VENTURA, Calif. (May 23, 2009) – Rick Hendrix and Kevin Kierce passed and repassed each other twice a lap over each of the final 10 laps before Hendrix finally led the pair across the finish line to win the Sprint Car feature at Ventura Raceway.
Hendrix (of Palmdale) became the tenth different driver to win the Sprint Car feature at Ventura without a repeat winner, dating back to the final two races of the 2008 season. Kierce (Reseda) has a win during the 10-race string.
Raceway promoter Jim Naylor dedicated the night to the late Larry Rice, a former USAC driving champion and television commentator who passed away earlier in the week. Rice was part of the announcing team that broadcast races from Ventura on cable network ESPN years ago.
The other feature winners at Ventura included Rick Rodarte (Ventura) in the IMCA Modifieds, Cory Kruseman (Ventura) in the USAC Midgets, Sean Dodenhoff (Bakersfield) in the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, Dennis Simunovich (Hollister) in the VRA Junior Focus Midgets.
Hendrix made a daring move to grab the lead on the first lap and led the first 21 circuits around Ventura’s quarter-mile oval. Kierce led the next two laps, then Hendrix started the 10-lap free-for-all that left the crowd gasping at every move.
“That’s the finest race that I’ve ever had,” said Hendrix, a former champion at Ventura. “(Kierce) is a good racer, I knew he’d leave me room.”
The pair put to rest the old racing adage that there are old racers and there are bold racers but that there are no old, bold racers. Hendrix, 56, shot between the front row starters to grab the lead on the first lap. Then, over the final 10 laps, Hendrix and the 44-year-old Kierce turned the dirt track slide job into an art form.
“Racing with your buddy like that, that’s what it’s all about,” Kierce said.
Kruseman’s win in the midget feature capped another wild race. Kruseman had to pass Alex Schutte (Redding) to get the lead, then lost it to Jerome Rodella (El Monte) before getting it back. Rodarte’s victory came after he got the lead from Jared Domingos (Santa Maria) with four laps remaining. Dodenhoff led every lap of the Ford Focus race and Simunovich led the final seven laps of the Junior Focus race.
More information about Ventura Raceway is available at www.venturaraceway.com.
Ventura Raceway Race Results
VRA Sprint Cars -- 1. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 2. Kevin Kierce, Reseda, 30 Laps; 3. Josh Ford, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 4. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 30 Laps; 5. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, 30 Laps; 6. Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, 30 Laps; 7. Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 8. Don Gansen, San Bernardino, 30 Laps; 9. John Nock, Newhall, 30 Laps; 10. Richard McCormick, Aqua Dulce, 30 Laps; 11. Chris Wakim, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 12. Tony Everhart, El Cajon, 30 Laps; 13. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 14. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 30 Laps; 15. Steve Conrad, Quartz Hill, 20 Laps; 16. Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, 14 Laps; 17. Brandon Thomson, Ventura, 9 Laps; 18. Tyler Edwards, Ventura, 7 Laps; 19. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 6 Laps; 20. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 2 Laps.
Lap Leaders: Rick Hendrix (1-21), Kevin Kierce (22-23), Rick Hendrix (24-30).
Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Kierce, 2080; 2. Brian Camarillo, 1485; 3. Chris Wakim, 1450; 4. Troy Rutherford, 1445; 4. Richard McCormick, 1445; 6. Rick Hendrix, 1370; 7. Steve Conrad, 1365; 8. John Nock, 1100; 9. Josh Ford, 1095; 10. Guy Woodward, 1065.
-----------------------------------------------
IMCA Modifieds -- 1. Rick Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 2. Jared Domingos, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 3. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Damon Redman, Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 5. Brad Prows, Ojai, 20 Laps; 6. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 7. Steve Smith, Long Beach, 20 Laps; 8. Greg Tucker, Ojai, 20 Laps; 9. Tom Topping, Eagle Rock, 20 Laps; 10. Jay Bowman, Santa Barbara, 20 Laps; 11. Mike McGraw, Oak View, 20 Laps; 12. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 20 Laps; 13. Ron Wiley, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 14. Jim Evans, Ventura, 20 Laps; 15. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 19 Laps; 16. Frank Woodward, Castaic, 19 Laps; 17. Gary Curtis, Camarillo, 11 Laps; 18. Steve Klingberg, Ojai, 11 Laps; 19. David Redman, Ventura, 8 Laps; 20. Randy Gens, Oxnard, Did not start.
Lap Leaders: Jared Domingos (1-16), Rick Rodarte (17-20).
Top 10 in points: 1. Austin Rodarte, 222; 2. Steve Smith, 213; 3. Damon Redman, 211; 4. Mike McGraw, 196; 5. Brad Prows, 195; 6. Jack Parker, 191; 7. Jared Domingos, 186; 8. Greg Tucker, 175; 9. Steve Bulpitt, 165; 10. Ron Wiley, 164.
-----------------------------------------------
USAC Midget -- 1. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, 30 Laps; 2. Jerome Rodella, El Monte, 30 Laps; 3. Ricky Shelton, Huntington Beach, 30 Laps; 4. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 5. Josh Ford, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 6. Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, 30 Laps; 7. Tyler Edwards, Ventura, 30 Laps; 8. David Prickett, Fresno, 30 Laps; 9. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 30 Laps; 10. Tanner Swanson, Kingsberg, 30 Laps; 11. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 30 Laps; 12. Justin Grant, Ione, 30 Laps; 13. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 14. Robby Josett, Agua Dulce, 30 Laps; 15. Dennis Howell, Rencho Palos Verdes, 30 Laps; 16. Bob Harr, Denver, CO, 29 Laps; 17. Chris Gansen, San Bernardino, 29 Laps; 18. Jeff Slinkard, Tempe, AZ, 29 Laps; 19. Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, 29 Laps; 20. Joseph Fabozzi, Norco, 25 Laps; 21. Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, 8 Laps; 22. Alex Schutte, Redding, 7 Laps; 23. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 6 Laps; 24. Ernie Bartley III, El Cajon, 3 Laps.
Lap Leaders: Alex Schutte (1-3), Cory Kruseman (4-11), Jerome Rodella (12-22), Cory Kruseman (23-30).
Ventura Raceway does not calculate points for this class.
----------------------------------------------
USAC Ford Focus -- 1. Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, 20 Laps; 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, 20 Laps; 3. Andrew Mulhearn, Whittier, 20 Laps; 4. Walt Johnson, Burbank, 20 Laps; 5. Nick Carlson, Norwalk, 20 Laps; 6. Jet Davison, Running Springs, 20 Laps; 7. Brody Roa, Buena Park, 20 Laps; 8. Nick Rossi, Glendale, AZ, 20 Laps; 9. Cody Swanson, Norco, 20 Laps; 10. Kevin Michnowicz, Torrance, 20 Laps; 11. Henry Steele III, Palmdale, 19 Laps; 12. Eric Gunderson, San Diego, 19 Laps; 13. Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu City, 4 Laps.
Lap Leaders: Sean Dodenhoff (1-20).
Ventura Raceway does not calculate points for this class.
-----------------------------------------------
VRA Junior Focus Midgets -- 1. Dennis Simunovich, Hollister, 15 Laps; 2. Jarid Blondel, Orange, 15 Laps; 3. Alex Jacobsen, San Jose, 15 Laps; 4. Devan Myrick, Hesperia, 15 Laps; 5. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 8 Laps; 6. Tanner Kershaw, Oak Park, 8 Laps; 7. Casey Martinez, Riverside, 8 Laps; 8. Andrew Murray, Temecula, 8 Laps; 9. Ethan Quinn, Santa Clarita, 7 Laps; 10. Winn Frazin, Fontana, 2 Laps.
Lap Leaders: Tanner Kershaw (1-7), Kyle Edwards (8), Dennis Simunovich (9-15).
Top 10 in points: 1. Ethan Quinn, 179; 2. Alex Jacobsen, 177; 3. Kyle Edwards, 176; 4. Tanner Kershaw, 161; 5. Winn Frazin, 115; 6. Jarid Blondel, 114; 7. Devan Myrick, 102; 8. Casey Martinez, 101; 9. Andrew Murray, 98; 10. Mavrick Gaunt, 96.
|
