Ventura Raceway
March 2, 2013
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Hendricks Opens 2013 With First Career Win at Ventura 

by Cliff Morgan
OXNARD, CA (March 2) - Ventura Raceway opened its 2013 season with a full program of exciting short track racing action featuring five adult classes and our three division kid's class. Racing was top notch as racers returned to action looking forward to a new season.

Tom Hendricks started the new 2013 with an exciting win over Guy Woodward and Rick Hendrix in the 30 lap feature for VRA Sprints Saturday night. Hendricks came from the 5th starting position to take his first ever VRA Sprint Car victory. Following Hendricks and Woodward to the line were Rick Hendrix, Victor Davis and Jeff Fillingame. Heat race wins went to Bruce Douglass and Rick Hendrix.

VRA Senior Sprints opened their season with 8 cars in the pits. Mike Cook took the victory in the one heat race run. The 20 lap feature was all 2012 series champion Clif Warren as he led from the opening green flag to the checkered. Ed Schwarz finished second with Victor Davis third, Bruce Douglass fourth and Chris Meredith fifth.

VRA Dwarf Cars were on the track in two divisions, Seniors and Pros. There were 22 cars in Pros and 8 cars in Seniors. In Seniors, the 8 lap heat race went to Mike Lewis. Their 20 lap feature went to first time winner Bob Kaufman followed by Mike Neal, Mike Lewis, Keith Vondersaar and Bill VanPraag. In Pros it was Tim Conley, Tom Stephens Jr and Randy Gordon taking heat race wins. Brent Stevens took the win in the 20 lap main after race leader Randy Gordon went out after contact with a back marker with two laps to go. Following Stevens to the line were Eric Alton, Johnny Conley, David Cantu and Kevin Calvo.

VRA's new Hobby Stock Class debuted with five cars in attendance. Scott Dinger took the win in their one heat race. The 20 lap main event went to long time Ventura competitor Gary Curtis. Following Curtis to the line in the main were Scott Dinger, Ernie Malone and David Heurung. Tom Stephens JR's car failed to start the main due to mechanical issues.

USAC veteran Wally Pankratz took the 20 lap feature win in the VRA Focus Class opener. He led Brennan Rogers, Christine Breckenridge, Clayton Ruston and Austin Blair to the line. On track fourth place finisher Ashley Hazleton 's car failed post race tech inspection. Hazleton took the win in the one heat race in the class.

The final group racing on opening night were our three kids divisions. In VRA Mini Dwarf Superchargers, Andrew Orlando took the heat race win and J.D. Brown took the feature win. Following him in the feature were Andrew Orlando and Will Mimms. In Mini Dwarf Pistons the heat race and feature win went to Blake Hendricks. Garrett Egan, Zack Chavez and Dylan Neal followed him across the line in the main event. In VRA Junior Midgets, 2012 Mini Dwarf Supercharger champion Nick Velasquez got back to his winning ways by taking the 15 lap feature and heat race win over Mike Long.

Racing resumes next Saturday night March 9, with a full program of exciting racing featuring VRA Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Sport Compacts, Mod Lites, Go Karts, Quads and Sport Mods.

Ventura Raceway Race Results for 03/02/2013

VRA Sprint Cars

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 2. Guy Woodward, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 3. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 4. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 5. Jeff Fillingame, Santa Paula, 30 Laps; 6. John Nock, Newhall, 30 Laps; 7. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 8. Luke Boles, Goleta, 30 Laps; 9. Greg Taylor, Ventura, 30 Laps; 10. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 11. David Taylor Jr., Moorpark, 29 Laps; 12. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 12 Laps; 13. Austin DeBlauw, lVentura, 6 Laps; 14. Wally Pankratz, Orange, Did not show

Lap Leaders: Guy Woodward (1-17), Tom Hendricks (18-30)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Bruce Douglass; Heat 2: Rick Hendrix

Top 10 in points: 1. Tom Hendricks, 255; 2. Guy Woodward, 230; 3. Rick Hendrix, 225; 4. Victor Davis, 200; 5. Jeff Fillingame, 180; 6. Luke Boles, 175; 6. John Nock, 175; 8. Bruce Douglass, 170; 9. Kyle Smith, 165; 10. Greg Taylor, 160

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VRA Senior Sprints

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 20 Laps; 3. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 19 Laps; 6. Steve Brown, 18 Laps; 7. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 1 Lap; 8. Mike Cook, Long Beach, 1 Lap

Lap Leaders: Cliff Warren (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Mike Cook

Top 10 in points: 1. Cliff Warren, 240; 2. Ed Schwarz, 225; 3. Victor Davis, 200; 4. Chris Meredith, 195; 5. Mike Cook, 180; 5. Wally Pankratz, 180; 5. Bruce Douglass, 180; 8. Steve Brown, 165

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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Brent Stevens, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 2. Eric Alton, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 3. Johnny Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 4. David Cantu, 20 Laps; 5. Kevin Calvo, Agua Dulce, 20 Laps; 6. Tim Conley, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 7. Jacob Ganzer, Murrietta, 20 Laps; 8. Shawn Egan, Saugus, 20 Laps; 9. Chase Lippert, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 10. Cody Majors, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 11. Randy Gordon, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 12. Hannah Mayhew, Acton, Ca, 20 Laps; 13. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 14. Ira Henry, Bakersfield, 20 Laps; 15. April Banvelos, Sylmar, 18 Laps; 16. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 17 Laps; 17. Eric Moore, Ventura, 17 Laps; 18. Curt Cook, Santa Paula, 11 Laps; 19. Jason Horton, Oxnard, 11 Laps; 20. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 6 Laps; 21. Tyler Blasher, 6 Laps; 22. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 4 Laps

Lap Leaders: Kevin Calvo (1-11), Randy Gordon (12-17), Brent Stevens (18-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Tim Conley; Heat 2: Tom Stephens Jr; Heat 3: Randy Gordon

Top 10 in points: 1. Brent Stevens, 250; 2. Eric Alton, 235; 3. Johnny Conley, 215; 4. Kevin Calvo, 200; 5. David Cantu, 195; 5. Tim Conley, 195; 7. Randy Gordon, 165; 8. Jacob Ganzer, 160; 8. Shawn Egan, 160; 10. Chase Lippert, 155; 10. Cody Majors, 155

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VRA Senior Dwarf Cars

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Bob Kaufman, Santa Clarita, CA, 20 Laps; 2. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 3. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 20 Laps; 4. Keith Vondersaar, Acton, 20 Laps; 5. Bill Van Praag, Ventura, 20 Laps; 6. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 11 Laps; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 11 Laps; 8. Rick Lapka, Apple Valley, Did not show

Lap Leaders: Bob Kaufman (1-12), Mike Lewis (13), Bob Kaufman (14-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Mike Lewis

Top 10 in points: 1. Bob Kaufman, 235; 2. Mike Lewis, 225; 3. Mike Neal, 205; 4. Keith Vondersaar, 200; 5. George Calvo, 190; 6. Bill Van Praag, 185; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, 175; 8. Rick Lapka, 10

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VRA Hobby Stocks

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Gary Curtis, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Scott Dinger, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 3. Ernie Malone, Ojai, 20 Laps; 4. David Heurung, 20 Laps; 5. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, Did not show

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Scott Dinger

Top 10 in points: 1. Gary Curtis, 255; 2. Scott Dinger, 240; 3. Ernie Malone, 215; 4. David Heurung, 200; 5. Tom Stephens Jr, 20

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Ford Focus

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 20 Laps; 2. Brennan Rogers, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Christine Breckenridge, Irvine, 20 Laps; 4. Ashley Hazelton, Northridge, Disqualified; 5. Clayton Ruston, Yorba Linda, Ca, 20 Laps; 6. Austin Blair, 20 Laps

Lap Leaders: Christine Breckenridge (1-3), Wally Pankratz (4-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Ashley Hazelton

Top 10 in points: 1. Wally Pankratz, 250; 2. Brennan Rogers, 235; 3. Christine Breckenridge, 210; 4. Clayton Ruston, 195; 5. Ashley Hazelton, 40; 6. Austin Blair, 0

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VRA Junior Midgets

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 15 Laps; 2. Mike Long, Thousand Oaks, 15 Laps

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Nick Velasquez

Top 10 in points: 1. Nick Velasquez, 260; 2. Mike Long, 235

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VRA Mini Dwarf - Pistons

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Blake Hendricks, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 2. Garrett Egan, Saugus, 12 Laps; 3. Zack Chavez, Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 4. Dylan Neal, Oxnard, 4 Laps

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Blake Hendricks

Top 10 in points: ; 2. Blake Hendricks, 0; 2. Dylan Neal, 0; 2. Garrett Egan, 0; 2. Zack Chavez, 0

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VRA Mini Dwarf - Superchargers

Race #1 03/02/2013

Main Event Results: 1. J D Brown, Port Hueneme, 12 Laps; 2. Andrew Orlando, Bakersfield, 12 Laps; 3. Will Mimms, 12 Laps

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Andrew Orlando

Top 10 in points: 1. J D Brown, 255; 2. Andrew Orlando, 240; 3. Will Mimms, 215