VENTURA, California — The VRA 360 Sprint Cars will return to action this Saturday, June 5th, at Jim Naylor's Ventura Raceway. Also on the card will be the VRA Dwarf Cars, IMCA Modifieds, California Lightning Sprint Cars, Junior Midgets, and Mini Dwarf Cars. The Front Gates will open at 3:00pm with Racing to start at 5:30pm at "The Best Little Dirt Track In America."
One driver that will be looking for his first victory of the 2010 campaign is Steve Conrad of Quartz Hill. Sitting sixth in the point standings, Conrad brought his #56 Roy Miller Freight Lines / SC Grafix entry to a fifth place finish after starting tenth last Saturday night. The veteran driver has shown that consistency can pay off with eight top 10-finishes and two heat race wins on the season. It will not be an easy task for Conrad to score the win as seven different drivers have reached victory circle in nine events.
Point leader Troy Rutherford of Ojai had a strong run last Saturday. The pilot of the Trench Shoring / L&H Consulting #11 entry drove to a third place finish after starting fourteenth. Perhaps the hottest driver on the circuit, Rutherford has two feature wins, nine top-10 finishes, and leads all drivers with six heat race victories. Troy now enjoys a 220 point advantage over Reseda's Kevin Kierce.
Kierce, the 2-time and defending series champion, had some tough luck last Saturday with an eleventh place finish after running towards the front. The 1999 Ventura IMCA Sprint Car Champion claimed his third heat race win of the season in the Fast Undercar / Direct Tire #2 machine. With seven top-10 finishes and one feature victory, Kierce is looking to make history with his third straight series title.
Sitting third in the point standings is Ventura's Greg Taylor. The 2007 VRA Champion scored his second victory of the season last Saturday after starting sixth. Driving the Taylor Trucking & Crane Service / Four Paws Pet Grooming #7 entry, Greg also won his first 10-lap heat race of the season. With eight top-10 finishes on the season, Taylor is returning to championship form.
Camarillo's Josh Ford is now fourth in the point chase. The pilot of the #73 King Racing Products / A&A Precision Machine entry had a second place finish last Saturday. The former USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year has one feature victory, three heat race wins, and six top-10 finishes on the year. Look for Josh to be in the mix this Saturday.
Veteran driver Rick Hendrix of Palmdale took his Rick's Gate Works Inc. / Wilwood Disc Brakes #15 machine to eighth after starting thirteenth. The 1998 USAC Western Midgets Champion is currently fifth in the point standings. Hendrix has one feature victory, four heat race wins, and six top-10 finishes on the season. Look for Rick to be one of the favorites this Saturday night.
Among the other top contenders expected to be in action are Camarillo's Brian and Brent Camarillo, Rialto's Don Gansen, Reseda's Justin Kierce, "The Rocket" Ronnie Case of Camarillo, and 2006 Champion "Hollywood" Luis Espinoza of Castaic.
The VRA Sprint Car Series would like to thank Fast Undercar, ITI Performance, Kaeding Performance, LRB Manufacturing, Lucas Oil, Snap On Tools, Steve Watt Enterprises, Sushi Fresh, and Twister-X for their support.
Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. Adult tickets are $14, Senior, Military, and Student tickets (ID Required) are $11, while Children’s tickets (12 and under) are FREE. For more event information, please visit www.venturaraceway.com.
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VRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Troy Rutherford 2080; 2. Kevin Kierce 1860; 3. Greg Taylor 1740; 4. Josh Ford 1685; 5. Rick Hendrix 1645; 6. Steve Conrad 1600; 7. Brent Camarillo 1360; 8. Brian Camarillo 1280; 9. Don Gansen 1180; 10. Justin Kierce 1170; 11. Guy Woodward 1160; 12. John Nock 1090; 13. Ronnie Case 880; 14. Kenny Perkins 875; 15. Dakota Kershaw 865; 16. Cody Kershaw 825; 17. Brody Roa 770; 18. Luis Espinoza 680; 19. Scott Hansen 585; 20. Marcus Niemela 480; 20. Bruce Douglass 480.
NEXT VRA SPRINT CAR RACE:
June 5 - Ventura Raceway - Ventura, California
