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BRANDON THOMSON WINS THE ALL COAST CHALLENGE
KEVIN KIERCE TAKES THE 2008 VRA SPRINT CAR CROWN
by Cliff Morgan
The 2008 season ended with a very special night of racing last Saturday night. Thirty nine VRA 360 Sprint Cars participated in the final round of the All Coast Challenge Series. The winner took home a hefty first place payout check for $5,000. That night also crowned several class champions.
VRA Sprints ended their season with a great night of racing action that saw Brandon Thomson take his very first VRA Sprint Car win in the biggest paying VRA race ever. Thanks to All Coast Construction, the race paid a whopping $5,000 to win. This is five times the normal VRA first place payout of $1,000. The race was a battle between three top notch young chargers. Thomson jumped out to lead lap one to 8 when Johnathon Henry took the lead and led laps 9-17. On lap 18 visiting charger Jesse Hocket from Missouri took the lead and held on to it until lap 24. While Hockett and Henry battled around the top of the track, Thomson sped along the bottom of the track. He continued on the bottom and passed Hocket for the lead on lap 25 and held on to win his first ever VRA main event. Fourth through fifth went to Kevin Kierce, who clinched his first VRA Championship and came from 18th starting position to finish fourth and Steve Conrad. Cory Kruseman finished fourth on the track, but failed to allow tech teardown on his car in post race inspection and was disqualified from the main event. For their efforts, Hocket took home $2,000 and Henry took home $1,000. Heat race wins went to Steve Conrad, Troy Rutherford, Josh Ford, Jesse Hocket and Greg Alexander. Each heat race winner also took home $200 for their heat win. The final point order for the 2008 season shows Kierce out front with Clark Templeman III second Richard McCormick third, Brandon Thomson fourth and Steve Conrad fifth. Troy Rutherford took the All Coast Challenge Championship for scoring the most points in the three race series. For his win he took home a check for $1,000.
Twenty four VRA Senior Sprints ran three heat races which were won by Bill Badger, Jeff Culver and Bobby Michnowicz. A semi main was run to fill the 20 car main event starting field. The win in this event went to Chuck Tyler. The feature was scheduled for 20 laps, but once again had to be shortened due to six crashes and spins in the first five laps and time constraints. Rob Kershaw took the shortened race win and also clinched the Senior Sprint Car Championship. Following him across the line were Wiley Miller, Ron Bach, Bob Alderman and Russell DeBlauw. Kershaw’s title is his first VRA Championship. Following him in the 2008 point’s race are past champion Ron Bach, Bruce Douglass, past champion Wiley Miller and Tim Moon.
VRA Dwarf Cars were also there on Saturday. Senior Dwarf Cars saw Kevin Alverson take his first VRA Championship with a second place finish in the feature. The feature win went to Tom Bellinger. Third through fifth went to Bill Van Praag, Rick Lapka, and Mark Davis. VRA Pros saw 2008 season champion Brian Saxton take another win over his teammate Ray Estrada. Estrada finished second in the series followed by Brent Stevens, Chris Olson and Mike Lewis.
Joel Chavez finished third in the 12 lap VRA Sport Compact feature to clinch his second VRA Sport Car Championship. The feature win went to Darren Gunnell who used his win to pass Randal Dougan and finish second in season points. Dougan finished third in points with Joel Chavez Jr. fourth and Brent Underwood fifth. In the racing Saturday heat races went to Gunnell and Mike Frazier. Following Gunnell in the feature were Jess Carlucci, Chavez, Roger Sutton and Dougan.
In the VRA Kids Divisions, wins went to Brennan Rogers in Junior Midgets, Ricky Lewis in Super Chargers and Cameron McCauley in Pistons. The wins allowed Lewis to take the Super Charger Championship, McCauley took the Piston Championship and Austin Figueroa and Luke Boles tied for the Junior Midget Championship.
Ventura Raceway wants to thank all our competitors, crews and fans for their support this season. We will be back in the spring with a full schedule of exciting short track racing. Be watching for our 2009 schedule here on venturaraceway.com
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 11/15/2008
VRA Sprint Cars -- 1. Brandon Thomson, Ventura, 30 Laps; 2. Jessie Hockett, Warsaw, MO, 30 Laps; 3. Johnathon Henry, Stockton, 30 Laps; 4. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, 30 Laps; 5. Kevin Kierce, Reseda, 30 Laps; 6. Steve Conrad, Quartz Hill, 30 Laps; 7. Albert Pombo, Fresno, 30 Laps; 8. John Nock, Newhall, 30 Laps; 9. Josh Ford, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 10. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 30 Laps; 11. Ronnie Case, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 12. Jimmy Crawford, Ventura, 30 Laps; 13. Danny Faria Jr, Tipton, 30 Laps; 14. Chris Wakim, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 15. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 30 Laps; 16. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 17. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 18. Henry Clarke, Orange, 30 Laps; 19. Greg Taylor, Ventura, 29 Laps; 20. Tyler Schmitt, Hollister, 29 Laps; 21. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 17 Laps; 22. Greg Alexander, Gardena, 1 Lap; 23. Clark Templeman III, Santa Clarita, 1 Lap
Lap Leaders: Brandon Thomson (1-8), Johnathon Henry (9-17), Jessie Hockett (18-24), Brandon Thomson (25-30)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Steve Conrad; Heat 2: Troy Rutherford; Heat 3: Josh Ford; Heat 4: Jessie Hockett; Heat 5: Greg Alexander
Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Kierce, 4695; 2. Clark Templeman III, 4330; 3. Richard McCormick, 4025; 4. Brandon Thomson, 3765; 5. Steve Conrad, 3715; 6. Rick Hendrix, 3705; 7. Chris Wakim, 3355; 8. Brian Camarillo, 3310; 9. Guy Woodward, 3190; 10. John Nock, 3125
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VRA Senior Sprints -- 1. Rob Kershaw, Oak Park, 10 Laps; 2. Willey Miller, Yorba Linda, 10 Laps; 3. Ron Bach, Ventura, 10 Laps; 4. Bob Alderman, Calabasas, 10 Laps; 5. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 10 Laps; 6. Dave Lowenstein, Rancho Cucamonga, 10 Laps; 7. Jon Harshbarger, Grover Beach, 10 Laps; 8. Tom Fish, Ventura, 10 Laps; 9. Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, 9 Laps; 10. Jeff Culver, Lompoc, 9 Laps; 11. George Tuttle, Carson, 9 Laps; 12. John Richards, Ventura, 9 Laps; 13. Gil Mahoney, La Crescenta, 9 Laps; 14. Bill Badger, Canyon Country, 9 Laps; 15. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 4 Laps; 16. Tim Moon, Ventura, 2 Laps; 17. Wally Pankratz, Orange, 1 Lap; 18. Chuck Tyler, Lancaster, 1 Lap; 19. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 0 Laps; 20. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Rob Kershaw (1-10)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Bill Badger; Heat 2: Jeff Culver; Heat 3: Bobby Michnowicz
Top 10 in points: 1. Rob Kershaw, 3020; 2. Ron Bach, 2855; 3. Bruce Douglass, 2800; 4. Willey Miller, 2495; 5. Tim Moon, 2420; 6. Bob Alderman, 2350; 7. Cliff Warren, 2205; 8. Gil Mahoney, 1880; 9. John Richards, 1860; 10. Danny Miller, 1755
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VRA Sport Compacts -- 1. Darren Gunnell, Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 2. Jess Carlucci, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 3. Joel Chavez, Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 4. Roger Sutton, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 5. Randal Dougan, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 6. Trevor Fitzgibbon, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 7. Joel Chavez Jr., Santa Paula, 12 Laps; 8. Glen Underwood, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 9. Brent Underwood, Camarillo, 11 Laps; 10. Corey McKinney, Ventura, 11 Laps; 11. Mike Frazier, Santa Paula, 7 Laps; 12. Brando Reta, Did not show; 13. Cody Greiman, Camarillo, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Jess Carlucci (1-2), Darren Gunnell (3-12)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Darren Gunnell; Heat 2: Mike Frazier
Top 10 in points: 1. Joel Chavez, 2980; 2. Darren Gunnell, 2960; 3. Randal Dougan, 2930; 4. Joel Chavez Jr., 2460; 5. Brent Underwood, 2225; 6. Roger Sutton, 2015; 7. Cody Greiman, 1975; 8. Jess Carlucci, 1960; 9. Trevor Fitzgibbon, 1890; 10. Glen Underwood, 1835
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VRA Pro Dwarf Cars -- 1. Brian Saxton, Mentone, 8 Laps; 2. Ray Estrada, Yucaipa, 8 Laps; 3. Dillon Hume, Ventura, 8 Laps; 4. Mike Lewis, Sunland, 8 Laps; 5. Thomas Velasquez, Camarillo, 8 Laps; 6. Chris Olson, Chino Hills, 8 Laps; 7. Brent Stevens, Thousand Oaks, 8 Laps; 8. Russell Blades, Moorpark, 8 Laps; 9. Eric Moore, Ventura, 8 Laps; 10. Lee Majors, Simi Valley, 8 Laps; 11. Tom Stephens Sr, Ventura, 8 Laps; 12. Sara Coe, Saugus, 8 Laps; 13. Eric Alton, Simi Valley, 8 Laps; 14. Steven Benson, Valencia, 8 Laps; 15. Alex Wood, San Dimas, 4 Laps; 16. Tom Stephens Jr, Ventura, 1 Lap; 17. Jeff Fillingame, Santa Paula, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brent Stevens (1-2), Brian Saxton (3-8)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Tom Stephens Sr; Heat 2: Brian Saxton
Top 10 in points: 1. Brian Saxton, 3865; 2. Ray Estrada, 3055; 3. Brent Stevens, 2695; 4. Chris Olson, 2680; 5. Mike Lewis, 2655; 6. Lee Majors, 2290; 7. Eric Alton, 2275; 8. Lars Wolfe, 2215; 9. Dillon Hume, 2195; 10. Thomas Velasquez, 2045
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VRA Senior Dwarf Cars -- 1. Tom Bellinger, Cypress, 15 Laps; 2. Kevin Alverson, Thousand Oaks, 15 Laps; 3. Bill Van Praag, Ventura, 15 Laps; 4. Rick Lapka, Apple Valley, 15 Laps; 5. Mark Davis, Ventura, 15 Laps; 6. Mike Bailey, Ojai, 15 Laps; 7. Dave Revard, Ventura, 15 Laps; 8. Ron Capodieci, Saugus, 15 Laps; 9. George Calvo, Agua Dulce, 14 Laps; 10. Cindy Addison, Oxnard, 14 Laps; 11. Roy Coe, Saugas, 12 Laps; 12. Dave Hume, Ventura, 12 Laps; 13. Jim Stutzman, Simi Valley, 10 Laps; 14. Steve Addison, Oxnard, 10 Laps; 15. Ed Niedzwiecki, Ventura, 6 Laps; 16. Mike Neal, Northridge, 0 Laps; 17. Linda Taylor, San Dimas, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Tom Bellinger (1-15)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Dave Hume; Heat 2: Bill Van Praag
Top 10 in points: 1. Kevin Alverson, 3290; 2. Ed Niedzwiecki, 3145; 3. Tom Bellinger, 2780; 4. Bill Van Praag, 2595; 5. Roy Coe, 2555; 6. Mike Neal, 2405; 7. Mike Bailey, 2400; 8. Ron Capodieci, 2225; 9. Dave Hume, 1870; 10. Dave Revard, 1700
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VRA Junior Midgets -- 1. Brennan Rogers, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 2. Thomas Short, Carpinteria, 20 Laps; 3. Nick Valenzuela, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Austin Figueroa, El Segundo, 20 Laps; 5. Amanda Poertner, Fullerton, 20 Laps; 6. Cameron Dougan, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 7. Luke Boles, Goleta, 20 Laps; 8. Michaela Stanton, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 9. John Butcher, Santa Barbara, 20 Laps; 10. Jessica Clark, Westlake Village, 20 Laps; 11. Riley Helland, Ventura, 20 Laps; 12. Mark Garrett, Oxnard, 20 Laps
Lap Leaders: Brennan Rogers (1-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Mark Garrett; Heat 2: Thomas Short
Top 10 in points: 1. Austin Figueroa, 3625; 1. Luke Boles, 3625; 3. Riley Helland, 3610; 4. Brennan Rogers, 3575; 5. Nick Valenzuela, 3470; 6. Jessica Clark, 3460; 7. Cameron Dougan, 3420; 8. John Butcher, 3220; 9. Tyler Jerman, 3215; 10. Mark Garrett, 3150
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VRA Mini Dwarf - Superchargers -- 1. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, 12 Laps; 2. Tommy Velasquez III, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 3. Cody Majors, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 4. Jimmy McDonald, Llano, 12 Laps; 5. Devin McCree, Ventura, 12 Laps; 6. Joseph Magana, Port Hueneme, 12 Laps; 7. Miles Hedrick, Simi Valley, 12 Laps; 8. Joey Freshour, Ventura, 12 Laps; 9. Alexis Mann, Simi Valley, 0 Laps
Lap Leaders: Cody Majors (1), Ricky Lewis (2-12)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Ricky Lewis; Heat 2: Devin McCree
Top 10 in points: 1. Ricky Lewis, 3940; 2. Devin McCree, 3715; 3. Tommy Velasquez III, 3650; 4. Cody Majors, 3465; 5. Jimmy McDonald, 3405; 6. Joey Freshour, 3020; 7. Alexis Mann, 2840; 8. Joseph Magana, 2210; 9. Kayle Brazel, 1695; 10. Chase Lippert, 1615
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VRA Mini Dwarf - Pistons -- 1. Cameron McCauley, Westlake, 12 Laps; 2. Joe Snyder, Westlake, 12 Laps; 3. Oliver Blades, Moorpark, 12 Laps; 4. Kyle Peterson, Santa Clarita, 12 Laps; 5. Nick Velasquez, Camarillo, 12 Laps; 6. Connor Wakim, Simi Valley, 11 Laps; 7. Zachery Gilmore, Woodland Hills, 11 Laps; 8. JP Cardillo, Somis, 11 Laps; 9. Cody Arthur, Camarillo, 11 Laps; 10. Olivia Medina-Redman, Ventura, 10 Laps; 11. Ryann Butcher, Ventura, 9 Laps; 12. Lauren Velasquez, 9 Laps
Lap Leaders: Cameron McCauley (1-12)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Nick Velasquez; Heat 2: Oliver Blades
Top 10 in points: 1. Cameron McCauley, 4020; 2. Zachery Gilmore, 3540; 3. Oliver Blades, 3510; 4. Nick Velasquez, 3435; 5. Joe Snyder, 3200; 6. Cole Wakim, 2930; 7. Connor Wakim, 2435; 8. Ryann Butcher, 1695; 9. Cody Arthur, 1690; 10. Destyn Garcia, 1475
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All Coast 3-2-1 -- 1. Brandon Thomson, Ventura, 30 Laps; 2. Jessie Hockett, Warsaw, MO, 30 Laps; 3. Johnathon Henry, Stockton, 30 Laps; 4. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, 30 Laps; 5. Kevin Kierce, Reseda, 30 Laps; 6. Steve Conrad, Quartz Hill, 30 Laps; 7. Albert Pombo, Fresno, 30 Laps; 8. John Nock, Newhall, 30 Laps; 9. Josh Ford, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 10. Troy Rutherford, Ojai, 30 Laps; 11. Ronnie Case, Camarillo, 30 Laps; 12. Jimmy Crawford, Ventura, 30 Laps; 13. Danny Faria Jr, Tipton, 30 Laps; 14. Chris Wakim, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 15. Luis Espinoza, Castaic, 30 Laps; 16. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 17. Tom Hendricks, Simi Valley, 30 Laps; 18. Henry Clarke, Orange, 30 Laps; 19. Greg Taylor, Ventura, 29 Laps; 20. Tyler Schmitt, Hollister, 29 Laps; 21. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, 17 Laps; 22. Greg Alexander, Gardena, 1 Lap; 23. Clark Templeman III, Santa Clarita, 1 Lap
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Steve Conrad; Heat 2: Troy Rutherford; Heat 3: Josh Ford; Heat 4: Jessie Hockett; Heat 5: Greg Alexander
Top 10 in points: 1. Troy Rutherford, 625; 2. Steve Conrad, 585; 3. Kevin Kierce, 570; 3. Brandon Thomson, 570; 5. John Nock, 515; 6. Clark Templeman III, 505; 7. Chris Wakim, 450; 8. Richard McCormick, 425; 9. Rick Hendrix, 400; 10. Brian Camarillo, 395
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