There was a full house for the Motor Sports Event at the 2016 Ventura County Fair.

Evan Zellman wins his first Demolition Derby at the 2016 Fair.

Bobby Michnowicz (center) bested second place Dan Hillberg (right) and third place Jarrett Kramer (left) to win the California Lightning Sprint Feature.

Tim Conley wins his second Ventura County Fair Race. It took a late race charge to get by Jason Horton, who had lead from the beginning.

Robby Sawyer came from Bakersfield to take the IMCA Feature.

Daniel Anderson, the Focus Midget points leader, wins another main.

The 2016 Ventura County Fair Motor Sports event was run in front of a full house on Wednesday evening, August 3.  The fans in attendance witnessed some exciting, close, hard fought racing from the opening heats to the final Main Events and Demolition Derby.  With over 70 cars in the pits, drivers were all going for the win in each competing class.

IMCA Modifieds were on hand to run a 30 lap feature that had a $1,000 winner’s check waiting for the winning driver.  Twenty cars started the Main Event with Austin Rodarte leading the first 16 laps.  Robby Sawyer got by him on lap 17 and held on to take the win.  He was followed across the finish line by Austin Rodarte, Aaron Rodarte, Josh Vogt and Ryan Roath.   There were three heat races run, with wins going to Jack Parker, Andrew Phipps and Robby Sawyer.  Jack Parker now leads Andrew Greiman by 17 points after eleven races in 2016.

The winged warriors of the California Lightning Sprints ran a 25 lap Main Event with the win going to 2015 series champion Bobby Michnowicz.   Twenty-two cars started the feature that saw Jon Squire lead laps 1-4.  Dan Hillberg then led lap 5, only to be passed by eventual winner Bobby Michnowicz who led lap 6 to 25.  An early crash on lap 2 took out six of the original 25 starters.  Following Michnowicz across the line were Dan Hillberg, Jarrett Kramer, Alex Gregorias and Cody Nigh.  There were three heat races run with wins going to Aiden Lange, Alex Gregorias and Jarrett Kramer.

Twenty VRA Dwarf Cars signed into the pits for the night’s action.  They ran three heat races, with wins going to Johnny Conley, Mike Neal and Darren Brown.  They then ran a twenty lap Main Event that saw Jason Horton jump out front and lead the first 18 laps.  On lap 18, he got together with Johnny Conley in turn three and fell out of the race.  Tim Conley took advantage of the incident and went on to take the win over Mike Neal, Tommy Velasquez III, Brandon Wiley and Gage Cheek.  Johnny Conley now leads the series by 175 points over Tommy Velasquez III after eleven races.

USAC/VRA Focus Midgets were the final oval racing class Wednesday night. Eleven cars were there to run two heat races won by Randi Pankratz and Joel Rayborne.  Their 20 lap feature went to VRA Focus point leader Daniel Anderson over Randi Pankratz, Ashley Hazleton, Hobie Conway and Antonia Boscacci.  Anderson leads Mike Leach by 185 points after eight races.

The final event of the night was a nine car destruction derby.  For 21 minutes, these cars crashed and bashed each other to see who would be the last car running.  When all was said and done, the win went to Evan Zellmer who outlasted the other eight competitors to take the $1,500 winner’s check.  Finishing second through fifth were Evan Thrasher, Eric Mulay, Brian DeFoster and Jake Bledsoe.

Ventura Raceway will now take a break in their racing season for the running of the FAIR.  We will resume racing on Saturday August 27, with a full program featuring VRA 360 Sprints, Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks,
Focus Midgets and Go Karts.

Ventura Raceway Race Results for 08/03/2016

IMCA Modifieds
Race #11     08/03/2016

Main Event Results: 1. Robby Sawyer, Bakersfield, 30 Laps; 2. Aaron Rodarte, Ventura, 30 Laps; 3. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 30 Laps; 4. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 30 Laps; 5. Ryan Roath, Peoria, AZ, 30 Laps; 6. Andrew Phipps, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 7. Steve Stultz, Peoria, AZ, 30 Laps; 8. Chris Crompe, Nipomo, 30 Laps; 9. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 10. Tim Morse, Burbank, 30 Laps; 11. Bill Bartel, 30 Laps; 12. John Romero, Port Hueneme, 30 Laps; 13. Daylan Coffey, Santa Maria, 27 Laps; 14. P.J. Dyke, San Diego, 23 Laps; 15. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, AZ, 15 Laps; 16. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 15 Laps; 17. Chuck Costabile, Simi Valley, 13 Laps; 18. Dave Phipps, Simi Valley, 9 Laps; 19. William Hackett, Imperial Beach, 8 Laps; 20. Andrew Greiman, Newbury Park, 6 Laps
Lap Leaders: Austin Rodarte (1-16), Robby Sawyer (17-30)

Heat Race Winners:   Heat 1: Brian Schultz;  Heat 2: Andrew Phipps;  Heat 3: Robby Sawyer

Top 10 in points:  1. Jack Parker, 353; 2. Luis Espinoza, 336; 3. Andrew Greiman, 335; 4. Austin Rodarte, 302; 5. Aaron Rodarte, 268; 6. Scott Olsen, 261; 7. Dennis Eckert, 132; 8. Chuck Costabile, 119; 9. Chris Crompe, 109; 10. Mark Davis, 106

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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
Race #11     08/03/2016

Main Event Results: 1. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 2. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 3. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 4. Brandon Wiley, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 5. Gage Cheek, Valencia, 20 Laps; 6. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 7. Jeff Fillingame, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 8. David Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 9. David Taylor Jr., Moorpark, 20 Laps; 10. Justin Jackson, Grover Beach, 20 Laps; 11. Johnny Conley, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 12. Kody Cowan, Lancaster, 20 Laps; 13. Korey Cowan, Lancaster, 19 Laps; 14. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 18 Laps; 15. Trent Morley, Woodland Hills, 14 Laps; 16. Darren Brown, El Cajon, 9 Laps; 17. Cody Black, Moorpark, 4 Laps; 18. Tommy Velasquez, Camarillo, 1 Lap; 19. Jeff Brink, Ventura, 1 Lap; 20. Mike Stanford, Oxnard, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Jason Horton (1-18), Tim Conley (19-20)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Johnny Conley; Heat 2: Mike Neal; Heat 3: Darren Brown

Top 10 in points:  1. Johnny Conley, 2285; 2. Tommy Velasquez III, 2110; 3. Tim Conley, 2095; 4. Jeff Fillingame, 2060; 5. David Conley, 1865; 6. Nick Velasquez, 1825; 7. Gage Cheek, 1810; 8. Jason Horton, 1725; 9. Trent Morley, 1655; 10. Tommy Velasquez, 1400

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Cal. Lightning Sprints
Race #5     08/03/2016

Main Event Results: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, 25 Laps; 2. Dan Hillberg, Placentia, 25 Laps; 3. Jarrett Kramer, Santa Clarita, 25 Laps; 4. Alex Grigoreas, Upland, 25 Laps; 5. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, 25 Laps; 6. Johnny Conley, Camarillo, 25 Laps; 7. James Heling, San Bernardino, 25 Laps; 8. Pat Kelly, Chino, 24 Laps; 9. Jon Squire, Lakeside, 23 Laps; 10. James Squire, Lakeside, 23 Laps; 11. Dale Gamer, Anaheim, 23 Laps; 12. Alec Bender, Ramona, 16 Laps; 13. Jeffrey Dyer, Victorville, 15 Laps; 14. Jon Simms, Carlsbad, 15 Laps; 15. Darren Hillberg, Corona, 5 Laps; 16. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, 2 Laps; 17. Jon Robertson, Torrance, 2 Laps; 18. Wyatt Downing, Lakewood, 2 Laps; 19. Eric Greco, Palmdale, 2 Laps; 20. John Nelson, Norco, 2 Laps; 21. Don Kuehner, Perris, 2 Laps
Lap Leaders: Jon Squire (1-4), Dan Hillberg (5), Bobby Michnowicz (6-25)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Aiden Lange; Heat 2: Alex Grigoreas; Heat 3: Jarrett Kramer

Top 10 in points:  ; 10. Jarrett Kramer, 0; 10. Jon Squire, 0; 10. Jeffrey Dyer, 0; 10. Zack Zauss, 0; 10. Bobby Michnowicz, 0; 10. Don Kuehner, 0; 10. Dan Hillberg, 0; 10. Mike Kotlinski, 0; 10. Jon Robertson, 0; 10. Alex Grigoreas, 0; 10. Pat Kelly, 0; 10. Dale Gamer, 0; 10. James Squire, 0; 10. Kevin Michnowicz, 0; 10. Jon Simms, 0; 10. Darren Hillberg, 0; 10. A. J. Bender, 0; 10. Cody Nigh, 0; 10. Bruce Douglass, 0; 10. Aiden Lange, 0; 10. Wyatt Downing, 0; 10. Eric Greco, 0; 10. David Cardey, 0; 10. Alec Bender, 0; 10. Johnny Conley, 0; 10. John Nelson, 0; 10. James Heling, 0

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Focus Midgets
Race #8     08/03/2016

Main Event Results: 1. Daniel Anderson, Los Angeles, 20 Laps; 2. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 20 Laps; 3. Ashley Hazelton, Northridge, 20 Laps; 4. Hobie Conway, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Antonia Boscacci, Mountain View, Ca, 20 Laps; 6. Davey Hamilton, 20 Laps; 7. Annie Breidinger, San Meteo, 19 Laps; 8. Mike Leach, Foothill Ranch, 13 Laps; 9. Joel Rayborne, West Covina, 13 Laps; 10. Jess Love IV, Menlo Park, 13 Laps; 11. David Prickett, Fresno, 4 Laps
Lap Leaders: Daniel Anderson (1-20)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Ashley Hazelton; Heat 2: Joel Rayborne

Top 10 in points:  1. Daniel Anderson, 1630; 2. Mike Leach, 1445; 3. Randi Pankratz, 1195; 4. Joel Rayborne, 1175; 5. Ashley Hazelton, 930; 6. Wally Pankratz, 430; 7. Mike Leach Sr., 220; 8. Tyler Williams, 215; 9. Hobie Conway, 205; 10. Matt McCarthy, 200

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Report Created by Ventura Raceway Scoring Program
Report Created: 08/04/2016 11:31