VENTURA, California — It’s a special season-with-a-season for the Sprint Car drivers at Ventura Raceway, a chance to make a tough-luck season better or a good season a great one.
It is the All Coast Construction Challenge and Round 2 of the Challenge is slated for Saturday, July 25. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m. and the traditional flag ceremony starts at 5:30.
The Challenge is a three-race mini series at Ventura with a separate points system. Saturday’s winner takes home $2,500, while second pays $1,500 and third is worth $1,000. The driver with the most Challenge points after the third race hauls in still more cash from the special Challenge points fund.
Along with the Sprint Car class, the Raceway schedule this week includes the Ventura Racing Association Senior Sprint Cars, VRA Pro Dwarf Cars, the IMCA Modifieds and the VRA Sport Compacts.
The competition is fierce at Ventura every week but Challenge races are special. Extra money attracts racers like a baked potato attracts butter.
Camarillo’s Josh Ford won the May 30 Challenge opener after starting fifth. Kevin Kierce, the defending track champion and current points leader from Reseda, finished second.
Chris Wakim, the Simi Valley ace, finished third after starting seventh on May 30 and might be the driver to watch Saturday. He hasn’t won a feature yet this season, but he sits second in the championship chase.
You can expect the unpredictable at Ventura. The track’s new racing surface and banking have proven to make passing common. Every driver in the starting field has a chance to win and, with extra money on the line, they expect to.
What is predictable is the family-oriented atmosphere at the track, which is located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. General admission tickets cost just $14 while seniors, military and students pay just $11. Kids under 12 get in free with a ticket-buying adult.
More information about the All Coast Construction Challenge or about Ventura Raceway is available at www.venturaraceway.com.
