Ventura Raceway
March 23, 2013
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Vogt captures IMCA Modified win at Ventura Raceway

by Cliff Morgan
OXNARD, CA - Fans at Ventura Raceway saw another night of exciting open wheel racing Saturday night March 23rd. A full night of short track racing action featuring six adult classes saw drivers continue their battle for points and glory in the new season.

Cody Swanson was back to try to get two wins in a row but early race problems kept him from his goal. Instead the night belonged to Robbie Gardner in his Mitchell Johnson prepared midget. Gardner took the win in the 30 lap feature over Cody's cousin and last week's second place finisher, cousin Jake Swanson. Gardner started sixth in the field and moved to the front, taking the lead on lap 4 from Randi Pankratz and led to the finish. Following Gardner and J. Swanson to the line were Randi Pankratz, Rick Hendrix and Cody Swanson. Two heat races were run with wins going to Gardner in heat one and Bruce Douglass in heat two. After two races Ronnie Gardner leads the point race by 20 points over Cody Swanson.

IMCA Modifieds continued their season with three heat races for the large field of 21 cars in the pits. Josh Vogt took the heat one win, Dennis Eckert took the win in heat two and Brad Prows took the win in heat three. The twenty lap feature was an all out dog fight with several different drivers battling for the lead. Brad Prows led laps 1-15 with Josh Vogt taking the lead on lap 16 from his eighth place starting position and go on to take his second win in a row. Following Vogt to the line were Aaron Rodarte, 2012 track champion Jack Parker, Robbie Witwer and past track champion Donald Houghton. Vogt's win puts him solidly in the point race lead over Robbie Witwer, Jack Parker and Aaron Rodarte.

VRA Senior Sprints raced Saturday night with 2012 champion Clif Warren taking his second win of the new season. He lad all 20 laps of the feature, with Ed Schwarz, Mike Cook, Steve Brown and Greg Andrews following him across the line. Schwarz took their one heat race.

VRA Sport Compacts resumed their season with 2012 season champ Zack Peterson trying to take his second win of the season. As it turned out it was not to be as Mike Stanford took the win in the 20 lap feature as he passed early race leader Bruce Fink on lap 12 and then led the rest of the way to take the win over Peterson who had charged up to second from his third row starting position, James Adler, Andrew Greiman and Mira Cook. Their heat race win went to Peterson. With his second place finish Peterson leads Stanford by 35 points after two races.

VRA Mod Lites opened their 2013 season Saturday with rookie driver Ricky Lewis taking the 20 lap feature over Dave Dotson, Jeffery Fry and Kris Kornder. Dotson took the win in their one heat race.

The final group racing Saturday night was our VRA Go Kart Class. With 12 karts in the pits two heat races were held with wins going to Chris Gibb in heat one and Matt Jones in heat two. The 20 lap main event was a fast and furious race on the big track with Matt Jones taking the win over Chris Gibb Dylan Ito, Kenny Byers Jr. and Justin Raper.

Racing resumes next Saturday night March 30, with a full program of exciting racing featuring VRA Sprints, VRA Senior Sprints, VRA Hobby Stocks, VRA Focus Midgets, California Lightning Sprints and our three kids classes Junior Midgets, Mini Dwarf Pistons and Superchargers.

VRA Midgets
Race #2     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Ronnie Gardner, Norco, Ca, 30 Laps; 2. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 30 Laps; 3. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 30 Laps; 4. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 5. Cody Swanson, Norco, 30 Laps; 6. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 7. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 8. Hobie Conway, Ventura, 19 Laps; 9. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 25 Laps
Lap Leaders: Randi Pankratz (1-3), Ronnie Gardner (4-30)

Heat Race Winners:  Super Shox Heat 1: Ronnie Gardner; Schroeder Racing Products Heat 2: Bruce Douglass

Top 10 in points:  1. Ronnie Gardner, 465; 2. Cody Swanson, 445; 3. Rick Hendrix, 390; 4. Randi Pankratz, 370; 5. Bruce Douglass, 360; 6. Kyle Smith, 340; 7. Jake Swanson, 230; 8. David Prickett, 220; 9. Hobie Conway, 160; 9. Kyle Edwards, 160

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VRA Senior Sprints
Race #2     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 20 Laps; 3. Mike Cook, Long Beach, 19 Laps; 4. Steve Brown, Ontario, Ca, 19 Laps; 5. Greg Andrews, Fillmore, Ca, 19 Laps; 6. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 8 Laps; 7. Ron Bach, Santa Paula, 6 Laps
Lap Leaders: Cliff Warren (1-20)

Heat Race Winners:  SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Ed Schwarz

Top 10 in points:  1. Cliff Warren, 485; 2. Ed Schwarz, 465; 3. Chris Meredith, 385; 4. Mike Cook, 375; 5. Steve Brown, 360; 6. Victor Davis, 200; 7. Greg Andrews, 180; 7. Wally Pankratz, 180; 7. Bruce Douglass, 180; 10. Ron Bach, 175

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IMCA Modifieds
Race #2     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Joshua Vogt, Santa Maria, 20 Laps; 2. Aaron Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 3. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Robbie Witwer, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 5. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 20 Laps; 6. Brad Prows, Oak View, 20 Laps; 7. James Stowe, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 8. John Romero, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 9. Robbie Brand, Barstow, 20 Laps; 10. Joe Weaver, Ventura, 20 Laps; 11. Rob Green, Ojai, 20 Laps; 12. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 13. Marty McLaughlin, Thousand Oaks, 18 Laps; 14. Chuck Costabile, Simi Valley, 16 Laps; 15. John Crow, Long Beach, 15 Laps; 16. Daylan Coffey, Santa Maria, 15 Laps; 17. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 15 Laps; 18. David Phipps, 13 Laps; 19. Mark Davis, Ventura, 3 Laps; 20. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 3 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brad Prows (1-13), Joshua Vogt (14-20)

Heat Race Winners:   Heat 1: Joshua Vogt;  Heat 2: Dennis Eckert;  Heat 3: Brad Prows

Top 10 in points:  1. Joshua Vogt, 80; 2. Robbie Witwer, 74; 2. Jack Parker, 74; 4. Aaron Rodarte, 72; 5. James Stowe, 69; 6. John Crow, 65; 7. John Romero, 62; 7. Brad Prows, 62; 9. Chuck Costabile, 55; 9. Steve Bulpitt, 55

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VRA Sport Compacts
Race #2     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Mike Stanford, 20 Laps; 2. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 3. James Adler, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 4. Andrew Greiman, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 5. Mira Cook, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 6. Bruce Fink, Port Hueneme, 20 Laps; 7. Joel Chavez Jr., Santa Paula, 20 Laps; 8. Cameron Dougan, Camarillo, 13 Laps
Lap Leaders: Bruce Fink (1-11), Mike Stanford (12-20)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Zachary Peterson

Top 10 in points:  1. Zachary Peterson, 495; 2. Mike Stanford, 460; 3. James Adler, 455; 4. Mira Cook, 365; 5. Joel Chavez Jr., 350; 6. Cameron Dougan, 310; 7. Andrew Greiman, 210; 8. Bruce Fink, 205; 9. Jeff Stanton, 200; 10. Eric Griffin, 180

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Mod Lite
Race #1     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 2. Dave Dotson, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 3. Jeffrey Fry, Hawthorne, 18 Laps; 4. Kris Kornder, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Ricky Lewis (1-20)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Dave Dotson

Top 10 in points:  1. Ricky Lewis, 250; 2. Dave Dotson, 240; 3. Jeffrey Fry, 220; 4. Kris Kornder, 200

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Go-Karts
Race #1     03/23/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Matt Jones, 20 Laps; 2. Chris Gibb, Lakewood, 20 Laps; 3. Dylan Ito, Newberry Park, 20 Laps; 4. Kenny Byers Jr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Justin Raper, Paso Robles, 20 Laps; 6. Brenden McCarthy, 20 Laps; 7. Kenji Ito, 20 Laps; 8. Tyler Stover, Manhattan Beach, 20 Laps; 9. Holiday Perchase, 19 Laps; 10. Spencer Sandoval, 11 Laps; 11. D. J. Lebow, 6 Laps; 12. Steven Ito, Ventura, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Justin Raper (1-8), Chris Gibb (9-17), Matt Jones (18-20)

Heat Race Winners:  Heat 1: Chris Gibb; Heat 2: Matt Jones

Top 10 in points:  1. Matt Jones, 260; 2. Chris Gibb, 240; 3. Dylan Ito, 215; 4. Justin Raper, 200; 4. Kenny Byers Jr, 200; 6. Kenji Ito, 180; 6. Brenden McCarthy, 180; 8. Tyler Stover, 170; 9. Holiday Perchase, 155; 10. Spencer Sandoval, 145