(March 18, 2013, Cliff Morgan, Ventura Raceway) OXNARD, CA - Ventura Raceway returned to action after its March 9 rainout with a full program of exciting short track racing action featuring six adult classes and our three division kid's class. Once again racing was excellent as our racers battled for points in the 2013 season.
Cody Swanson started the new 2013 with an exciting win over his cousin Jake Swanson and David Prickett in the 30 lap feature for VRA Midgets Saturday night. Swanson started outside of pole sitter Rick Hendrix who led from lap two to twenty-two. They battled until Swanson took the lead on lap 23 and went on to win. Hendricks fell back to a seventh place finish. Following Cody Swanson and Jake Swanson to the line were David Prickett, Scott Pierovich and Ronnie Gardner. Two heat races were run with wins going to Pierovich in heat one and Gardner in heat two.
IMCA Modifieds opened their season with two heat races for the 16 cars in the pits. Jack Parker took the heat one win and Josh Vogt took the win in heat two. The twenty lap feature was an all out dog fight with several different drivers battling for the lead. When all was said and done it was Josh Vogt taking the win over John Crow, Tom Smith, Robbie Witwer and 2012 track champion Jack Parker.
VRA Dwarf Cars were back on the track in two divisions, Seniors and Pros. There were 19 cars in Pros and 7 cars in Seniors. In Seniors, the 8 lap heat race went to Mike Neal. Their 20 lap feature went to Mike Lewis with George Calvo, Mike Neal, opening night race winner Bob Kaufman, and Bill VanPraag rounding out the top 5. In Pros it was Johnny Conley, Brent Stevens and Hannah Mayhew taking heat race wins. Brent Stevens took his second win of the new season in the 20 lap main. Following Stevens to the line were Chase Lippert, Lee Majors, Thomas Velasquez and Eric Alton.
VRA's new Hobby Stock Class continued their first season with five cars in attendance. Scott Dinger took the win in their one heat race. The 20 lap main event went to long time Ventura competitor Gary Curtis. Following Curtis to the line in the main were Scott Dinger, Ernie Malone, David Heurung, Tom Stephens Jr.
Ashley Hazleton took her first win in VRA Focus Midgets after race leader Brennan Rogers and Steve Brown got together in turn four as Rogers was lapping Brown. Brennan Rogers took their one heat race win. Twelve year old racer Courtney Crone made her first Focus start finishing second after a fine drive.
VRA Sport Compacts opened their season with 2012 season champ Zack Peterson tasking the win over James Adler, Mike Stanford, Jeff Stanton and Joel Chavez Jr. Heat race wins went to James Adler and Eric Griffin. Peterson had to overcome a mechanical breakdown with his primary #96 car early in the evening. He moved to the number 11 car and took win number one for 2013.
The final groups racing on opening night were our three kids divisions. In VRA Mini Dwarf Superchargers, J D Brown took the heat race win and the feature win. Following him in the feature was Bailey Hendricks. In Mini Dwarf Pistons the heat race and feature win went to Garrett Egan. Blake Hendricks, Zack Chavez and Dylan Neal followed him across the line in the main event. In VRA Junior Midgets, 2012 Mini Dwarf Supercharger champion Nick Velasquez took his second win of the season by taking the 15 lap feature and heat race win over Jake Aguiar.
Racing resumes next Saturday night March 23, with a full program of exciting racing featuring VRA Midgets, VRA Senior Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Sport Compacts, Mod Lites, Go Karts and Sport Mods.
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 03/16/2013
VRA Midgets
Race #1 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Cody Swanson, Norco, 30 Laps; 2. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 30 Laps; 3. David Prickett, Fresno, 30 Laps; 4. Scott Pierovich, Alamo, 30 Laps; 5. Ronnie Gardner, Norco, Ca, 30 Laps; 6. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 7. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 8. Bruce Hiroshima, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 9. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 18 Laps; 10. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 18 Laps; 11. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Rick Hendrix (1-23), Cody Swanson (24-30)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Scott Pierovich; Heat 2: Ronnie Gardner
Top 10 in points: 1. Cody Swanson, 245; 2. Jake Swanson, 230; 3. David Prickett, 220; 4. Scott Pierovich, 215; 5. Ronnie Gardner, 205; 6. Rick Hendrix, 180; 7. Bruce Douglass, 175; 8. Kyle Smith, 160; 9. Randi Pankratz, 155; 9. Bruce Hiroshima, 155
VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Brent Stevens, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 2. Chase Lippert, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 3. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 5. Eric Alton, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. Ira Henry, Bakersfield, 20 Laps; 7. April Banvelos, Sylmar, 19 Laps; 8. Hannah Mayhew, Acton, Ca, 15 Laps; 9. Shawn Egan, Saugus, 14 Laps; 10. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 12 Laps; 11. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 11 Laps; 12. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 9 Laps; 13. Tyler Blasher, 3 Laps; 14. Johnny Conley, Oxnard, 1 Lap; 15. Kevin Calvo, Agua Dulce, 1 Lap; 16. Jacob Ganzer, Murrietta, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Thomas Velasquez (1-2), Brent Stevens (3-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Hannah Mayhew; Heat 2: Brent Stevens; Heat 3: Johnny Conley
Top 10 in points: 1. Brent Stevens, 510; 2. Eric Alton, 415; 3. Chase Lippert, 385; 4. Johnny Conley, 365; 5. Lee Majors, 360; 5. Tim Conley, 360; 7. Thomas Velasquez, 345; 8. Kevin Calvo, 335; 9. Shawn Egan, 320; 10. Ira Henry, 315
VRA Senior Dwarf Cars
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 20 Laps; 2. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 20 Laps; 3. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 4. Bob Kaufman, Santa Clarita, CA, 20 Laps; 5. Bill Van Praag, Ventura, 20 Laps; 6. Keith Vondersaar, Acton, 20 Laps; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 19 Laps
Lap Leaders: George Calvo (1-13), Mike Lewis (14-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Mike Neal
Top 10 in points: 1. Mike Lewis, 475; 2. Bob Kaufman, 445; 3. Mike Neal, 430; 4. George Calvo, 405; 5. Keith Vondersaar, 380; 6. Bill Van Praag, 370; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, 330; 8. Rick Lapka, 10
VRA Hobby Stocks
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Gary Curtis, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Scott Dinger, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 3. Ernie Malone, Ojai, 16 Laps; 4. David Heurung, 8 Laps; 5. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 7 Laps
Lap Leaders: Tom Stephens Jr (1-3), Ernie Malone (4-8), Gary Curtis (9-15), Ernie Malone (16), Gary Curtis (17-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Scott Dinger
Top 10 in points: 1. Gary Curtis, 495; 2. Scott Dinger, 480; 3. Ernie Malone, 435; 4. David Heurung, 405; 5. Tom Stephens Jr, 210
Ford Focus
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Ashley Hazelton, Northridge, 20 Laps; 2. Courtney Crone, Corona, 20 Laps; 3. Brennan Rogers, Camarillo, 17 Laps; 4. Steve Brown, Ontario, Ca, 17 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brennan Rogers (1-17), Ashley Hazelton (18-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Brennan Rogers
Top 10 in points: 1. Brennan Rogers, 460; 2. Ashley Hazelton, 285; 3. Wally Pankratz, 250; 4. Courtney Crone, 230; 5. Steve Brown, 210; 5. Christine Breckenridge, 210; 7. Clayton Ruston, 195; 8. Austin Blair, 0
VRA Junior Midgets
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 2. Jake Aguilar, Thousand Oaks, 15 Laps
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Nick Velasquez
Top 10 in points: 1. Nick Velasquez, 520; 2. Jake Aguilar, 235; 2. Mike Long, 235
VRA Mini Dwarf - Pistons
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Garrett Egan, Saugus, 12 Laps; 2. Blake Hendricks, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 3. Zack Chavez, Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 4. Dylan Neal, Oxnard, 11 Laps
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Garrett Egan
Top 10 in points: ; 2. Blake Hendricks, 0; 2. Dylan Neal, 0; 2. Garrett Egan, 0; 2. Zack Chavez, 0
VRA Mini Dwarf - Superchargers
Race #2 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. J D Brown, Port Hueneme, 12 Laps; 2. Bailey Hendricks, Simi Valley, 12 Laps
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: J D Brown
Top 10 in points: 1. J D Brown, 515; 2. Andrew Orlando, 240; 3. Bailey Hendricks, 235; 4. Will Mimms, 215
IMCA Modifieds
Race #1 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 2. John Crow, Long Beach, 20 Laps; 3. Tom Smith, Lake Wood, 20 Laps; 4. Robbie Witwer, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 5. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. James Stowe, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 7. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 20 Laps; 8. Aaron Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 9. Randy Gens, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 10. David Phipps, 20 Laps; 11. Mark Davis, Ventura, 20 Laps; 12. John Romero, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 13. Chuck Costabile, Simi Valley, 18 Laps; 14. Brad Prows, Oak View, 16 Laps; 15. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 16 Laps; 16. Marty McLaughlin, Thousand Oaks, 16 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brad Prows (1-2), Tom Smith (3-15), Joshua Vogt (16-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Jack Parker; Heat 2: Joshua Vogt
Top 10 in points: 1. Joshua Vogt, 40; 2. John Crow, 39; 3. Tom Smith, 38; 4. Robbie Witwer, 37; 5. Jack Parker, 36; 6. James Stowe, 35; 7. Steve Bulpitt, 34; 8. Aaron Rodarte, 33; 9. Randy Gens, 32; 10. David Phipps, 31
VRA Sport Compacts
Race #1 03/16/2013
Main Event Results: 1. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 2. James Adler, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Mike Stanford, 20 Laps; 4. Jeff Stanton, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 5. Joel Chavez Jr., Santa Paula, 11 Laps; 6. Mira Cook, Camarillo, 7 Laps; 7. Cameron Dougan, Camarillo, 6 Laps; 8. Eric Griffin, 2 Laps; 9. Bruce Fink, Port Hueneme, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Mike Stanford (1-2), James Adler (3-4), Zachary Peterson (5-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: James Adler; Heat 2: Andrew Greiman
Top 10 in points: 1. Zachary Peterson, 255; 2. James Adler, 240; 3. Mike Stanford, 215; 4. Jeff Stanton, 200; 5. Joel Chavez Jr., 195; 6. Eric Griffin, 180; 6. Mira Cook, 180; 8. Cameron Dougan, 165; 9. Bruce Fink, 35
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- Ventura Raceway on Mar 18, 2013
- Article Date: 3/18/2013 by Ventura Raceway/Cliff Morgan