Ventura Raceway
September 21, 2013
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Smith breaks bad luck for Ventura win

by Cliff Morgan
OXNARD, CA - To say Saturday night September 21 was a strange night would be an understatement. Recurring electrical problems with the turn one, tower and track lighting caused several delays in the event. Three times the power went down causing red flag conditions on the track as power was restored. Despite these issues the racing was another night of exciting racing as one of the largest car counts of the season competed.

VRA Sprints returned to action with 2012 VRA Sprint Car Champion Kyle Smith taking the win over 17 competitors in the 30 lap feature. He dominated the race to take his first win of the year. Following Smith across the line were Senior Sprint point leader Clif Warren, Rick Hendrix, Josh Lakatos and Austin Deblauw. Two heat race were run with wins being taken by Tom Hendricks in heat one and Austin Deblauw in heat two.

Eight VRA Senior Sprints were on hand to run their portion of the night's racing. The heat race and their 20 lap main event went to season point leader Clif Warren. The win kept him undefeated in 2013 with 10 straight victories. In the main event Warren took the lead from Chris Meredith on lap four and went on to take his record setting tenth win in a row this season. Warren led Mike Cook, Chris Meredith, Ed Schwarz, and Dave Marini to the finish line. After ten races in 2013, Warren leads Meredith by 350 points.

IMCA Modified racing continued to be exciting and fast. Dylan Coffee took the win in the 20 lap feature over a strong field of 17 cars. He took the lead from Steve Bulpitt on lap 6 and then led the field to the checkered flag. When the race was complete the results saw Coffee on top followed by Kevin Hocking, Austin Rodarte, Cody Laney and season point leader Robbie Witwer. Two heat races were run with the wins going to Austin Rodarte in heat one and Robbie Witwer in heat two. With one race to go in their season, Witwer leads perennial second place season finisher Brad Prows by eight points.

The new VRA Hobby Stock Class continued to put on great racing with seven cars in attendance. Point leader Scott Dinger took another win in their 20 lap feature. He battled with David Heurung and Mike Stanford throughout the race. David Heurung, James Brown, Sam Garvin and Ernie Malone followed Dinger across the line. One heat race was run with the win going to Ernie Malone. After 13 races in 2013 Scott Dinger holds a 270 point lead over David Heurung.

VRA Dwarf Cars returned to action with 28 Pro Dwarf cars and 7 Senior Dwarf Cars present. In Pro action, three heats were run with wins going to Eric Moore, David Taft and Brian Saxton. One Semi MAin was run with the win going to Jacob Ganzer. The 20 lap main event was won by Hannah Mayhew who held off several challenges to take her first VRA feature win. Following her to the line were point leader Johnny Conley, John Isabella, Randy Gordon and Brian Saxton. In Senior racing the one heat race run went to Mike Neal. Their 20 lap feature went to Brent Stevens over point leader Mike Neal, Randy Gordon, Keith Vondersaar and Bob Kauffman.

VRA Sport Compact racing saw past track champion Trevor Fitzgibbon return to take the win over point leader Zack Peterson, Andrew Greiman, James Adler and Chuck Costable. Andrew Greiman took their one heat race.

Ventura Raceway return too action Saturday September 28 with the final ARP Battle at the Beach VRA/USAC Midget race. That night will crown the 2013 King of the Beach. Also in tap that night will be VRA Mod Lites, IMCA Modifieds, Focus Midgets and our VRA Kids Classes.

VRA Sprint Cars

Race #10 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 2. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 3. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 4. Josh Lakatos, Pasadena, 30 Laps; 5. Austin DeBlauw, lVentura, 30 Laps; 6. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 7. Greg Taylor, Ventura, 30 Laps; 8. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, 30 Laps; 9. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 10. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 30 Laps; 11. George Morris, 29 Laps; 12. Luke Boles, Goleta, 29 Laps; 13. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 29 Laps; 14. Christine Lindahl, Tuscon, 29 Laps; 15. Kenneth Marini, Yuma, Az, 29 Laps; 16. David Taylor Jr., Moorpark, 14 Laps; 17. Adam Frith-Smith, Llano. Ca, Did not show

Lap Leaders: Kyle Smith (1-30)

Heat Race Winners: Extreme Mufflers Heat 1: Tom Hendricks; Saldana Racing Products Heat 2: Austin DeBlauw

Keizer Aluminum Wheels High Point Award: Tom Hendricks

K&N Engineering Hard Charger Award: George Morris

DJ Safety Hard Luck Award: Adam Frith-Smith

Top 10 in points (Adjusted): 1. Greg Taylor, 2005; 2. Guy Woodward, 1975; 3. Tom Hendricks, 1730; 4. Luke Boles, 1580; 5. Kyle Smith, 1565; 6. Rick Hendrix, 1540; 7. Austin DeBlauw, 1315; 8. David Taylor Jr., 1385; 9. Bruce Douglass, 1070; 10. Chris Meredith, 880

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VRA Senior Sprints

Race #10 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Mike Cook, Long Beach, 20 Laps; 3. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 4. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 20 Laps; 5. David Marini, Holtville, 20 Laps; 6. Greg Andrews, Fillmore, Ca, 20 Laps; 7. Joe Boman, Satellite Beach, Florida, 20 Laps; 8. Steve Brown, Ontario, Ca, 11 Laps

Lap Leaders: Chris Meredith (1-4), Cliff Warren (5-20)

Heat Race Winners: SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Cliff Warren

Top 10 in points: 1. Cliff Warren, 2510; 2. Chris Meredith, 2160; 3. Steve Brown, 1745; 4. Mike Cook, 1690; 5. Ed Schwarz, 1290; 6. Wally Pankratz, 1145; 7. Greg Andrews, 1090; 8. David Marini, 755; 9. Rob Kershaw, 240; 10. Victor Davis, 200

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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars

Race #10 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Hannah Mayhew, Acton, Ca, 20 Laps; 2. Johnny Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 3. John Isabella, San Diego, 20 Laps; 4. Randy Gordon, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 5. Brian Saxton, Mentone, 20 Laps; 6. Stephen Brunn, Monrovia, 20 Laps; 7. Chase Lippert, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 8. Ira Henry, Bakersfield, 20 Laps; 9. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 10. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 11. Kyle Fletcher, San Diego,, 20 Laps; 12. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 13. Jacob Ganzer, Murrietta, 20 Laps; 14. April Banvelos, Sylmar, 20 Laps; 15. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 16. David Taft, Ramona, 19 Laps; 17. Matt Larson, Rosamond, 9 Laps; 18. Keith Vondersaar, Acton, 6 Laps; 19. Eric Moore, Ventura, 5 Laps; 20. L.J. Billings, Monrovia, 5 Laps

Lap Leaders: Hannah Mayhew (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Eric Moore; Heat 2: David Taft; Heat 3: Brian Saxton

Top 10 in points: 1. Johnny Conley, 1880; 2. Thomas Velasquez, 1710; 3. Kevin Calvo, 1630; 4. Brent Stevens, 1605; 5. Hannah Mayhew, 1575; 6. Tim Conley, 1550; 7. Eric Moore, 1530; 8. Jason Horton, 1495; 9. Jacob Ganzer, 1400; 10. Tommy Velasquez III, 1280

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VRA Senior Dwarf Cars

Race #10 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Brent Stevens, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 2. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 3. Randy Gordon, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Keith Vondersaar, Acton, 20 Laps; 5. Bob Kaufman, Santa Clarita, CA, 20 Laps; 6. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 20 Laps; 7. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 5 Laps

Lap Leaders: George Calvo (1), Brent Stevens (2-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Mike Neal

Top 10 in points: 1. Mike Neal, 2015; 2. George Calvo, 1800; 3. Keith Vondersaar, 1785; 4. Mike Lewis, 1760; 5. Bill Van Praag, 1720; 6. Bob Kaufman, 1665; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, 1185; 8. Brent Stevens, 1030; 9. Lee Majors, 695; 10. Randy Gordon, 440

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IMCA Modifieds

Race #11 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Daylan Coffey, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 2. Kevin Hocking, Hungiton Beach, 20 Laps; 3. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Cody Laney, Torrance, 20 Laps; 5. Robbie Witwer, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 6. Mark Davis, Ventura, 20 Laps; 7. Brad Prows, Oak View, 20 Laps; 8. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 20 Laps; 9. Randy Thornell, Apple Valley, 20 Laps; 10. Jay McLey, 20 Laps; 11. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 12. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 20 Laps; 13. James Stowe, Ridgecrest, 4 Laps; 14. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 4 Laps; 15. David Phipps, 4 Laps; 16. Randy Gens, Oxnard, 4 Laps; 17. Billy Wormsbecker, Big Bear, 4 Laps

Lap Leaders: Steve Bulpitt (1-5), Daylan Coffey (6-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Austin Rodarte; Heat 2: Robbie Witwer

Top 10 in points: 1. Robbie Witwer, 397; 2. Brad Prows, 389; 3. Jack Parker, 378; 4. Joshua Vogt, 375; 5. Dennis Eckert, 358; 6. James Stowe, 353; 7. Mark Davis, 349; 8. Steve Bulpitt, 326; 9. David Phipps, 285; 10. Austin Rodarte, 249

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VRA Hobby Stocks

Race #13 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Scott Dinger, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 2. David Heurung, 20 Laps; 3. James Brown, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 4. Mike Stanford, Disqualified; 5. Sam Garvin, Oxnard, 19 Laps; 6. Ernie Malone, Ojai, 10 Laps; 7. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 1 Lap

Lap Leaders: Mike Stanford (1-6), Scott Dinger (7-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Ernie Malone

Top 10 in points: 1. Scott Dinger, 3035; 2. David Heurung, 2765; 3. Ernie Malone, 2610; 4. Gary Curtis, 2350; 5. Tom Stephens Jr, 2325; 6. Sam Garvin, 1525; 7. James Brown, 1355; 8. Mike Stanford, 965; 9. Randal Dougan, 720; 10. Cameron Dougan, 660

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VRA Sport Compacts

Race #10 09/21/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 3. Andrew Greiman, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 4. James Adler, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 5. Chuck Costabile, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. Mira Cook, Camarillo, 19 Laps; 7. Bruce Fink, Port Hueneme, 5 Laps; 8. Heath Morton, Oxnard, 4 Laps

Lap Leaders: James Adler (1), Trevor Fitzgibbon (2-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Andrew Greiman

Top 10 in points: 1. Zachary Peterson, 2410; 2. James Adler, 1965; 3. Andrew Greiman, 1940; 4. Mira Cook, 1785; 5. Bruce Fink, 1470; 6. Mike Stanford, 1435; 7. Eric Griffin, 650; 8. Heath Morton, 605; 9. Joel Chavez Jr., 350; 10. Cameron Dougan, 310