Austin Liggett wins the Battle at the Beach #1

Tommy Velasquez lll wins the Dwarf Car Main.

Chris Meredith won the Senior Sprint Car Main.

Trevor Fitzgibbon won his first IMCA Main.

Mike Leach wins another Focus Main

On a beautiful, warm Saturday night, a large crowd witnessed some very exciting short track racing on Ventura Raceway’s 1/5 mile oval. The featured event was the first ARP Battle At the Beach USAC/VRA 360 race of 2018. This race series, which will crown the King of the Beach in November at the Turkey Night Grand Prix, is always a top notch event featuring the best in 360 sprint car drivers going for the very special Battle at the Beach trophy awarded at each event. Also on hand Saturday night were the IMCA Modifieds, Senior Sprints, VRA Dwarf Cars and Focus Midgets.

The first 2018 ARP Battle at the Beach race was run Saturday night. Twenty-three USAC/VRA 360 sprints were on hand. In qualifying, Jake Swanson set a new 360 track record with a lap of 12.007 seconds and a speed of 74.296 mph. They ran three heat races with wins going to Danny Faria Jr in heat one, Tristian Guardino in heat two and VRA Champion Kyle Smith in heat three. The thirty-lap feature was a fast and furious event with the win going to Austin Ligggett over Ryan Timmons, Jake Swanson, Troy Rutherford and Kyle Smith. Liggett’s win earned him the first Battle at the Beach trophy of the year. It also puts him in the lead to become King at the Beach.

Nine VRA Senior Sprints were on hand Saturday night to continue their season. Two heat races were run with wins going to Eddie Williams in heat one and Bill Badger in heat two. They then ran their 20 lap main event with the win going to past champion Chris Meredith over Wally Pankratz, Bill Badger, Eddie Williams and Tom Stephens Sr. After four races, Chris Meredith leads Wally Pankratz by 20 points.

In VRA Dwarf Cars, Tommy Velasquez III took the Main Event win over Jason Horton, Tim Conley, Johnny Conley and Nick Velasquez. Velasquez took the lead on lap one and was never headed in their 20 lap race. Two heat races were run with wins going to Johnny Conley in heat one and Tom Morley in heat two. After 5 races in 2018, Johnny Conley leads Jason Horton by 10 points in the season long point race.

A strong field of eleven IMCA Modifieds continued their season with two heat races, which were won by 2017 champ Luis Espinoza in heat one and Dave Phipps in heat two. The 20 lap main event was a strong race which went to first time winner Trevor Fitzgibbon, followed by Luis Espinoza, Donald Houghton, Dennis Eckert and Dave Phipps. After 4 races in the new season, Luis Espinoza leads Donald Houghton by 5 points.

The final group running Saturday night was the VRA Focus Midgets. Seven cars were in attendance for the night. They ran one heat race with the win going to Randi Pankratz. They then ran their 20 lap main event, which went to point leader Mike Leach followed across the line by Randi Pankratz, Charlie Butcher, Jet Davison and Tim Foy. Leach leads Phil Schack 105 points after three races in 2018.

Our next racing event will be Saturday July 7th, when VRA 360 Sprints will be on hand along with VRA Dwarf Cars, California Lightning Sprints and VRA Focus Midgets sharing the show. For any questions, please call (805) 648-7223 for more information.

Ventura Raceway Race Results for 06/30/2018

VRA Sprint Cars
Race #4 06/30/2018

Top 10 in points: 1. Kyle Smith, 495; 2. Jeremy Ellertson, 460; 3. Charlie Butcher, 380; 4. Joey Bishop, 330; 5. Brody Roa, 260; 6. Sterling Cling, 205; 7. Danny Parrish, 190; 7. Ed Schwarz, 190; 9. Ryan Stolz, 185; 10. Gage Rucker, 180; 10. Kyle Edwards, 180

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ARP Battle at the Beach
Race #1 06/30/2018

Main Event Results: 1. Austin Liggett, 30 Laps; 2. Ryan Timmons, Pleasant Hill, 30 Laps; 3. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 30 Laps; 4. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 30 Laps; 5. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 6. Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, 30 Laps; 7. Jeremy Ellertson, Lawndale, 30 Laps; 8. Tristan Guardino, Fremont, CA, 30 Laps; 9. Danny Faria Jr, Tipton, 30 Laps; 10. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 11. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 12. Steve Hix, Ventura, 30 Laps; 13. Koen Shaw, Fresno, CA, 30 Laps; 14. Scotty Farmer, Adelaide, Austraila, 30 Laps; 15. Britton Bock, Calistoga, 30 Laps; 16. Ryan Stolz, Atascadero, 30 Laps; 17. Joey Bishop, Camarillo, 28 Laps; 18. Austin Ervine, 25 Laps; 19. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 18 Laps; 20. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, 17 Laps; 21. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 10 Laps; 22. Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton, CA, 10 Laps; 23. Brandon Wiley, Santa Maria, 6 Laps
Lap Leaders: Shannon McQueen (1-4), Austin Liggett (5-30)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Ryan Bernal; Heat 2: Tristan Guardino; Heat 3: Kyle Smith

Top 10 in points: 1. Austin Liggett, 250; 2. Ryan Timmons, 230; 3. Jake Swanson, 220; 4. Troy Rutherford, 210; 5. Kyle Smith, 205; 6. Shannon McQueen, 185; 7. Tristan Guardino, 180; 8. Danny Faria Jr, 175; 9. Jeremy Ellertson, 155; 9. Tom Hendricks, 155

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VRA Senior Sprints
Race #4 06/30/2018

Main Event Results: 1. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 2. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 20 Laps; 3. Bill Badger, Canyon Country, 20 Laps; 4. Eddie Williams, El Segundo, 20 Laps; 5. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 6. Greg Andrews, Fillmore, Ca, 20 Laps; 7. Tyler Hatzikian, El Segundo, 20 Laps; 8. Paul Merrick, 7 Laps; 9. Joey Bishop, Camarillo, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Chris Meredith (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Eddie Williams; Saldana Racing Products Heat 2: Bill Badger

Top 10 in points: 1. Chris Meredith, 475; 2. Wally Pankratz, 455; 3. Eddie Williams, 385; 4. Tyler Hatzikian, 370; 5. Greg Andrews, 355; 6. Tom Stephens Sr, 345; 7. Paul Merrick, 335; 8. Rick Hendrix, 250; 9. Bill Badger, 225; 10. Ed Schwarz, 215

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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
Race #5 06/30/2018

Main Event Results: 1. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 3. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 4. Johnny Conley, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 5. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 6. Trent Morley, Woodland Hills, 20 Laps; 7. Korey Cowan, Lancaster, 20 Laps; 8. Kody Cowan, Lancaster, 20 Laps; 9. Tommy Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 10. Tom Morley, Woodland Hills, 20 Laps; 11. Mike Long, Thousand Oaks, 19 Laps; 12. Jeff Hinz, Saugus, 19 Laps; 13. Tony Pellegrino, Simi Valley, 19 Laps; 14. Jeff Brink, Ventura, 9 Laps
Lap Leaders: Tommy Velasquez III (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Johnny Conley; Heat 2: Tom Morley

Top 10 in points: 1. Johnny Conley, 1185; 2. Jason Horton, 1175; 3. Tommy Velasquez III, 1015; 4. Tom Morley, 935; 4. Trent Morley, 935; 6. Korey Cowan, 905; 7. Kody Cowan, 810; 8. Tommy Velasquez, 795; 9. Nick Velasquez, 770; 10. Gage Cheek, 730

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IMCA Modifieds
Race #4 06/30/2018

Main Event Results: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 20 Laps; 3. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 20 Laps; 4. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 20 Laps; 5. Dave Phipps, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 7. Justin Miller, 20 Laps; 8. Scott Olsen, Ventura, 19 Laps; 9. Chuck Costabile, Simi Valley, 19 Laps; 10. Andrew Greiman, Newbury Park, 19 Laps; 11. Corben Sabers, 14 Laps
Lap Leaders: Trevor Fitzgibbon (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Luis Espinoza; Heat 2: Dave Phipps

Top 10 in points: 1. Luis Espinoza, 149; 2. Donald Houghton, 144; 3. Andrew Greiman, 141; 4. Trevor Fitzgibbon, 139; 4. Jack Parker, 139; 6. Dave Phipps, 137; 7. Dennis Eckert, 113; 8. Austin Rodarte, 75; 9. Aaron Rodarte, 70; 10. Brandon Hoekstra, 69

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Focus Midgets
Race #3 06/30/2018

Main Event Results: 1. Mike Leach, Foothill Ranch, 20 Laps; 2. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 20 Laps; 3. Charlie Butcher, 20 Laps; 4. Jet Davison, Running Springs, 20 Laps; 5. Tim Foy, Ojai, 20 Laps; 6. Phil Schack, San Luis Obispo, 1 Lap; 7. Jimmy May, Ventura, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Mike Leach (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Randi Pankratz

Top 10 in points: 1. Mike Leach, 705; 2. Phil Schack, 600; 3. Jet Davison, 435; 3. Randi Pankratz, 435; 5. Keoni Texeira, 430; 6. Tim Foy, 340; 7. Gage Rucker, 325; 8. Charlie Butcher, 220; 9. Chris Tramel, 215; 9. Jessica Clark, 215

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Report Created by Ventura Raceway Scoring Program
Report Created: 07/03/2018 12:02