Saturday august 30th 2008

 
Reeling in methanol exhaustion. These are foggy days at the beach. Drifting in repetitive motions. Mud packing, beat a heat and flip a main. The sun refuses to come out for a picture. You run up the flag and run down the message board. Sometimes I can’t cut through all the BS. It’s heat four, lap eight and the realm of possibilities is rapidly diminishing. Reality is mostly the back half of the second semi. You spent the last dollar of your paycheck on new tires and you’re in last place. Nobody is picking you and hey, you just got punted. This garbage is all playing in my head as I sign the release, shuffle through the pits and walk down the loading ramp……  All Thrill No Fill Bruce is the Racing Spirit -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  cool confidence and satisfied smile Sometimes I see a kid manhandle a tough fight and things get better. Joe Leiper reached for inspiration and found perspiration in the VRA Junior Focus Midgets. He slugged it out for twelve season races and finally knocked out a main event win. Wasn’t easy either, points leader Charlie Butcher was on him like pepper spray. Charlie couldn’t hang and ferocious Jake Swanson stepped up. Swanson got served. Oklahoma hotshot Tyler Edwards was always in the background like a threatening Midwest tornado. I watched Joe make every mistake in the book including almost parking it in turn three. But the kid never quit until he had that checkered flag. Taking his picture later, I was struck by his cool confidence and satisfied smile. Why not, he beat the best and he’s rolling home a winner.  Jake Swanson Puts a Hurt on the Dirt -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Lives in Arizona, Works in California, Races at Ventura: Richard Terry Long overdue was Ventura stalwart and all around good guy Rob Kershaw winning the VRA Senior Sprints. First off, let me say that I’ve seen the Foreign Legion more often at Ventura this year than the senior sprints. Then they come out, try to run a decent main and get yanked after thirteen laps because they have a few, uh, discrepancies…I want my seniors! Bruce Douglas smoked his heat race; let’s make that perfectly clear. Cliff Warren also ripped his heat and may be the most improved driver this year. Wiley Miller took the first heat but hasn’t won a main event yet this year. That’s a long way from normal. I see the Miller Freight and Trucking logo on so many talented drivers; fans appreciate your contribution to local racing! Back at the track, the biggest stinker was the sixth lap snafu taking out Ron Bach, ouch!. At thirteen laps there’s a mess on the backstretch, they fly the checkers and Kershaw takes the points lead! Stay tuned for the return of the Cheshire cat.  Kershaw Crew Dominates -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Martin Nehring Wants You to Stay at a Marriott Courtyard VRA Sport Compacts are not the most exciting racecars in Ventura. Glad to bring you that bulletin. But drivers like Randall Dougan, Joel Chavez and Darren Gunnell come together to make it pretty interesting. Mike Frazier was out front Saturday night until a yellow broadsided him and Chavez stole the restart. Frazier stole it back next yellow and that’s how those boys are. Dougan turned around Chavez and they were both sent to the back of the class. Frazier wasn’t safe, Gunnell ripped the lead on the backstretch and then it was a pretty good fight. What was really amazing is that before this twenty lapper was called, both Chavez and Dougan had worked back to the front. It flagged Gunnell, Joel Chavez Jr., Papa Joel, Frazier and Dougan. One of the tightest point races at Ventura. Like superheroes in comic books.  Gastown Superhero Gunnell -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Richard Denman is One Wicked Driver IMCA Modifieds are like sitting down to a big steak dinner. You have to attack it. Wash it down with some bourbon. Spill some gravy and throw the dogs a bone. Jim Evans out front early but its hell raiser Richard Denman that catches and muscles him ‘out of my way’. Denman is beyond agro but gets stuffed in traffic, turned around and gets the hook. Fan favorite Randy McGraw gets caught up and goes to the back. He was robbed. Big Dog Damon Redman has sweated his way to the front and takes control of the madhouse. He owns the win; Evans refuses to lay down and gets second while Joe Weaver shows up for third place leftovers. If your in a bar fight, you want a modified driver backing you up. No fear. Shout out to my buddy Brad Prows.  pop’s been bringing them to the track long as they can remember -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Kierce Gets Under Conrad’s Skin D’Angelos’ Sprint Car Shootout (thanks for supporting local racing) and Bobby Michnowicz launches. McCormick and Hendrix are both in the game but suffer industrial accidents. Doesn’t matter, Jonathan Henry dominates as the takes the lead and beats it to a pulp. Templeman challenged for a bit, then Camarillo gave it an inspired effort. But I never saw Henry break a sweat even as he blistered the track. Conrad was his usual brilliant self (hope he busts out a 410 next week). But the most interesting story was the erstwhile Kevin Kierce. Nasty flip in his heat. Controversial start in his semi in which he barely cleared! Took the caboose spot in the main and ran it to fourth. I thought you were supposed to be conservative when you’re racing for points? Somebody better tell the Calculator. Henry cashes the check, Brian Camarillo second in a heart filled effort (hope he’s 410 next week). Cool Conrad third. K-man fourth. Guy Woodman is top five in a spot somewhere between control and abandon. Racing like he means it.  raw talent, real humbleness and refreshing appreciation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank God the 410’s are coming. It might take that extra horsepower to turn this all around. I dump my last place blues and crank out another love letter. No reply. It’s late in the season and drivers are beat. Broke too. It’s funny how Wagsdash seems to flow at just the right moment in time. This fine extended family of humble skills and extraordinary generosity bridges a vast chasm of need and indifference. Mr. and Mrs. Wags’ support of the low buck racer is the kick in the butt needed in the final laps. Here comes Mike, Blake, Tony, Danny, Rip and the rest of the best. I’m might nail some all time photos. That’s what I care about. Will somebody book some sun for five-thirty? http://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0060.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0174.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0175.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0113.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0164.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0125.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0170.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0106.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0168.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0034.jpghttp://www.vrafan.com/surfnsprintpics/830_0149.jpg
 
 
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