Ventura Raceway continues its 2012 racing season this Saturday May 5, 2012 at 5:30PM with a full program of exciting open wheel racing action. Saturday's event will feature the VRA Midget Series that made its 2012 debut on March 21 after two previous rainouts. Along with the VRA Midgets other classes racing will include IMCA Modifieds, VRA Focus Midgets and VRA Senior Sprints all in action on Ventura Raceways tight, highly competitive 1/5 mile oval.
VRA Midgets are continuing their season after a great race on April 21, which saw Greg Edenholm take his first ever midget main event win. Edenholm leads Ronnie Gardner, Jake Swanson, Wink Schweitzer and Brian Camarillo in the season point race as we head into Saturday night's action. This year Ventura Raceway is using a new point system that allows drivers who get a poor pill draw a better chance to move into the main event or receive a higher semi main starting position. This change was requested by drivers and crews for some time and so far in 2012 it appears to be working very well. The midgets will compete in a series of 8 lap heats, semi mains as needed and a 30 lap feature.
VRA Senior Sprints are back on Saturday night's card with their fourth race in their hotly contested series that sees Victor Davis out front in the point race over Bruce Douglass and Clif Warren after three races in 2012. Davis has won two in a row and will be going for his third this Saturday night. Other drivers expected to challenge Davis include Chris Meredith, Wally Pankratz, Ed Schwarz and newcomer to sprints but long time competitor at Ventura, Wayne Heurung.
IMCA Modifieds return to action with point leader Gary Curtis leading them into competition. After three races so far Curtis has a six point lead over April 21st winner Jack Parker, Brad Prows and Aaron Rodarte, who are all tied for second. Austin Rodarte is one point back at 104. Other drivers scheduled to appear include Scott Kuchta, Wayne Heurung, Steve Bulpitt and several others. All these drivers will be out to make their moves in the season long point battle.
Our final class competing on Saturday is our VRA Focus Midget class. This is a class for spec Ford Focus motored midgets. All time USAC great Wally Pankratz leads Parker Colston in their point race by 30 points, 260 to 230 after one race in 2012. Several drivers who have moved up to full midgets and sprint cars got their start in this class. A special onetime $1,000 purse has been added for this event courtesy of the Cory Kruseman Sprint Car and Midget Driving School. It will feature a $200 win and $30 to start.
Pit gates will open at 12 noon with front gates opening at 3:00. Cars go on the track for warm ups and preliminaries at 3:30 with racing getting under way at 5:30. Admission prices for this event are $14.00 for adults, $11.00 for Seniors, Military and Juniors. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, please call Ventura Raceway at 805-985-5433 Monday through Friday and 805-648-RACE on raceday.
- Ventura Raceway on May 02, 2012
- Article Date: 5/2/2012 by Ventura Raceway/Cliff Morgan