YORBA LINDA’S MITCHELL WINS SPRINT CAR FEATURE AT VENTURA

VENTURA RACEWAY

Source — Ventura Raceway Media Relations/le

Date Posted — October 04, 2009

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VENTURA, California — Yorba Linda’s Matt Mitchell won the race and Ojai’s Troy Rutherford kept his flickering championship hopes alive in a wild Sprint Car feature race at Ventura Raceway Saturday.

Mitchell led the second half of the 30-lap feature but never pulled away from Rutherford, who eventually finished second.

The windy, cool conditions allowed the track surface to dry and the racing groove eventually moved so high that Mitchell and other drivers repeatedly bounced their right rear tires off Ventura’s retaining walls. It made for a thrilling feature race.

The other winners included Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance (in Senior Sprint Cars), Ray Estrada, Yucaipa (Pro Dwarf Cars), Ventura’s Bill Van Praag (Senior Dwarf Cars), Chuck West, Clovis (NMRA TQ Midgets), Austin Figueroa, El Segundo (Junior Midgets), Kyle Peterson, Santa Clarita (Mini Dwarf-Pistons) and Tommy Velasquez III (Mini Dwarf-Superchargers).

Bill Badger, Canyon Country, won the special Jim Kierce Memorial Super Senior Invitational race for Senior Sprint Car drivers.

Rutherford led one lap of the Sprint Car feature before Mitchell went ahead just before the halfway point. But Rutherford’s second place finish trimmed a significant portion of Kevin Kierce’s lead in the division standings. Kierce could have clinched the title by earning 25 points more than Rutherford, but Kierce finished 19th in the main event after crashing out.

More information about Ventura Raceway is available at www.venturaraceway.com.

Ventura Raceway Race Results -- 10/03/2009

VRA Sprint Cars
1. Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, 30 Laps; 2. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 30 Laps; 3. Ronnie Case, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 4. Brandon Thomson, Ventura, 30 Laps; 5. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 6. Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 7. John Nock, Newhall, 30 Laps; 8. Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, 30 Laps; 9. Chris Ennis, Bakersfield, 30 Laps; 10. Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, 30 Laps; 11. Charlie Butcher, Santa Barbara, 30 Laps; 12. Danny Faria Jr, Tipton, 30 Laps; 13. Tony Everhart, El Cajon, 30 Laps; 14. David Bezio, El Cajon, 23 Laps; 15. Derek Buckley, Ojai, 19 Laps; 16. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 13 Laps; 17. Don Gansen, San Bernardino, 13 Laps; 18. Tyler Edwards, Ventura, 11 Laps; 19. Kevin Kierce, Reseda, 11 Laps; 20. Justin Kierce, Reseda, 11 Laps. Lap Leaders: Brian Camarillo (1-13), Troy Rutherford (14), Matt Mitchell (15-30) Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Kierce, 4725; 2. Troy Rutherford, 4090; 3. Brian Camarillo, 3455; 4. Chris Wakim, 3360; 5. Steve Conrad, 3245; 6. Cody Kershaw, 3070; 7. Rick Hendrix, 3005; 8. John Nock, 2920; 9. Brandon Thomson, 2850; 10. Tyler Edwards, 2830
VRA Senior Sprints
1. Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, 20 Laps; 2. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 20 Laps; 3. Willey Miller, Yorba Linda, 20 Laps; 4. Jeff Culver, Lompoc, 20 Laps; 5. Rob Kershaw, Oak Park, 20 Laps; 6. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 20 Laps; 7. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 8. Gene Godepski, Reseda, 20 Laps; 9. Bill Badger, Canyon Country, 20 Laps; 10. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 11. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 19 Laps; 12. Tom Fish, Ventura, 19 Laps; 13. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 19 Laps; 14. Mark Stover, Manhattan Beach, 19 Laps; 15. Mike Collins, Lake Forest, 19 Laps; 16. David Marini, Holtville, 19 Laps; 17. Mark Chuhaloff, Ventura, 19 Laps; 18. Gil Mahoney, La Crescenta, 19 Laps; 19. Mike Berry, Scottsdale, AZ, 7 Laps; 20. John Richards, Ventura, Did not show. Lap Leaders: Willey Miller (1-9), Bobby Michnowicz (10-20). Top 10 in points: 1. Bruce Douglass, 2870; 2. Rob Kershaw, 2850; 3. Jeff Culver, 2685; 4. Willey Miller, 2660; 5. Cliff Warren, 2305; 6. Bill Badger, 2185; 7. Victor Davis, 2115; 8. Russel Deblauw, 1995; 9. John Richards, 1945; 10. Chris Meredith, 1710.
VRA Pro Dwarf Cars
1. Ray Estrada, Yucaipa, 18 Laps; 2. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 18 Laps; 3. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 18 Laps; 4. Ben Sheen, Palmdale, 18 Laps; 5. Glen Benton, Thousand Oaks, 18 Laps; 6. Eric Alton, Simi Valley, 18 Laps; 7. Alex Wood, San Dimas, 18 Laps; 8. Russell Blades, Moorpark, 18 Laps; 9. Brent Stevens, Thousand Oaks, 17 Laps; 10. Roy Guy III, Bakersfield, 14 Laps; 11. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 14 Laps; 12. Adam Schricker, Hollywood, 14 Laps; 13. Steven Benson, Valencia, 13 Laps; 14. Eric Moore, Ventura, 13 Laps; 15. Michael Sweeney Jr, Whittier, 12 Laps; 16. Kevin Calvo, Agua Dulce, 12 Laps; 17. Brian Saxton, Mentone, 12 Laps; 18. Angel Figueroa, El Segundo, 9 Laps; 19. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 9 Laps; 20. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, Did not show. Lap Leaders: Mike Lewis (1-5), Angel Figueroa (6-9), Ray Estrada (10-18). Top 10 in points: 1. Ray Estrada, 3240; 2. Angel Figueroa, 2885; 3. Brian Saxton, 2555; 4. Steven Benson, 2470; 5. Lee Majors, 2280; 6. Thomas Velasquez, 2175; 7. Mike Lewis, 2120; 8. Curt Cook, 1940; 9. Michael Sweeney Jr, 1830; 10. Tom Stephens Jr, 1725.
VRA Senior Dwarf Cars
1. Bill Van Praag, Ventura, 20 Laps; 2. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 20 Laps; 3. Kevin Alverson, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 4. Ed Niedzwiecki, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. George Sack Jr, Aqua Dulce, 20 Laps; 6. Ron Capodieci, Saugus, 20 Laps; 7. Mark Davis, Ventura, 20 Laps; 8. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 9. Rick Lapka, Apple Valley, 20 Laps; 10. Linda Taylor, San Dimas, 20 Laps; 11. Bobby Lague, Colton, 20 Laps; 12. Jim Stutzman, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 13. Keith Koslov, Agoura, 20 Laps; 14. Dave Dotson, Thousand Oaks, 19 Laps; 15. Dave Revard, Ventura, 19 Laps; 16. Glen Monk, Paso Robles, 19 Laps; 17. Cindy Addison, Oxnard, 7 Laps; 18. Tim Morse, Burbank, 2 Laps; 19. Kent Benson, Valencia, 2 Laps. Lap Leaders: Ed Niedzwiecki (1-8), Bill Van Praag (9-20). Top 10 in points: 1. Bill Van Praag, 3135; 2. Kevin Alverson, 2820; 3. Mike Neal, 2700; 4. George Calvo, 2530; 5. Ed Niedzwiecki, 2405; 6. George Sack Jr, 2400; 7. Ron Capodieci, 2140; 8. Dave Revard, 2115; 9. Mark Davis, 2070; 10. Kent Benson, 2040.
NMRA TQ Midgets
1. Chuck West, Clovis, 20 Laps; 2. West Evans, Moorpark, 20 Laps; 3. Kenny Wiley, Sunland, 20 Laps; 4. Scott Dobson, Newbury Park, 20 Laps; 5. Richard Ortega Jr, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 6. Scott Niven, Moorpark, 20 Laps; 7. Ron Ahrendt, Harbor City, 20 Laps; 8. Bruce Hiroshima, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 9. Dakota Schwietzer, 20 Laps; 10. Amanda Thomas, La Harbra, 20 Laps; 11. Dave Lambert, Port Hueneme, 20 Laps; 12. Greg Edenholm, 20 Laps; 13. Anthony Lopicollo, Brea, 15 Laps. Lap Leaders: Scott Niven (1-7), Chuck West (8-20). Ventura Raceway does not calculate points for this class.
VRA Junior Midgets
1. Austin Figueroa, El Segundo, 15 Laps; 2. Tyler Jerman, Palmdale, 15 Laps; 3. Nick Valenzuela, Ventura, 15 Laps; 4. Brennan Rogers, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 5. Luke Boles, Goleta, 15 Laps; 6. Michaela Stanton, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 7. Chase Lippert, Granada Hills, 15 Laps; 8. Cody Majors, Simi Valley, 15 Laps; 9. Mark Garrett, Oxnard, 15 Laps; 10. Devin McCree, Ventura, 14 Laps; 11. Kayle Brazel, Granada Hills, 12 Laps; 12. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 9 Laps; 13. Riley Helland, Ventura, 0 Laps. Lap Leaders: Austin Figueroa (1-15). Top 10 in points: 1. Austin Figueroa, 3115; 2. Brennan Rogers, 2955; 3. Nick Valenzuela, 2825; 4. Luke Boles, 2785; 5. Cody Majors, 2580; 6. Devin McCree, 2365; 7. Riley Helland, 2270; 8. Mark Garrett, 2155; 9. Ricky Lewis, 2055; 10. Cameron Dougan, 1850.
VRA Mini Dwarf – Pistons
1. Kyle Peterson, Santa Clarita, 12 Laps; 2. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 3. Zachery Gilmore, Woodland Hills, 12 Laps; 4. Joe Snyder, Westlake, 12 Laps; 5. Cole Wakim, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 6. Jake Benton, Thousand Oaks, 10 Laps; 7. Devin Pierson, Piersoonville, 9 Laps; 8. Destyn Garcia, Oxnard, 0 Laps. Lap Leaders: Kyle Peterson (1-12). Top 10 in points: 1. Joe Snyder, 3240; 2. Zachery Gilmore, 3225; 3. Kyle Peterson, 3095; 4. Nick Velasquez, 2850; 5. Cole Wakim, 2570; 6. Cody Arthur, 1965; 7. Ryann Butcher, 1940; 8. JP Cardillo, 1915; 9. Connor Wakim, 1570; 10. Destyn Garcia, 1510.
VRA Mini Dwarf – Superchargers
1. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 2. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 12 Laps; 3. Joseph Magana, Port Hueneme, 12 Laps; 4. Oliver Blades, Moorpark, 12 Laps; 5. Alexis Mann, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 6. Miles Hedrick, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 7. Joey Freshour, Ventura, 12 Laps. Lap Leaders: Joseph Magana (1-5), Tommy Velasquez III (6-12). Top 10 in points: 1. Ricky Lewis, 3070; 2. Oliver Blades, 2990; 3. Tommy Velasquez III, 2890; 4. Joseph Magana, 2775; 5. Joey Freshour, 2650; 6. Miles Hedrick, 2620; 7. Cameron McCauley, 2180; 8. Alexis Mann, 2130; 9. Olivia Redman, 960.
Jim Kierce Memorial Super Senior Invitational
1. Bill Badger, Canyon Country, 15 Laps; 2. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 15 Laps; 3. Mike Collins, Lake Forest, 15 Laps; 4. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 5. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 15 Laps; 6. Mark Stover, Manhattan Beach, 15 Laps; 7. Gene Godepski, Reseda, 15 Laps; 8. Mark Chuhaloff, Ventura, 15 Laps; 9. Tom Fish, Ventura, 15 Laps; 10. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 10 Laps; 11. Gil Mahoney, La Crescenta, 9 Laps; 12. John Richards, Ventura, 5 Laps; 13. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 5 Laps; 14. David Marini, Holtville, 5 Laps. Lap Leaders: Mike Collins (1-4), Bill Badger (5-15).

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