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IT’S A BUZZY TIME AT VENTURA RACEWAY: 5 DIVISIONS SCHEDULED
by Lee Elder
VENTURA, Calif. (March 20, 2009) – If you’re a racer, you’ve heard the buzz and it isn’t coming from a big hive of bees.
The buzz out there is about Ventura Raceway’s new look. Higher banking, more sweep in the corners and a slight increase in the venue’s overall length has taken the Raceway’s reputation for great racing and bumped it up a notch or two.
“The cars are going faster,” said Raceway promoter Jim Naylor. “There are more passing opportunities in the corners because we’ve added an extra racing groove. Fans like that.”
Hence the buzz.
This week, it’s a case of debut déjà vu because the Raceway will hold its second opening night of the year.
Three divisions will make their 2009 debut on the second night of the 2009 season Saturday, March 21 when the Ventura Racing Association’s Senior Sprint Cars, Dwarf Cars and youth divisions make their initial appearance of the season, joining the VRA Sprint Cars and Sport Compacts. The Sprints and Sport Compacts were part last week’s lid-lifter at the track.
The racing schedule on the 21st is a little different from the norm. The youth divisions warmup at 3 p.m. and start their heat races at 3:45. The adult divisions begin racing at 4. The official opening and flag ceremony will begin at 5:30, as usual. The spectator gates open at 3 p.m. and the pit gates open for the racers at noon.
General Admission tickets cost $14; military and student tickets sell for $11 and kids aged 12 and under get in for free.
“Last week we had more than 100 kids in here,” Naylor said. “That’s great, it’s what we want.”
Ventura Raceway is the only successful professional sports franchise in Ventura County history and is among the longest-tenured entities at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. More information is available at www.venturaraceway.com.
Raceway notes: The attendance at last week’s 2009 season opener was more than 900, making it the Raceway’s largest season-opening crowd in several years. The pits were packed as well, with 107 racecars…The VRA Sprint Car division drew 42 entrants…Drivers named Brent won twice last week…Last week’s winners included Greg Alexander (Sprint Cars), James Brown and Brent Underwood (Sport Compacts), Danny Lauer (IMCA Modifieds), Brent Sexton (California Lightning Sprints) and Ethan Quinn (USAC Jr. Focus Midgets)…The Sports Compact division includes subdivisions for front wheel drive and rear wheel drive racers, but the cars race together.
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