VENTURA, California — Indiana driver Brad Kuhn delivered on a promise and won the ARP presents the J.W. Mitchell Fall Classic for USAC Midgets at Ventura Raceway.
Kuhn said during an interview on national television a week earlier that he planned to race in the Fall Classic at Ventura and win the $5,000 winner’s share of the purse. Saturday he took the lead in time to lead the final eight laps and win the 40-lap Classic.
“I can’t thank the Mitchell family enough,” said Kuhn. “They had a loss when they lost J.W. but they are still around.”
The event honored the memory of the late J.W. Mitchell who suffered fatal injuries in a midget crash nine years ago. Matt Mitchell, J.W.’s nephew, was in the Classic field.
Ventura’s Cory Kruseman started on the pole and led the early going. Bryan Clauson led nine laps in the middle of the race and before Kuhn took over.
Chad Boat (Phoenix) finished second, followed by Ryan Caplan (Chico), Kruseman and Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, Mo.).
Kuhn told promoter Jim Naylor after the race, “I didn’t know I was on TV,” when he mentioned racing at Ventura. “I thought it was just two guys talking. What does the mention on SPEED pay?”
Whittier’s Andrew Mulhearn won the Ford Focus Midget feature, which was the national championship race for the series, and he joked over the public address system, “I’ve never had a title say national on it, let alone national champion.”
Alex Jacobsen (San Jose) won the USAC Junior Focus Midget race and said, “This is my first win and it came in a big race!”
| USAC Midget |
|---|
| 1. Brad Kuhn, Avon, Ind, 40 Laps; 2. Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ, 40 Laps; 3. Ryan Caplan, Chico, 40 Laps; 4. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, 40 Laps; 5. Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO, 40 Laps; 6. Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, 40 Laps; 7. Kody Swanson, Kingsberg, 40 Laps; 8. Bryan Clauson, Noblesille, IN, 40 Laps; 9. Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, 40 Laps; 10. Alex Schutte, Redding, 40 Laps; 11. Matt Streeter, Galt, 40 Laps; 12. Scott Pierovich, Alamo, 40 Laps; 13. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 40 Laps; 14. Caleb Armstrong, Newcastle, IN, 40 Laps; 15. Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, 40 Laps; 16. Austin Smith, Chino Hills, 40 Laps; 17. Dennis Howell, Rencho Palos Verdes, 39 Laps; 18. Justin Grant, Ione, 34 Laps; 19. Bobby East, Pittsboro, IN, 28 Laps; 20. Cole Carter, Browersberg, IN, 20 Laps; 21. Josh Lakatos, Pasadena, 20 Laps; 22. Joseph Fabozzi, Norco, 20 Laps; 23. Tracy Hines, Brownsberg, IN, 15 Laps; 24. Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, 15 Laps. Lap Leaders: Cory Kruseman (1-13), Bryan Clauson (14-22), Brad Kuhn (23-40). Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Joseph Fabozzi; Heat 2: Brad Kuhn; Heat 3: Chad Boat; Heat 4: Justin Grant; Heat 5: Blake Miller. Preliminary Race Winners: Prelim 1: Brad Loyet; Prelim 2: Cory Kruseman; Prelim 3: Bobby East; Prelim 4: Tracy Hines; Prelim 5: Bryan Clauson. |
| Ford Focus |
| 1. Andrew Mulhearn, Whittier, 30 Laps; 2. Cody Swanson, Norco, 30 Laps; 3. Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, 30 Laps; 4. Nick Rossi, Glendale, AZ, 30 Laps; 5. Brody Roa, Buena Park, 30 Laps; 6. Gordon Edwards, Fountain Valley, 30 Laps; 7. Seth Hespe, Snohomish, WA, 30 Laps; 8. Jet Davison, Running Springs, 30 Laps; 9. Zack Stout, Vista, 30 Laps; 10. Dennis Simunovich, Hollister, 30 Laps; 11. Ronnie Wuerdeman, Cincinatti, OH, 30 Laps; 12. Gaylon Stewart, Everett, WA, 30 Laps; 13. Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu City, 18 Laps; 14. Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, 3 Laps; 15. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, Did not show; 16. Henry Steele III, Palmdale, Did not show. Lap Leaders: Andrew Mulhearn (1-30). Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Jet Davison; Heat 2: Andrew Mulhearn. Preliminary Race Winners: Prelim 1: Gordon Edwards; Prelim 2: Cody Kershaw. |
| Junior Focus Midgets |
| 1. Alex Jacobsen, San Jose, 20 Laps; 2. Casey Martinez, Riverside, 20 Laps; 3. Andrew Murray, Temecula, 20 Laps; 4. Dennis Simunovich, Hollister, 20 Laps; 5. Jarid Blondel, Orange, 20 Laps; 6. Jake Blakhursh, Mapleton, IL, 20 Laps; 7. Tanner Kershaw, Oak Park, 20 Laps; 8. Daniel Williams, Glendale, 20 Laps; 9. Nick Drake, Charlette, NC, 20 Laps; 10. Ariel Biggs, Hoquiam, WA, 20 Laps; 11. Winn Frazin, Fontana, 20 Laps; 12. Kristoph Raschke, Ventura, 18 Laps; 13. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 16 Laps; 14. Collin Henry, Ventura, 3 Laps. Lap Leaders: Nick Drake (1-6), Casey Martinez (7-18), Alex Jacobsen (19-20). Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Tanner Kershaw; Heat 2: Alex Jacobsen. Preliminary Race Winners: Prelim 1: Tanner Kershaw; Prelim 2: Casey Martinez. Top 10 in points: 1. Kyle Edwards, 672; 2. Ethan Quinn, 654; 3. Alex Jacobsen, 636; 4. Dennis Simunovich, 633; 5. Andrew Murray, 531; 6. Casey Martinez, 522; 7. Tanner Kershaw, 481; 8. Jarid Blondel, 332; 9. Taylor Ferns, 294; 10. Mavrick Gaunt, 230. |
