by Cliff Morgan
Steve Conrad had a night to remember Saturday night July 23,as he took his second VRA Sprint Car win of the season over a top notch field of 22 VRA Sprint Cars. He took the lead on lap one and was never headed. With Conrad out front the battle for other top positions was fast and furious throughout the field. Conrad was challenged by point leader Greg Taylor but Taylor never could get a jump on him after restarts after yellow flags. Taylor had to settle for second spot on the night but his finish keeps him 325 points out front in the season point’s race over josh Ford who finished eighth Saturday night. Following Conrad and Taylor to the line were Kevin Kierce, making a rare 2011 appearance, Troy Rutherford and Cody Kershaw.
there were three heat races run with wins going to Rutherford in the Extreme Mufflers Heat One, Jimmy Crawford in the Joie of Seating Heat Two and Taylor in the BR Mototsports Heat Three. With the Ventura County FAIR coming up in early August, the VRA sprint Cars take a month off before returning to action on August 27, for the running of the first Vendors Cup Race which will feature a substantially increased winner’s prize.
VRA Senior Sprints were back in action after a month layoff but the winner was a past champion who has had a lot of success so far in 2011. Rob Kershaw took his fifth win in a green-white-checkered win over Richard McCormick, Cliff Warren, Bruce Douglass and Bill Badger. With a car count of 12 cars in attendance two heat races were run with wins going to McCormick in the Spin Tech Heat One and Bruce Douglass in the Maxwell Industries Heat Two.
VRA Dwarf Cars raced in two divisions Saturday night. In Pros, visiting CDCRA Dwarf Car driver Randy Gordon took his first VRA win over a field of 16 pro dwarf racers. He battled Jason Horton and Michael Lewis for the win in the 20 lap feature. Following Gordon to the line were Lewis, Lars Wolfe, Curt Cook and Horton. Two heat races were run with wins going to Lars Wolfe in heat one and Tom Stephens Sr. in heat two. In Senior action, point leader George Calvo took the win over Rick Lapka, Keith Vondersaar, Mike Neal and Bob Kauffman. One heat race was held with the win going to Vondersaar.
VRA Mod Lites competed in one heat race won by point leader Jim Chapp and a 20 lap feature won by Kevin Alverson. following Alverson across the line in the 20 lap main event were Mike Sweeney, Jim Chapp, Mike Sweeney Jr. and Chris Kordner.
The final groups racing Saturday night were our three kid’s classes Mini Dwarf Pistons, Superchargers and Junior Midgets. In Mini Dwarf Pistons, J. D. Brown took the win over Trevor Hanson, Zack Chavez, Garrett Eagan and Dylan Neal. In Superchargers the win went to Nick Velasquez over Logan Rutherford, Ryan Butcher and Destyn Garcia. In Junior Midget action the win went to Devin McCree over point leader Brennan Rogers, Tommy Velasquez, Kayle Brazel and Miles Hedrick.
Ventura Raceway will now prepare for the Ventura County Fair Motorsport events to be held on Wednesday August 3 and Thursday August 4. Both nights will feature racing and a destruction derby. On Wednesday August 3, it will be VRA/USAC Midgets in the third Battle at the Beach Race, Ford Focus Midgets, Junior Focus Midgets, VRA Dwarf Cars, VRA Kids Classes and Destruction Derby. Then of Thursday August 4, it will be IMCA Modifieds, VRA Sport Compacts, VRA Go Karts and Destruction Derby.