Ventura Raceway
March 26, 2015
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Kyle Smith takes his first VRA Sprint Car Feature of the 2015 Season

by Cliff Morgan
VENTURA, CA (March 21) - Ventura Raceway continued its 2015 season with a full program of exciting short track racing action featuring six adult classes and three Junior kid's division classes battling on the Ventura clay oval. Racing was exciting and fast paced with some classes making their 2015 debuts and some making their second event appearance of the new season. Throughout the evening the competition was very close and hard fought from top to bottom in each event.

2014 VRA Sprint Car Champion Kyle Smith came out this week and scored his first 30 lap feature event win of the new season. Smith led from the opening lap to the end to take his win over Guy Woodward, Rick Hendrix, George Morris Jr. and Kyle Edwards. Heat race wins went to Kyle Edwards and Rick Hendrix. With another night of wild and wooly racing the season looks like there will be a strong battle to see who will become the 2015 champion. After two races Kyle Smith leads the point race by 80 points over Rick Hendrix.

In IMCA Modified action, Cody Laney took the win with a powerful drive over a field of thirteen modfieds. He started eighth in the race and by lap 7 he was able to get by early leader Dennis Eckert and then go on to take the win. Following Laney to the line were Austin Rodarte, Aaron Rodarte, Chris Crompe and Mark Davis. Two heat races were run with wins going to Dennis Eckert and Chad Reichenbach. After two races in 2015 Andrew Phipps, Dave Phipps, Jack Parker and Mark Davis are tied for the point race lead with 72 points each.

VRA's Hobby Stock Class continued their new season with eight cars in attendance. Cameron Dougan returned after taking opening night's 20 lap main to make it two main event wins in a row and take a 35 point lead over runner up Tom Stephens Sr. Following Dougan and Stephens to the line were David Heurung, Randall Dougan and Mira Cook. Their one heat race went to Tom Stephens Sr.

VRA Sport Compacts were in action for the first time in 2015 with only 4 cars in attendance. Despite the small car count the 15 lap main event was hard fought with several lead changes between 2014 Champion Zachary Peterson and eventual winner Joel Chavez Jr. Following them across the finish line were Matt Peterson and Christina Garvin. Chavez also took their one heat race.

VRA Focus Midgets opened their 2015 season with a win by Gary Howard. Howard took their 20 lap feature over Mike Leach, Shawn Buckley, George Tuttle and Joel Rayborne. Their one heat race went to Shawn Buckley.

NMRA TQ Midgets made their first of four appearances at Ventura in 2015 with 2014 series champion Anthony Lippiccolo taking their 20 lap main event win over a field of fourteen cars.

Our three Junior Divisions opened their season with main event wins going to Dalton Houghton in Junior Midgets over Christian Bazen, Zach Malone, Sandy Brown and Zach Chavez, Brandon Velasquez over Kristin Long in Mini Dwarf Pistons, and Zach Chavez over Dylan Neal, Christian Bazen, Jeremiah Welte and Garrett Egan in Mini Dwarf Superchargers. Heat race wins went to Zach Chavez in superchargers, Brandon Velasquez in Pistons and Zach Chavez in Junior Midgets.

Racing resumes Saturday night March 28, with a full program of exciting racing featuring VRA Sprints, Senior Sprints, Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Mod Lites

 
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 03/21/2015

VRA Sprint Cars
Race #2 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 2. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 3. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 4. George Morris, 30 Laps; 5. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 30 Laps; 6. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 7. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 30 Laps; 8. Sheldon Deblauw, Ventura, 29 Laps; 9. Dan Tedrick, Apple Valley, 29 Laps; 10. Adam Frith-Smith, Cherry Valley, Ca, Did not start; 11. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Kyle Smith (1-30)

Heat Race Winners: Extreme Mufflers Heat 1: Kyle Edwards; Saldana Racing Products Heat 2: Rick Hendrix

Top 10 in points: 1. Kyle Smith, 470; 2. Rick Hendrix, 390; 3. Tom Hendricks, 380; 4. George Morris, 365; 5. Kyle Edwards, 360; 5. Guy Woodward, 360; 7. Sheldon Deblauw, 310; 8. Dan Tedrick, 270; 9. Troy Rutherford, 260; 10. Greg Taylor, 240

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IMCA Modifieds
Race #2 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Cody Laney, Torrance, 20 Laps; 2. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 3. Aaron Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Chris Crompe, Nipomo, 20 Laps; 5. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. Mark Davis, Ventura, 19 Laps; 7. Dave Phipps, Simi Valley, 19 Laps; 8. Andrew Phipps, Simi Valley, 19 Laps; 9. Andrew Greiman, Camarillo, 19 Laps; 10. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 19 Laps; 11. Tim Morse, Burbank, 19 Laps; 12. Chad Reichenbach, Bakersfield, 14 Laps; 13. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 6 Laps
Lap Leaders: Jack Parker (1-20), Dennis Eckert (1-6), Cody Laney (7-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Dennis Eckert; Heat 2: Chad Reichenbach

Top 10 in points: 1. Andrew Phipps, 72; 1. Dave Phipps, 72; 1. Jack Parker, 72; 1. Mark Davis, 72; 5. Joshua Vogt, 68; 6. Andrew Greiman, 66; 7. Tim Morse, 65; 8. Dennis Eckert, 63; 9. Cody Laney, 40; 10. Austin Rodarte, 39

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VRA Hobby Stocks
Race #2 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Cameron Dougan, Moorpark, 20 Laps; 2. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 3. David Heurung, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Randal Dougan, Moorpark, 20 Laps; 5. Mira Cook, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 6. Ken Redman, 20 Laps; 7. Jesse James Verdun, Santa Paula, 19 Laps; 8. Ernie Malone, Ojai, 8 Laps
Lap Leaders: Cameron Dougan (1-5), David Heurung (6), Cameron Dougan (7-10), David Heurung (11-12), Cameron Dougan (13-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Tom Stephens Sr

Top 10 in points: 1. Cameron Dougan, 500; 2. Tom Stephens Sr, 465; 3. David Heurung, 435; 4. Mira Cook, 395; 5. Jesse James Verdun, 375; 6. Randal Dougan, 365; 7. Ken Redman, 330; 8. Ernie Malone, 180; 9. Sam Garvin, 30; 10. Mike Stanford, 25

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VRA Sport Compacts
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Joel Chavez, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 2. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 3. Matt Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 4. Christina Garvin, Oxnard, 18 Laps
Lap Leaders: Zachary Peterson (1-19), Joel Chavez (20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Joel Chavez

Top 10 in points: 1. Joel Chavez, 260; 2. Zachary Peterson, 235; 3. Matt Peterson, 215; 4. Christina Garvin, 200

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Ford Focus
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Gary Howard, Ventura, 15 Laps; 2. Mike Leach, Orange, CA, 15 Laps; 3. Shawn Buckley, Simi Valley, 15 Laps; 4. George Tuttle, Carson, 15 Laps; 5. Joel Rayborne, West Covina, 5 Laps; 6. Cinnamon Brown, Ojia, 5 Laps; 7. Ashley Hazelton, Northridge, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Gary Howard (1-15)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Shawn Buckley

Top 10 in points: 1. Gary Howard, 255; 2. Shawn Buckley, 225; 2. Mike Leach, 225; 4. George Tuttle, 185; 5. Joel Rayborne, 180; 6. Ashley Hazelton, 175; 6. Cinnamon Brown, 175

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NMRA TQ
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results:

Heat Race Winners:

Top 10 in points:

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VRA Junior Midgets
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Dalton Houghton, Rosamond, 15 Laps; 2. Christian Bazen, Saugus, 15 Laps; 3. Zach Malone, Ojia, 13 Laps; 4. Sandy Brown, 7 Laps; 5. Zack Chavez, Santa Paula, 6 Laps
Lap Leaders: Zack Chavez (1-3), Sandy Brown (4-7), Dalton Houghton (8-15)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Zack Chavez

Top 10 in points: 1. Dalton Houghton, 240; 2. Christian Bazen, 230; 3. Sandy Brown, 210; 3. Zach Malone, 210; 5. Zack Chavez, 205

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VRA Mini Dwarf - Pistons
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Brandon Velasquez, 12 Laps; 2. Kristin Long, Thousand Oaks, 12 Laps

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Brandon Velasquez

Top 10 in points: ; 5. Brandon Velasquez, 0; 5. Kristin Long, 0

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VRA Mini Dwarf - Superchargers
Race #1 03/21/2015

Main Event Results: 1. Zack Chavez, Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 2. Dylan Neal, Oxnard, 12 Laps; 3. Christian Bazen, Saugus, 12 Laps; 4. Jeremiah Welte, Ojia, 11 Laps; 5. Garrett Egan, Saugus, 3 Laps
Lap Leaders: Christian Bazen (1-4), Zack Chavez (5-12)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Zack Chavez

Top 10 in points: 1. Zack Chavez, 260; 2. Dylan Neal, 235; 3. Christian Bazen, 210; 4. Jeremiah Welte, 195; 4. Garrett Egan, 195