VENTURA, California — Santa Barbara’s Charlie Butcher and Westlake’s Cameron McCauley grabbed Ventura Raceway track championships Saturday, leaving several to be decided during next week’s season finale at the Seaside Park venue.
Butcher captured the VRA Junior Focus Midgets title when he finished third in Saturday’s main event. Tyler Edwards, the Oklahoma Express, was second in the final standings. McCauley is the champion of the track’s Mini Dwarf-Pistons class. He edged Woodland Hills’ Zachery Gilmore for the title.
The main event winners Saturday included Ventura’s Jimmy Crawford (Sprint Cars), Wiley Miller of Yorba Linda (Senior Sprints), Ray Estrada of Yucaipa (Pro Dwarf Cars), Thousand Oaks’ Kevin Alverson (Senior Dwarf Cars), Sean Dodenhoff of Bakersfield (Junior Focus Midgets), Moorpark’s Oliver Blades (Mini Dwarf-Pistons), who only led one lap of the feature, and Camarillo’s Tommy Velasquez, III (Mini Dwarf – Superchargers), who won his second feature of the season.
Butcher is a senior at San Marcos High in the Santa Barbara area. He said, “I was trying to stay positive tonight. I didn’t want to have any negative thoughts.”
But other drivers who hoped to clinch a championship Saturday struggled with those pesky negative thoughts. Sprint Car standings leader Kevin Kierce, of Reseda, had to earn his berth in the feature by finishing second in the semi-main. He started near the back of the feature, then rushed forward and finished fifth, one position behind the man chasing him for the title, Clark Templeman, III of Santa Clarita. Kierce leads Templeman by 240 points going into next weekend’s final race of the season. The maximum amount of points available each week is 260.
Rob Kershaw, Oak Park, leads Ventura drivers Bruce Douglas and Ron Bach by 105 points and 135 points, in that order. Both Douglas and Bach finished ahead of Kershaw Saturday.
Alverson leads the Senior Dwarf chase and won Saturday’s feature. But Ventura’s Ed Niedzwiecki, who is second in the standings, finished second Saturday and trails by 145 points.
Lewis leads the Mini Dwarf-Supercharger standings. Ventura’s Devin McCree is second and still has an outside chance to wresting the title away from Lewis.
The Nov. 15 All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge for VRA Sprint Cars will be the richest race of the season at Ventura and is expected to attract a big field of entrants. The night is the final event of the 2008 schedule at Ventura.
More information about Ventura Raceway is available at www.venturaraceway.com.
| VRA Sprint Cars |
|---|
| 1. Jimmy Crawford, Ventura, 29 Laps; 2. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 29 Laps; 3. Richard McCormick, Aqua Dulce, 29 Laps; 4. Clark Templeman III, Santa Clarita, 29 Laps; 5. Kevin Kierce, Reseda, 29 Laps; 6. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 29 Laps; 7. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 29 Laps; 8. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 29 Laps; 9. Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, 29 Laps; 10. Errol Sack, Agua Dulce, 29 Laps; 11. Tyler Schmitt, Hollister, 29 Laps; 12. Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, 28 Laps; 13. Danny Venegas, Lebec, 28 Laps; 14. Jeremy Ellertson, Gardena, 28 Laps; 15. Chris Wakim, Simi Valley, 26 Laps; 16. Steve Conrad, Quartz Hill, 21 Laps; 17. Dennis Howell, Rencho Palos Verdes, 10 Laps; 18. Eric Severson, Gardena, 8 Laps; 19. Greg Alexander, Gardena, 4 Laps; 20. Matt Streeter, MantecaTracey, 0 Laps Lap Leaders: Clark Templeman III (1-5), Jimmy Crawford (6-29) Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Kierce, 4495; 2. Clark Templeman III, 4255; 3. Richard McCormick, 4010; 4. Rick Hendrix, 3565; 5. Steve Conrad, 3510; 5. Brandon Thomson, 3510; 7. Brian Camarillo, 3210; 7. Chris Wakim, 3210; 9. Guy Woodward, 3180; 10. John Nock, 2960 |
| VRA Senior Sprints |
| 1. Willey Miller, Yorba Linda, 15 Laps; 2. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 15 Laps; 3. Steve Stasa, West Hills, 15 Laps; 4. Ron Bach, Ventura, 15 Laps; 5. Bill Badger, Canyon Country, 15 Laps; 6. Rob Kershaw, Oak Park, 15 Laps; 7. Tim Moon, Ventura, 15 Laps; 8. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 15 Laps; 9. John Richards, Ventura, 15 Laps; 10. Jim Thomson, Norwalk, 15 Laps; 11. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 12. Jeff Culver, Lompoc, 15 Laps; 13. Gil Mahoney, La Crescenta, 15 Laps; 14. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 14 Laps; 15. Ron Butler, Santa Barbara, 14 Laps; 16. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 14 Laps; 17. Mark Stover, Manhattan Beach, 14 Laps; 18. George Tuttle, Carson, 14 Laps; 19. Tom Fish, Ventura, 1 Lap Lap Leaders: John Richards (1-3), Willey Miller (4-15) Top 10 in points: 1. Rob Kershaw, 2770; 2. Bruce Douglass, 2665; 3. Ron Bach, 2635; 4. Tim Moon, 2300; 5. Willey Miller, 2260; 6. Bob Alderman, 2150; 7. Cliff Warren, 2100; 8. Danny Miller, 1755; 9. Gil Mahoney, 1745; 10. John Richards, 1735 |
| VRA Pro Dwarf Cars |
| 1. Ray Estrada, Yucaipa, 13 Laps; 2. Brian Saxton, Mentone, 13 Laps; 3. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 13 Laps; 4. Alex Wood, San Dimas, 13 Laps; 5. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 13 Laps; 6. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 13 Laps; 7. Russell Blades, Moorpark, 13 Laps; 8. Sara Coe, Saugus, 13 Laps; 9. Chris Olson, Chino Hills, 5 Laps; 10. Aron Crawford, Ventura, 2 Laps; 11. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, Did not show Lap Leaders: Mike Lewis (1), Ray Estrada (2-3), Brian Saxton (4-8), Ray Estrada (9-13) Top 10 in points: 1. Brian Saxton, 3605; 2. Ray Estrada, 2825; 3. Brent Stevens, 2520; 4. Chris Olson, 2490; 5. Mike Lewis, 2455; 6. Lars Wolfe, 2215; 7. Eric Alton, 2145; 8. Lee Majors, 2140; 9. Dillon Hume, 1985; 10. Thomas Velasquez, 1865 |
| VRA Senior Dwarf Cars |
| 1. Kevin Alverson, Thousand Oaks, 18 Laps; 2. Tom Bellinger, Cypress, 18 Laps; 3. Ed Niedzwiecki, Ventura, 18 Laps; 4. Mike Neal, Northridge, 18 Laps; 5. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 18 Laps; 6. George Sack Jr, Aqua Dulce, 18 Laps; 7. Linda Taylor, San Dimas, 17 Laps; 8. Cindy Addison, Oxnard, 17 Laps; 9. Dave Revard, Ventura, 17 Laps; 10. Roy Coe, Saugas, 17 Laps; 11. Ron Capodieci, Saugus, 3 Laps; 12. Mike Bailey, Ojai, 1 Lap Lap Leaders: Roy Coe (1-3), Kevin Alverson (4-18) Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Alverson, 3290; 2. Ed Niedzwiecki, 3145; 3. Tom Bellinger, 2780; 4. Bill Van Praag, 2595; 5. Roy Coe, 2555; 6. Mike Neal, 2405; 7. Mike Bailey, 2400; 8. Ron Capodieci, 2225; 9. Dave Hume, 1870; 10. Dave Revard, 1700 |
| VRA Junior Focus Midgets |
| 1. Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, 20 Laps; 2. David Perry Jr, Torrance, 20 Laps; 3. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, 20 Laps; 4. Harris Brooks, Houstin, Tx, 20 Laps; 5. Andrew Mulhearn, Whittier, 20 Laps; 6. Dennis Simunovich, Hollister, 20 Laps; 7. Ethan Quinn, Santa Clarita, 20 Laps; 8. Winn Frazin, Fontana, 19 Laps; 9. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 8 Laps; 10. Tyler Edwards, Salina, OK, 3 Laps; 11. Joe Leiper, Claremont, 1 Lap; 12. Kevin Michnowicz, Torrance, 1 Lap; 13. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, Did not show Lap Leaders: Charlie Butcher (1-6), Sean Dodenhoff (7-20) Top 10 in points: 1. Charlie Butcher, 3315; 2. Tyler Edwards, 3135; 3. Jake Swanson, 2935; 4. Andrew Mulhearn, 2690; 5. Joe Leiper, 2660; 6. David Perry Jr, 2370; 7. Sean Dodenhoff, 2080; 8. Harris Brooks, 2045; 9. Zac Bozanich, 2030; 9. Dennis Simunovich, 2030 |
| VRA Mini Dwarf - Pistons |
| 1. Oliver Blades, Moorpark, 12 Laps; 2. Kyle Peterson, Santa Clarita, 12 Laps; 3. Joe Snyder, Westlake, 12 Laps; 4. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 5. Zachery Gilmore, Woodland Hills, 12 Laps; 6. Cameron McCauley, Westlake, 12 Laps; 7. Cody Arthur, Camarillo, 11 Laps; 8. Cole Wakim, Simi Valley, 10 Laps; 9. Connor Wakim, Simi Valley, 9 Laps; 10. Ryann Butcher, Ventura, 5 Laps; 11. Niko Brown, Oxnard, Did not show Lap Leaders: Nick Velasquez (1), Kyle Peterson (2-11), Oliver Blades (12) Top 10 in points: 1. Cameron McCauley, 3770; 2. Zachery Gilmore, 3360; 3. Oliver Blades, 3285; 4. Nick Velasquez, 3230; 5. Joe Snyder, 2970; 6. Cole Wakim, 2930; 7. Connor Wakim, 2255; 8. Ryann Butcher, 1555; 9. Cody Arthur, 1530; 10. Destyn Garcia, 1475 |
| VRA Mini Dwarf - Superchargers |
| 1. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 2. Jimmy McDonald, Llano, 12 Laps; 3. Cody Majors, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 4. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 12 Laps; 5. Joey Freshour, Ventura, 12 Laps; 6. Devin McCree, Ventura, 12 Laps; 7. Chase Lippert, Granada Hills, 12 Laps; 8. Kayle Brazel, Granada Hills, 12 Laps; 9. Joseph Magana, Port Hueneme, 12 Laps; 10. Alexis Mann, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 11. Miles Hedrick, Simi Valley, 12 Laps Lap Leaders: Cody Majors (1-2), Tommy Velasquez III (3-12) Top 10 in points: 1. Ricky Lewis, 3680; 2. Devin McCree, 3510; 3. Tommy Velasquez III, 3415; 4. Cody Majors, 3245; 5. Jimmy McDonald, 3200; 6. Joey Freshour, 2850; 7. Alexis Mann, 2680; 8. Joseph Magana, 2030; 9. Kayle Brazel, 1695; 10. Chase Lippert, 1615 |
