3.7.20 Ventura Raceway Results
Ventura Raceway opened its 42nd racing season Saturday night March 7, 2020 on a cool, overcast night. Five car classes were on hand to get the season underway. Fans in attendance were treated to some exciting racing as drivers began their season long quest to see who will become track champions this year.
VRA Sprint Cars had 5 cars on hand, led by 2019 series champion Rick Hendrix. Hendrix started the new season where he left off, in 2019, with a 20 lap feature win over Trent Williams, Brandon Wiley, Tyler Hatzikian and Will Perkins. Hendrix took the lead from Brandon Wiley on lap 10 and was never headed. They ran one heat race with the win going to Trent Williams.
Nine VRA Senior Sprints were on hand for opening night racing. The win in their 20 lap feature went to past champion Chris Meredith over Nate Robinson, Will Perkins, Tom Stephens Sr and Danny Parrish. Meredith took the lead after early race leader Wally Pankratz stalled in turn one on lap 6. He then battled Parrish for the lead passing him and going on to take the opening night win. Two heats were run with wins going to Danny Parrish and Mike Cook.
IMCA Modifieds were back in action with 15 cars signed into the pits. They ran two heat races, with wins going to Andrew Greiman and Donald Houghton. The 20 lap main event was fast and furious with Jack Parker taking the lead on lap one only to lose it to Trevor Fitzgibbon who then went on to take the win. Following Fitzgibbon to the line were Austin Grabowski, Danny Lauer, Jack Parker and Andrew Greiman.
VRA Pro Dwarf Cars opened their season with 15 cars signing into the pits. They ran two heat races with wins going to Jason Horton and Gage Cheek. Horton, the 2019 series champion, then went on to take their 20 lap feature. He took the lead from Jeff Brink on lap 9 and then led to the checkered flag, taking the win over Shane Linenburger, Kobe Kerns, Kevin Powell and Brian Powell. The race was a rough and tumble event with only 6 of the 15 cars completing the race.
VRA Hobby Stocks signed into the pits with 6 cars on hand for their 2020 opener. Their 20 lap main event went to Joel Chavez Jr over Ryan Changus, Jeff Houghton, Ken Redman and Dalton Houghton. One heat race was run going to Joel Chaez Jr.
Ventura Raceway returns to action on Saturday March 14, with VRA Sprints, IMCA Sport Compacts, WMR Midgets, TQ Midgets, Mod Lites and three classes of flat track motorcycles.
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 03/07/2020
VRA Sprint Cars
Race #1 03/07/2020
Main Event Results: 1. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 20 Laps; 2. Trent Williams, Hesperia, 20 Laps; 3. Brandon Wiley, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 4. Tyler Hatzikian, 20 Laps; 5. Will Perkins, Hesperia, 11 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brandon Wiley (1-9), Rick Hendrix (10-20)
Heat Race Winners: Extreme Mufflers Heat 1: Trent Williams
Top 10 in points: 1. Rick Hendrix, 245; 2. Trent Williams, 240; 3. Brandon Wiley, 215; 4. Tyler Hatzikian, 210; 5. Will Perkins, 185
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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
Race #1 03/07/2020
Main Event Results: 1. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 2. Shane Linenburger, 19 Laps; 3. Kobe Kerns, 19 Laps; 4. Kevin Powell, 19 Laps; 5. Brian Powell, 19 Laps; 6. April Banuelos, Sylmar, 19 Laps; 7. Jeff Brink, Ventura, 18 Laps; 8. Cameron Russell, 16 Laps; 9. Gage Cheek, Valencia, 13 Laps; 10. Evan Jonker, 10 Laps; 11. Mike Keebler, Lompoc, 3 Laps; 12. Mike Long, Thousand Oaks, 0 Laps; 13. Jack Chavez, Did not show; 14. Jeff Hinz, Saugus, Did not show; 15. Tim Morse, Burbank, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Jeff Brink (1-8), Jason Horton (9-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Jason Horton; Heat 2: Gage Cheek; Heat 3: Jeff Brink
Top 10 in points: 1. Jason Horton, 260; 2. Shane Linenburger, 225; 3. Kobe Kerns, 210; 4. Kevin Powell, 200; 5. Brian Powell, 195; 6. Jeff Brink, 185; 6. April Banuelos, 185; 8. Gage Cheek, 175; 9. Cameron Russell, 170; 10. Mike Keebler, 160
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VRA Senior Sprints
Race #1 03/07/2020
Main Event Results: 1. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 2. Nate Robinson, 20 Laps; 3. Will Perkins, Hesperia, 20 Laps; 4. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Danny Parrish, Anchorage, Alaska, 14 Laps; 6. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 8 Laps; 7. Russell Martin, Yorba Linda, 1 Lap; 8. Rob Kershaw, Oak Park, 0 Laps; 9. Mike Cook, Long Beach, Did not start
Heat Race Winners: SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Danny Parrish; Saldana Racing Products Heat 2: Mike Cook
Top 10 in points: 1. Chris Meredith, 250; 2. Nate Robinson, 235; 3. Will Perkins, 210; 4. Tom Stephens Sr, 205; 4. Danny Parrish, 205; 6. Wally Pankratz, 190; 7. Rob Kershaw, 165; 7. Russell Martin, 165; 9. Mike Cook, 40
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IMCA Modifieds
Race #1 03/07/2020
Main Event Results: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Austin Grabowski, 20 Laps; 3. Danny Lauer, Nipomo, 20 Laps; 4. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 5. Andrew Greiman, Newbury Park, 19 Laps; 6. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 19 Laps; 7. Dave Phipps, Simi Valley, 19 Laps; 8. Bailey Jones, 19 Laps; 9. Tim Labrake, Highland, 19 Laps; 10. Sam Garvin, Oxnard, 17 Laps; 11. Terry Hershberger, 11 Laps; 12. Brandon Hoekstra, Oxnard, 9 Laps; 13. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 5 Laps; 14. Todd Barnes, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Jack Parker (1), Trevor Fitzgibbon (2-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Andrew Greiman; Heat 2: Donald Houghton
Top 10 in points: 1. Trevor Fitzgibbon, 40; 2. Austin Grabowski, 39; 3. Danny Lauer, 38; 4. Jack Parker, 37; 5. Andrew Greiman, 36; 6. Dennis Eckert, 35; 7. Dave Phipps, 34; 8. Bailey Jones, 33; 9. Tim Labrake, 32; 10. Sam Garvin, 31
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VRA Hobby Stocks
Race #1 03/07/2020
Main Event Results: 1. Joel Chavez, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 2. Ryan Changus, Fillmore, 20 Laps; 3. Jeff Houghton, Lancaster, 20 Laps; 4. Ken Redman, 9 Laps; 5. Dalton Houghton, Rosamond, 8 Laps; 6. Russel Wagner, 7 Laps
Lap Leaders: Ryan Changus (1-9), Joel Chavez (10-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Joel Chavez
Top 10 in points: 1. Joel Chavez, 260; 2. Ryan Changus, 225; 3. Ken Redman, 210; 4. Jeff Houghton, 205; 5. Russel Wagner, 185; 6. Dalton Houghton, 180