VENTURA, California — While the stars of the western sprint car racing world are chasing money and glory in the All Coast Construction Challenge at Ventura Raceway Saturday, there will be enough subplots to drive a scriptwriter crazy.
Or would you consider a track championship a subplot? Best check with Hollywood on the billing. Here is the scoop:
The Sprint Cars share the track with the Ventura Racing Association’s Sports Compacts and Dwarf Cars. There are four track championships that can be
decided Saturday.
Sprint Cars
Kevin Kierce, the defending track champion from Reseda, can win his second straight championship and third overall by scoring 45 points. He cannot clinch the title in the heat races, but he can win the title by simply starting the main event.
Troy Rutherford needs to win the final two races of the season and hope Kierce goes on an extended vacation. The Ojai resident is perfectly capable of winning two straight races.
Sport Compact, FWD
This is the final Sport Compact race of the season. Darren Gunnell, of Santa Paula, leads the Front Wheel Drive standings by a smaller cushion than Kierce enjoys but Gunnell is actually in a stronger position. Gunnell will win the title by simply starting the main event unless an unusually large number of cars enter the FWD event.
Jess Carlucci, Camarillo, is 140 points behind the leader and Joel Chavez Jr, also from Santa Paula, is 175 back.
Pro Dwarf Cars
Ray Estrada, Yucaipa, leads Angel Figueroa, El Segundo, by 355 points with two races remaining. Estrada needs to score 165 points to clinch at least a tie. A fifth place finish in the main event is worth 165 points.
Senior Dwarf Cars
Ventura’s Bill Van Praag holds a 315-point advantage over Kevin Alverson of Thousand Oaks. Van Praag needs to score 206 points to lock Alverson out.
The spectator gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the traditional flag salute begins at 5:30.
More information about Ventura Raceway is available at www.venturaraceway.com.
