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The official finishing order of the Open Sprint Car A-Main at Victorville Raceway Park last night:
1. 2 Austin Williams
2. 7a John Aden
3. 11b Bobby Bender
4. 20 Corey Ballard
5. 36 Tom Grunkemeyer
6. 14 Maverick Gaunt
7. 5 Chasen Gaunt
8. 3 Logan Williams
9. 44 Cody Williams
10. 09 Luis Espinoza
11. 8 Ronnie Case
12 50x Nick Bastiao
13 33x Ray Potter
14 26 Billy Blinn
15 0k Kenny Perkins
It was a great night from my point of view (but then again, I had a warm, comfy seat up top)! We made history last night...I could be wrong, but I believe it was the first time ever that 3 brothers raced each other in 410 ci sprint cars in SoCal (and possibly a much larger region as well). It was really cool to see Austin, Cody, and Logan Williams all racing last night. Logan was amazingly smooth and stayed out of trouble all night...very impressive! Rip was on hand to wrench all three cars and was smiling afterwards. Too bad Cody had a fuel issue that kept him from the podium last night.
We also had another pair of brothers racing 410's for the first time ever...Maverick and Chasen Gaunt...both sons of Super Rickie Gaunt...making their sprint car debut last night at VRP. Both were doing exceptionally well. Chasen was following his brother when Maverick caught the Turn 1 wall, rode it, and landed on top of the concrete barrier and parked it between Turns 1 & 2. I didn't get to see the car, but heard it had some damage for sure. Chasen, watching his brother intently and trying to avoid his crashing brother, slammed on the brakes, got sideways, and brushed the wall right behind Maverick's point of impact. Thankfully, both were okay. I can't wait to see these guys again...I was so amazed at the car control these little guys have already! Rickie says they'll be at every VRP race that doesn't conflict with his racing schedule.
And how about Corey Ballard...one of five young drivers making his debut in a sprint car last night. He did an incredible job all night too, taking 4th place in his first ever race! That guy is gonna be good. His all-black #20 hot rod was mean looking too!
Tough break for Billy "Gun" Blinn, who towed from Costa Mesa, CA after a 3-year break from racing. He took a really nasty tumble in his heat race. He was able to put everything back together for the main, but went out early. Nice guy...hope he comes back to play at VRP again soon.
John Aden was a man of many hats last night...2nd place in the sprint car main, 1st place on the grader working the track in, and also put on a show next door at his Wheel-2-Wheel Raceway.
Bobby Bender took 3rd in the sprint main...in a 360! For the effort, he took home the cash bonus for the highest-finishing 360 against some potent 410's...way to go Bobby! (P.S. Sorry I announced you as A.J. earlier in the night)
Also great to see that the insane fuel prices didn't keep "The Rocket" Ronnie Case (Camarillo, CA), "Hollywood" Luis Espinoza (Santa Clarita, CA), Tom Grunkemeyer (Mission Viejo, CA), and Ray Potter (Yorba Linda, CA) from racing at VRP last night. Kenny Perkins and Nick Bastiao were also present, but had troubles all night in the Sprint Car Driving Experience entries.
I can't believe how great of a track surface we had last night! I talked about it all night long. The VRP track prep crew did a masterful job of preparing, working, and re-working the track all night. We had super high winds all day and all night long, yet they kept the track tacky, smooth, and fast with multi-grooves. I would have expected a dry, slick track based on the wind & sun, but they kept adding water and raking the clay. Kudos guys...job very well done!
The Ragin' Inferno made at least a few kids and new fans happy. I had never witnessed a jet-powered fire truck torching a motorhome in the infield before...but it was way cool! The fans could feel the heat in the stands and I'm sure the entire town of VV was wondering what was happening at VRP!
Thanks again to Steve, Mike, Dena, and DG for a great time!
Doug Bushey
Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations
Agent
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