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*Special Thanks to Jim Naylor, Cliff Morgan, and the Ventura Raceway Staff.
HEAT RACE 2
HEAT RACE 4 B-MAIN
A-MAIN (With Starting Positions) 34 Cars checked in for action as the 2002 Season winds down. Jimmy "Neutron" Crawford and Greg Taylor are in a tight battle for the Championship and with only two races left on the schedule- every point counts. Two weeks ago, both Taylor and Crawford failed to transfer to the Main Event. That night, Sixteen year old rookie driver Alan Ballard took the Ernie Ballard / IBDC.net #94 to his first Sprint Car Main Event Win. The Ballard team was looking for another win as they debuted a new car. In Heat One, an early tangle resulted in heavy front end damage to the Ito-Ford / Worldgate Networks #73J Ellis of Josh Ford. Ford would have to go to the semi to make the show. Chris Wakim, who was also involved in the incident, restarted and tagged the rear of the field in his Carco Engines #9 Stinger. "The Rocket" Ronnie Case took the win in a photo finish at the line over a charging Tony Dighera. Wakim and Steve Conrad also directly transferred to the main. Heat Two was dominated by Tom Stansberry in the Sic' Em Racing / Ray's Chevron #75 Maxim. SCRA regulars, Gary W. Howard and "The Mexican National Champion" Steve Ostling were in a torrid battle with Alan Ballard, Bill Welch, Mike Broome and Oren Prosser Jr. for the other transfer spots. Howard, Prosser, and Welch followed Stansberry to the main event. Points leader Jimmy "Neutron" Crawford won the third heat from the back of the field in the Team NRG #17 Sprinter. He used the low line to pass early leader Kevin Kierce, who was second and followed by Mike Knopf and Mike Davis to the main. The fourth heat had several early incidents that resulted in 2 stops for Greg Taylor. Greg would need to make the show through the semi, have a strong finish, and hope for a bad finish by Crawford to keep his title hopes alive. Rookie Chris Tramel took the victory in the Danny & Debbie Tramel / D&M Rebar #77 Stealth. He was followed to the main by "Hollywood" Luis Espinoza, Trevor Brilman, and Jeff Wilson. The Semi-Main Event started 15 cars and early incidents/troubles claimed Bill Camarillo, Sean Buckley, Trace Giove, and Jeff Heaton. Greg Taylor drove the Reid's Appliance / Jordan Brothers #7 Ellis to the win after starting near the back. Following him to the main was Steve Ostling, Josh Ford, and Alan Ballard- who lead early and then spun. He tagged the rear and had to make his way through the field to earn the last transfer spot by passing Mike Broome, who was tonight's alternate. Former track champion Kevin Kierce took the early lead in the Main Event. Polesitter Gary W. Howard, Chris Tramel, and Tom Stansberry gave chase as the front runners entered lapped traffic. A yellow flag came about half way through for Chris Wakim, who had considerable front end damage that ended his night. The yellow bunched the field and after the restart, Stansberry passed Kierce. Tony Dighera was charging and was also able to get around Kierce. He chased after the leader- but as the checkers flew- it was Stansberry that took his second win of the season. Dighera was second and Tramel took third- his third podium finish in the last 4 events. Jimmy "Neutron" Crawford claimed the 2002 Championship with a 5th place finish. Greg Taylor had a strong run from 17th to 6th- but with only next week's season finale left on the schedule, he could not earn enough points to pass Crawford. The VRA Sprints season finale is next Saturday, October 19th at Ventura Raceway. Spectator Gates open at 5PM, with prelims around 6pm.
The Next Meeting of the Committee To Save Ventura Raceway will be Tuesday,
October 15th, 7:00 PM, at: Salvation Army Meeting Room - 650 Petit Avenue On October 26th, the SCRA Sprinters return to Ventura Raceway for the Annual Wagsdash Event. Festivities will start at noon with auctions, a chili feed, autograph sessions, and more for the fans to enjoy. |
