Ventura Raceway
May 18, 2013
_______________________________________

New clay, new battle, same results: Gardner wins

Cliff Morgan
VENTURA, CA (May 18) - Saturday night May 18, proved to be another great night of open wheel racing at Ventura Raceway. The second of four Battle at the Beach VRA/USAC Midget races presented by ARP was run with 18 midgets in attendance. There were three heat races run Saturday night with wins going to Kyle Edwards in the Super Shox heat one, to David Prickett in the Schroeder Racing Products heat two and Ronnie Gardner in the BRM Motorsports heat three. The 30 lap Battle at the Beach main event was a fast, exciting race that saw Cody Swanson lead the first lap before VRA and USAC season point leader Ronnie Gardner took control and led the rest of the way to take his fourth Battle at the Beach victory. Gardner’s victory keeps him in the season point race lead at Ventura and also out front in the four race series within a series to become King of the Beach after the last Battle of the Beach race in September. Following Gardner to the line were Cody Sawnson, Frankie Guerrini III, David Prickett and Robby Josett.

IMCA Modified racing saw s new winner in 2013 as past five race winner Josh Vogt was out of the state and missed the race.. Past series champion Austin Rodarte came out and took the win over James Stowe, Robbie Witwer, Brad Prows and Dennis Eckert. Their two heat races went to Robbie Witwer in heat one and James Stowe in heat two. After six races Robbie Witwer holds a 4 point lead over Jack Parker and a 13 point lead over Brad Prows.

VRA Dwarf Car raced in two classes. In the Pros, Kevin Calvo took heat one, Randy Gordon took heat two, Tim Conley took heat three and Bill VanPraag took heat four. With 27 Pros in the pits a semi main was run with the win going to Curt Cook. Their 20 lap main was a hard fought 20 lap event that saw Tim Conley led laps 1-8 then Randy Gordon led laps 9-17 only to be passed by race winner Bob Brown Jr on lap 18 and he then led to the finish. Following Brown to the line was Randy Gordon, Darren Bent, David Cantu and Cody Majors. In Senior action, Brent Stevens and Mike Lewis took their heat races. Mike Neal took the main event over Brent Stevens, Randy Gordon, Bob Brown Jr and Mike Lewis. In the season point races, Brent Stevens continues to lead in the Pros. In Seniors Mike Neal took the point lead with his win.

VRA Focus Midgets ran one heat race won by Brennan Rogers. Wally Pankratz took the win in their 20 lap main as he battled Brennan Rogers to get the win.. He led Brennan Rogers and Robert Sumpter to the finish line.

Five VRA Senior Sprints were on hand to run their portion of the night's racing. The heat race and their 20 lap main event went to Clif Warren. In the main event Warren nearly lapped the field to take his record setting fifth win in a row. Warren led all laps to lead Chris Meredith, Wally Pankratz, Steve Brown and Mike Cook to the finish line.

VRA Go Karts resumed their season with twelve karts in the pits. Two heat races were run with the wins going to Kenny Byers Jr and Justin Raper. Their 20 lap main event went to Justin Raper over Cody Nigh, Dylan Ito, and Kenny Byers Jr.and Matt Jones. Matt Jones leads the point race after four races in the 2013 season.

Next week May 25, Ventura Raceway takes a weekend off from car racing to hold another flat track motorcycle. The Go-Karts will also be joining the motorcycles to make up for the March 9th rain out.

Ventura Raceway Race Results for 05/18/2013

VRA Midgets

Race #5 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Ronnie Gardner, Norco, Ca, 30 Laps; 2. Cody Swanson, Norco, 30 Laps; 3. Frankie Guerrini III, San Rafael, CA, 30 Laps; 4. David Prickett, Fresno, 30 Laps; 5. Robby Josett, Santa Clarita, 30 Laps; 6. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, 30 Laps; 7. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 8. Trey Marcham, Oklahoma City OK, 30 Laps; 9. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 30 Laps; 10. Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, 30 Laps; 11. Terry Nichols, Delano, 29 Laps; 12. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 14 Laps; 13. Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, 6 Laps; 14. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 1 Lap; 15. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 1 Lap; 16. Jerome Rodella, El Monte, 1 Lap; 17. Bryan Drollinger, 1 Lap

Lap Leaders: Cody Swanson (1), Ronnie Gardner (2-30)

Heat Race Winners: Super Shox Heat 1: Kyle Edwards; Schroeder Racing Products Heat 2: David Prickett; BR Motorsports Heat 3: Ronnie Gardner

Keizer Aluminum Wheels High Point Award: Jerome Rodella

K&N Engineering Hard Charger: Robby Josett

DJ Safety Hard Luck Award: Bryan Drollinger

Top 10 in points: 1. Ronnie Gardner, 1240; 2. Jake Swanson, 1065; 3. Cody Swanson, 1060; 4. Randi Pankratz, 855; 5. Kyle Smith, 780; 6. Rick Hendrix, 755; 7. Bruce Douglass, 735; 8. David Prickett, 650; 9. Kyle Edwards, 630; 10. Victor Davis, 165

Top 10 in ARP Battle at the Beach points: 1. Ronnie Gardner, 515; 2. David Prickett, 430; 3. Jake Swanson, 420; 4. Cody Swanson, 385; 5. Shannon McQueen, 325; 6. Kyle Edwards, 310; 7. Terry Nichols, 295; 8. Kyle Smith, 275; 9. Randi Pankratz, 270; 10. Frankie Guerrini III, 220

-----------------------------------------------

VRA Senior Sprints

Race #5 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 3. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 20 Laps; 4. Steve Brown, Ontario, Ca, 19 Laps; 5. Mike Cook, Long Beach, 19 Laps

Lap Leaders: Cliff Warren (1-20)

Heat Race Winners: SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Wally Pankratz

Top 10 in points: 1. Cliff Warren, 1255; 2. Chris Meredith, 1075; 3. Mike Cook, 975; 4. Steve Brown, 760; 5. Ed Schwarz, 665; 6. Wally Pankratz, 595; 7. Greg Andrews, 560; 8. Victor Davis, 200; 9. Bruce Douglass, 180; 10. Ron Bach, 175

-----------------------------------------------

VRA Pro Dwarf Cars

Race #5 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: Finish under review

Lap Leaders: Randy Gordon (1-17), Bob Brown Jr (18-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Kevin Calvo; Heat 2: Randy Gordon; Heat 3: Tim Conley; Heat 4: Bill Van Praag

Top 10 in points: 1. Brent Stevens, 895; 2. Thomas Velasquez, 855; 2. Johnny Conley, 855; 4. Kevin Calvo, 825; 5. Hannah Mayhew, 780; 6. April Banvelos, 770; 7. Tim Conley, 765; 8. Jason Horton, 740; 9. Jacob Ganzer, 715; 10. Chase Lippert, 665

-----------------------------------------------

VRA Senior Dwarf Cars

Race #5 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Mike Neal, Northridge, 20 Laps; 2. Brent Stevens, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 3. Randy Gordon, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Bob Brown Jr, El Cajon, 20 Laps; 5. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 20 Laps; 6. Bob Kaufman, Santa Clarita, CA, 20 Laps; 7. Keith Vondersaar, Acton, 20 Laps; 8. Bill Van Praag, Ventura, 9 Laps; 9. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 9 Laps; 10. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 9 Laps; 11. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 9 Laps

Lap Leaders: Bob Kaufman (1-4), Mike Neal (5-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Brent Stevens; Heat 2: Mike Lewis

Top 10 in points: 1. Mike Neal, 1105; 2. Mike Lewis, 1070; 3. Keith Vondersaar, 1045; 4. Bob Kaufman, 995; 5. Bill Van Praag, 960; 6. George Calvo, 920; 7. Tom Stephens Sr, 870; 8. Brent Stevens, 240; 9. Randy Gordon, 205; 10. Lee Majors, 145

-----------------------------------------------

IMCA Modifieds

Race #6 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Austin Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 2. James Stowe, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 3. Robbie Witwer, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 4. Brad Prows, Oak View, 20 Laps; 5. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 20 Laps; 6. Aaron Rodarte, Ventura, 20 Laps; 7. Mark Davis, Ventura, 20 Laps; 8. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 9. Joe Weaver, Ventura, 20 Laps; 10. Tom Topping, Eagle Rock, 20 Laps; 11. Frank Woodward, 19 Laps; 12. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 2 Laps

Lap Leaders: James Stowe (1-13), Austin Rodarte (14-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Robbie Witwer; Heat 2: James Stowe

Top 10 in points: 1. Robbie Witwer, 223; 2. Jack Parker, 219; 3. Brad Prows, 210; 4. James Stowe, 203; 5. Joshua Vogt, 200; 6. Dennis Eckert, 191; 7. Mark Davis, 187; 8. Steve Bulpitt, 179; 9. Aaron Rodarte, 144; 10. Joe Weaver, 131

-----------------------------------------------

Ford Focus

Race #6 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 20 Laps; 2. Brennan Rogers, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Robert Sumpter, 20 Laps

Lap Leaders: Brennan Rogers (1-16), Wally Pankratz (17-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Brennan Rogers

Top 10 in points: 1. Brennan Rogers, 1405; 2. Wally Pankratz, 1255; 3. Ashley Hazelton, 715; 4. Courtney Crone, 425; 5. Christine Breckenridge, 405; 6. Steve Brown, 210; 7. Clayton Ruston, 195; 8. Robert Sumpter, 0; 8. Darin McCard, 0; 8. Greg Foster, 0; 8. Alexander Bissett, 0; 8. Cory Elliot, 0; 8. Austin Blair, 0

-----------------------------------------------

Go-Karts

Race #4 05/18/2013

Main Event Results: 1. Justin Raper, Paso Robles, 20 Laps; 2. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Dylan Ito, Newberry Park, 20 Laps; 4. Kenny Byers Jr, Ventura, 20 Laps; 5. Matt Jones, 20 Laps; 6. Tyler Stover, Manhattan Beach, 20 Laps; 7. Steven Ito, Ventura, 20 Laps; 8. Holiday Perches, 20 Laps; 9. Brenden McCarthy, 20 Laps; 10. Connor Lovingfoss, 20 Laps; 11. Douglas Lebow, Camarillo, 18 Laps; 12. Logan Lovingfoss, 12 Laps

Lap Leaders: Matt Jones (1-9), Justin Raper (10-20)

Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Kenny Byers Jr; Heat 2: Justin Raper

Top 10 in points: 1. Matt Jones, 975; 2. Kenny Byers Jr, 875; 3. Justin Raper, 830; 4. Dylan Ito, 615; 5. Kenji Ito, 530; 6. Holiday Perches, 470; 7. Douglas Lebow, 450; 8. Cody Nigh, 425; 9. Tyler Stover, 360; 10. Connor Lovingfoss, 355