiecki after several laps. But even the great Niedzwiecki is not immune from car problems. After a cluster in turn two that gathered up Dave Hume, John Lynch, Kevin Alverson and Dave Revard, the blue 17 seemed to develop some sort of mechanical problem. Tom Bellinger has been chasing down his first main event win for a long time and this was his chance. He took over that lead and held off Bill Van Praag for that win. John Lynch had a strong charge at the end but it wasn’t enough after going to the back. Naylor gave Bellinger a lot of credit for persevering for his first ever Main Event win. Niedzwiecki did clinch the championship but we’ll check that next week.

Tom Bellinger and Crew Tom Jr. Get The Job Done

Neither Jim Scribellito nor Brent Stevens showed up tonight for the VRA Pro Dwarf! What happened? I must have missed Naylor talking about it. Maybe somebody can clue me in? Marc Lippert took early control. Brian Saxton got gathered up in a turn four snafu that sent him to the rear. It was Lippert and Cory Pollock, then Michael Lewis got up to second. Now it’s Lewis up front, followed by Lippert and Pollock but holy smokes sodbusters here comes Brian Saxton like Batman! Now he’s in second and rapidly gaining on Lewis. He launches a turn four missile strike and completely dominates the race. It was Saxton, Lewis, Jeff Shelton, Marc Lippert and Lars Wolfe. You gotta be nuts to run with these guys. It’s like some secret wacko bat club. Just check out guys like Lippert and Saxton. Fun bombs. I guess Stevens and point leader Scribellito will settle their hash next week. Should be supersonic.

There Is Only One Brian Saxton

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The NMRA TQ Midgets breezed a dozen cars and put on Walt Johnson Sr. Memorial. Walt was a big NMRA supporter and his son Walt Jr. has been a TQ Champion. Kenny Wiley has locked this year’s Championship and this is the final race of the season. They ran a lap with a heartfelt missing man formation and it was pretty cool. Their banquet is January 25^th in Moorpark, CA. I don’t think that’s gonna conflict with the NASCAR thing in New York. Randy Moody won tonight’s main event followed by Scott Dobson, Chuck West, West Evans and Richard Ortega Jr. for the top five. Nice officials in the tower, they love to brag about racers Jenna and Amanda. Good on you!

Randy Moody And His TQ Beast

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The sense of anticipation for the VRA Sprint Main Event was palpable. Greg was locked from the heat races, so it wasn’t a matter of championship. It was just more of what we get every weekend. Taylor, Rutherford, Kierce, Rodriquez, Wakim, McCormick, Richardson, et all! It’s an incredible list of hardcore drivers who serve it up every Saturday night! Right off the bat Wes Richardson helicopters out of turn four and he’s gone. Restart has “Front Row” Rutherford in the lead being chased by Jake Hodges and Guy Woodward. Ron Tjaarda hit the back wall hard and rolls it for a yellow. Wakim has lost a bolt and he splits. On the restart, there is a check up before the green and Clark Templeman gets taken out. Tough break. This all stems from one driver towards the front repeatedly ramming the rear end of another driver as they come down to the flag. Buy a Loudpedal video and figure it out. “If it’s in the race, it’s on the tape”! Rutherford again out front with a determined Jake Hodges all over him. Rutherford wobbles and Hodges takes it away. It’s Hodges, Rutherford, Taylor and Kevin Kierce but then Kierce drives that bottom past Taylor for third. Further back it’s Eric Severson, Ronnie Case, Luis Espinoza and Rick Hendrix (all the way up from the seventh row). Case hits a bump and loses a few marks. Rutherford is starting to reel Hodges back in as they navigate heavy traffic. Heated battle between these two and finally Rutherford passes at turn one on the bottom. Now it’s Rutherford, Hodges, Kierce, Taylor and Severson. Laps are reeling with back markers when suddenly Hodges gets crossed up with Nock and that gathers McCormick. McCormick has had one rotten break after another (got bumped to the infield during heats, gathered up in a crash during the semi and now gathered in the main) but he’s tougher than the rest! Taylor has a flat and goes to the back. Woodward’s gone, Buckley’s gone and Hodges is gone! Three laps to go and it’s still wide open! Coming down to the green it’s Rutherford, Kierce, Severson, Espinoza, Hendrix and everybody else! Rutherford is going for his sixth win in seven starts! Green and Rutherford leads the pack, Espy and Severson are trading slide jobs when things get rough and Severson catches the wall in turn four. Yellow! Two laps to go and Rutherford is challenged by Kierce; Espinoza challenges Kierce. Rutherford takes the middle, Kierce on the bottom, Espinoza to the top and Rutherford locks his third sequential and he’s done that twice in the last seven races! This guy can lead, catch, top, bottom, whatever! He thanks Raney for that nuclear power plant!

Troy, Family, Crew, Friends

Confirmed results are Rutherford, Kierce, Espinoza, Hendrix and Rodriquez. Equal hard chargers with nine passes are McCormick, Nock, Thomson and Hendrix. Your usual epic mind numbing fare.

It Takes A Team

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Ten Years to the Day

So kill the lights, dump the water in the crash truck and sweep out the haulers. Load the cars and we all head into the dark. But this was a significant night in the annals of Ventura Raceway. Greg Taylor is the 2007 VRA Sprint Champion and that means a lot. Just about everybody who was anybody had to stop by and lock hands. Tough crowd. Lotta guys want it, precious few get it. Greg would blame everything on his awesome crew, big family and lovely Lea. He points at his sponsors especially Westco International Consulting (“they stepped up in a big way”). But us fans see it different. We just see full throttle down the back, huge and powerful in the corners. The Colonel said it best: “Thanks Greg for a whole season of (sometimes three wide) clean racing”! Funny thing. The fans win.

Greg Taylor