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CHAMPIONSHIPS, BIG MONEY ON LINE AT VENTURA RACEWAY
by Lee Elder
VENTURA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2008) – One of the richest races in Ventura Raceway history will cap the 2008 season when the track hosts the All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge for the track’s Sprint Car class on Nov. 15.
The event requires that competitors and their cars be registered with the Ventura Racing Association. Sprint Car entries have swelled in recent races as teams worked to get ready for the special event.
A statistics packet follows.
In addition to the Sprint Cars, Saturday’s race includes the VRA Senior Sprints, Dwarf Cars, Sport Compacts and the track’s youth divisions. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m. The youth division heat races start at 3:30. The adult division heats begin at 5:30.
NOTES FOR VENTURA RACEWAY
WHAT: Final race of the 2008 season, includes the All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge for Sprint Cars.
WHERE: Ventura Raceway
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15
WHO: Sprint Cars, Senior Sprints, Dwarf Cars, Sport Compacts, youth divisions
WHY: Because money and championships are at stake
MEDIA: Please contact Ventura Raceway PR Director Lee Elder (805-981-8678) by 5 p.m. Wednesday to request credentials.
TITLES: The Sprint Car, Senior Sprint, Sport Compact and youth division championships remain undecided. The standings for the All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge are separate from the Sprint Car division and that title is also undetermined.
BIG PURSE: The total purse for the All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge has surpassed $14,000. The race winner earns $5,000; second place is worth $2,000 and third gets $1,000. The overall Challenge winner wins an extra $1,000.
ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION 3-2-1 CHALLENGE
FIRST TWO RACES
Top five finishers:
March 29: Kevin Kierce, Troy Rutherford, Greg Taylor, John Nock, Steve Conrad.
July 12: Clark Templeman III, Richard McCormick, Troy Rutherford, Steve Conrad, Bobby Michnowicz.
STANDINGS
Top five in points: Troy Rutherford 455, Clark Templeman III 435, Richard McCormick 410, Steve Conrad 390, Kevin Kierce 380.
PAYOUT
Main event: 1. $5,000; 2. $2,000; 3. $1,000
Heats: $200 to win
Challenge winner: $1,000
RULES
All Ventura Raceway rules apply including tires, fuel and mufflers. Drivers must be VRA members, cars must be registered with the VRA. The main event will be a 30 lapper.
IMPACT
The number of Sprint Car entries has risen in recent weeks as drivers sought experience at the Raceway in preparation for the All Coast Construction 3-2-1 Challenge. There were 39 entries on Nov. 8 and on Oct .18 there were 33. The track has received enough queries to indicate that a truly large entry is likely. Through the Nov. 8 event, 79 drivers had scored points this season in the VRA Sprint Car class.
TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
Ventura Raceway’s Sprint Car championship remains up for grabs going into the Nov. 15 event, but it should be decided early in the evening. Reseda’s Kevin Kierce holds a 240-point lead over Clark Templeman of Santa Clarita. The maximum points available on any race night is 260. If Kierce earns a start in the feature, he wins the 2008 championship.
OTHER VRA DIVISIONS, CHAMPIONSHIPS
SENIOR SPRINTS: Rob Kershaw leads a close race with 2,770 points. Bruce Douglas is next with 2,665 and Ron Bach has 2,635. Kershaw can lock Douglas out by finishing fifth or better in the feature, regardless of the heat race results. Kershaw beats Bach by finishing 10th or better in the feature, regardless of the heat race results.
SPORT COMPACTS: Too many scenarios are possible, so the points will explain how close it is. Joel Chavez leads with 2,765. Randal Dougan is next with 2,740 and Darren Gunnell has 2,700.
SENIOR DWARF CARS: Another close one. Kevin Alverson holds a 145-point lead over Ed Niedzwiecki.
JUNIOR MIDGETS: You want it close? Points leader Riley Helland leads Luke Boles by 20 points. Helland leads Austin Figueroa by 40 points and fourth-place driver Brennan Rogers is only 140 behind the leader. Even the next two drivers in the standings, Jessica Clark and Cameron Dougan, have mathematical chances.
MINI DWARF – SUPERCHARGERS: Ricki Lewis leads Devin McCree by 170 points.
HOW POINTS ARE EARNED: There are no provisional positions awarded for the main event, all starts must be earned through heat race or semi-main event finishes.
Points are awarded for finishing positions in heat races and main events. Heat race points start at 40 for winning and drop by five points per position. Main event points start at 220 for winning, 200 for second and 185 for third. Points drop 10 per position down to 145 for seventh place, then drop by five per position. The main event normally has a 20-car field, but for events with large entries, the starting field can be expanded to 22 cars.
NOTE: Want to win a bet? Stump your pals with this trivia: Who is the fastest former Ventura Raceway track champion?
Answer: Drag racing star Cruz Pedregon, who once won a karting championship at Ventura. Pedregon’s NHRA Funny Car exceeds 300 mph on a standard run…Kevin Kierce attended USAC races at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway in recent weeks to mentor USAC driver Robbie Jossett…The Nov. 8 race at Ventura attracted an overall entry of 117 cars. The Sprint Car and Senior Sprint classes alone attracted 59 entries.
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