Guy Woodward, the 2015 champion, back in the winners circle
Starting last in the feature, after spinning out in the hot lap session, he came from the back of the field to pass Charlie Butcher and win his first VRA Main of the 2016 season.
Brandon Wiley’s first ever VRA Dwarf Car win and a spectacular one at that.
Two in a row for Trevor Fitzgibbon.
Former IMCA Modified Champion Josh Vogt gets his first win of the 2016 season.
Randi Pankratz wins the Focus Main by passing Daniel Anderson after getting a bad start.
(April 25, 2016 Cliff Morgan, Ventura Raceway)Ventura Raceway continued its 2016 car racing season with a great night of exciting short track racing. Competition was very close and hard fought from top to bottom in each class from the opening heat races to the final man events.
In VRA Sprints, 13 cars signed into the pits for their third race of the season. 2015 series champ, Guy Woodward, started dead last on the field and took the wild 30 lap main event over Charlie Butcher, Brandon Thomson, Rick Hendrix and ever improving Tommy Dunkel. Jeremy Ellertson led laps 3 to 15 and appeared on his way to victory, only to have an incident while trying to lap Ron Bach. The incident put him to the rear of the field. He then charged his way back to fourth position only to be taken out by a bad slide job by another driver ending his night. Charlie Butcher then took the lead and also appeared on his way to his first win, only to have a late race flip by Tyler Williams bring out the red flag with 3 laps to go. On the restart, Guy Woodward got by Butcher to take the win. Following Woodward to the line were Charlie Butcher, Brandon Thomson, point leader Rick Hendrix and up and coming rookie Tommy Dunkel whose fifth place finish is his best VRA finish. Heat race wins went to Brandon Thomson in heat one and Chris Meredith in heat two. Rick Hendrix now is leading in the point race by 45 points over Guy Woodward and 90 points over Jeremy Ellertson after three races.
VRA Dwarf Cars returned to action Saturday with sixteen year old Brandon Wiley taking his first ever VRA win in a thrilling finish that saw three cars battle to the line after twenty hard fought laps. Wiley’s win over Jeff Fillingame, Tom Stephens Jr, Tommy Velasquez III and Randy Gordon was very popular with the crowd. Their three heat races went to Jeff Fillingame, Tim Conley and Johnny Conley. There were 24 dwarf cars signed in for the night’s action. Three races into the new season finds Jeff Fillingame leading in points by 15 points over Tim Conley and 25 points over David Conley and Jason Horton.
IMCA Modified action saw Josh Vogt return to Ventura Raceway and dominate the 20 lap Modified main event. He took the lead on lap one and was never headed in a green white checker race. Following him to the finish line were Daylan Coffey, Austin Rodarte, Jack Parker and VRA Sprint Car racer Luis Espinoza who is doing double duty in Sprints and Modifieds this season. There were two heat races run, with wins going o Austin Rodarte and Josh Vogt. Austin Rodarte now leads Jack Parker by 5 points after two races in 2016.
VRA’s Hobby Stock Class was on hand for their third race of their 2016 season with 15 cars in attendance. Trevor Fitzgibbon took his second win in a row in the win in the 20 lap main event that saw good racing from start to finish. Following Fitzgibbons across the line were Ernie Malone, Mike Stanford, Tom Stephens Sr. and Zach Peterson. Their two heat races went to Trevor Fitzgibbon and David Heurung. After three events in 2016, Trevor Fitzgibbon leads the point race by 10 points over Mike Stanford and 100 points over Tom Stephens Sr.
The final group racing Saturday night was the VRA Focus Midgets. A small field of 5 cars ran one heat race that went to Daniel Anderson and a 20 lap main event that was won by Randi Pankratz over Daniel Anderson, Joel Rayborne Mike Leach and Mike Leach Sr. Daniel Anderson leads the point race in this series by 120 over Mike Leach after two races in the new season.
Ventura Raceway continues its 2016 season next Saturday April 30, with a full program of VRA Sprints, Senior Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Hobby Stocks.
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 04/23/2016
VRA Sprint Cars
Race #4 04/23/2016
Main Event Results: 1. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 2. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, 30 Laps; 3. Brandon Thomson, Ventura, 30 Laps; 4. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 5. Tommy Dunkel, Hesperia, 30 Laps; 6. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 30 Laps; 7. Austen Figueroa, El Segundo, 30 Laps; 8. Hobie Conway, Ventura, 30 Laps; 9. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 30 Laps; 10. Tyler Williams, Suwanee, Georgia, 28 Laps; 11. Jeremy Ellertson, Lawndale, 26 Laps; 12. Ron Bach, Santa Paula, 26 Laps; 13. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 12 Laps
Lap Leaders: Charlie Butcher (1), Chris Meredith (2), Jeremy Ellertson (3-15), Charlie Butcher (16-26), Guy Woodward (27-30)
Heat Race Winners: Extreme Mufflers Heat 1: Brandon Thomson; Saldana Racing Products Heat 2: Chris Meredith
Top 10 in points: 1. Rick Hendrix, 665; 2. Guy Woodward, 620; 3. Jeremy Ellertson, 530; 4. Charlie Butcher, 510; 5. Luis Espinoza, 505; 6. Chris Meredith, 495; 7. Tommy Dunkel, 455; 8. Austen Figueroa, 430; 9. Tyler Williams, 425; 10. Hobie Conway, 360
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IMCA Modifieds
Race #3 04/23/2016
Main Event Results: 1. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 2. Daylan Coffey, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 3. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 5. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 19 Laps; 6. Scott Olsen, 19 Laps; 7. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 16 Laps; 8. Andrew Greiman, Newbury Park, Did not show; 9. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Joshua Vogt (1-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Austin Rodarte; Heat 2: Joshua Vogt
Top 10 in points: 1. Austin Rodarte, 76; 2. Jack Parker, 71; 3. Dennis Eckert, 68; 4. Luis Espinoza, 67; 5. Andrew Greiman, 61; 6. Robbie Witwer, 40; 6. Joshua Vogt, 40; 8. Cody Laney, 39; 8. Daylan Coffey, 39; 10. Aaron Rodarte, 37
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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
Race #3 04/23/2016
Main Event Results: 1. Brandon Wiley, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 2. Jeff Fillingame, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 3. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 5. Randy Gordon, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 6. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 7. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 8. Gage Cheek, Valencia, 20 Laps; 9. Tommy Velasquez, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 10. Frankie Politelli, Acton, 20 Laps; 11. Johnny Conley, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 12. D. J. Lebow, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 13. Kody Cowan, Lancaster, 20 Laps; 14. Cody Black, Moorepark, 15 Laps; 15. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 15 Laps; 16. Trenton Morley, Woodland Hills, 10 Laps; 17. David Conley, Oxnard, 6 Laps; 18. Mike Smith, Lompoc, 4 Laps
Lap Leaders: Tom Stephens Jr (1-9), Brandon Wiley (10-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Jeff Fillingame; Heat 2: Tim Conley; Heat 3: Johnny Conley
Top 10 in points: 1. Jeff Fillingame, 620; 2. Tim Conley, 605; 3. David Conley, 580; 4. Jason Horton, 555; 5. Brandon Wiley, 545; 6. Gage Cheek, 540; 7. Tom Stephens Jr, 500; 8. Tommy Velasquez III, 495; 9. Nick Velasquez, 480; 10. Trenton Morley, 470
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VRA Hobby Stocks
Race #4 04/23/2016
Main Event Results: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Ernie Malone, Ojai, 20 Laps; 3. Mike Stanford, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 4. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 6. Jesse James Verdun, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 7. Matt Dockstader, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 8. Dave Condon, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 9. Sam Garvin, Oxnard, 19 Laps; 10. Gary Garvin, Oxnard, 19 Laps; 11. Matt Sweeney, Sherman Oaks, 18 Laps; 12. Christina Garvin, Oxnard, 8 Laps; 13. Jim Jewett, 7 Laps; 14. David Heurung, Ventura, 7 Laps; 15. Devin Montgomery, Oxnard, 0 Laps; 16. Mitchell Mohler, Flagstaff, AZ, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Tom Stephens Sr (1-11), Trevor Fitzgibbon (12-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Trevor Fitzgibbon; Heat 2: David Heurung
Top 10 in points: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, 695; 2. Mike Stanford, 685; 3. Tom Stephens Sr, 595; 4. David Heurung, 570; 5. Sam Garvin, 560; 6. Jesse James Verdun, 545; 7. Zachary Peterson, 540; 8. Christina Garvin, 470; 9. Gary Garvin, 445; 10. Jim Jewett, 390
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Go-Karts
Race #2 04/23/2016
Main Event Results:
Heat Race Winners:
Top 10 in points:
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Focus Midgets
Race #2 04/23/2016
Main Event Results: 1. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 20 Laps; 2. Daniel Anderson, Los Angeles, 20 Laps; 3. Joel Rayborne, West Covina, 20 Laps; 4. Mike Leach, Foothill Ranch, 20 Laps; 5. Mike Leach Sr., Foot Hill Ranch, 19 Laps
Lap Leaders: Daniel Anderson (1-11), Randi Pankratz (12-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Daniel Anderson
Top 10 in points: 1. Daniel Anderson, 500; 2. Mike Leach, 380; 3. Joel Rayborne, 360; 4. Randi Pankratz, 255; 5. Ashley Hazelton, 235; 6. Tyler Williams, 215; 7. Matt McCarthy, 200; 8. Mike Leach Sr., 190; 9. George Tuttle, 170
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Report Created by Ventura Raceway Scoring Program
Report Created: 04/25/2016 09:09