By Ken Wagner
May 12, 2009

It’s always fun to go racing and when your preferred CRA schedule is suddenly a little less than desired, even the racers get crazy with so much time off, sometimes you have to find other ways to get your racing fix. This week I wanted to head to Ventura and check out Mr Naylor’s newly modified “best little race track by the sea” track and the new concrete walls. I lucked out when I arrived in LA on Friday from the ever heating up Las Vegasville and got to go check out the Howell/Meyer racing team shop Click here to see that story. Even better I hitched a ride with the team as we went to Ventura the next day. Along the way a stop at Maxwell Industries was a nice surprise. It was another great racing weekend.

Click here for this weeks pics. Click here for Doug Allen's great work, too.

I always have loved to go to Ventura and this year there would be three less opportunities as the USAC/CRA will not be running at Ventura, thus no Wagsdash there. Each year Jim Naylor spends some of his winter downtime upgrading and improving his race track. The place gets new paint and much more. This year a slightly larger and more banked race track was his chore. New 3800 pound concrete blocks were added to the wall on the backstretch and even more safety cables were added around the retaining fences. Also added were huge sponsor banners that somehow breath, helping with the mud problem? Anyway, Jim has done a ton of stuff and spent a chunk of change in order to better serve the racers and hopefully bring in more fans. I spent some time with Jim during the day, including my obligatory ride in the water truck and later a perch on his announcing level to watch him and the racing up closely, so we had some fun together.

Wandering thru the palm tree lined pits, it is an unusually beautiful setting with the rainbow coalition of race cars, crews and fans all around, it’s just like I envision racing heaven. I visited with many along the way including some in the other types of cars as I wandered around the pits and visited with many. The subject of the Wagsdash came up time and time again, especially by the local racers who have been there or would like to have a shot at running this year.

Cory Kruseman made short work of the racy main event as he won another VRA race for his legacy here. There were several standout efforts by others, not the least of which was Guy Woodward who cranked it up to close on the Kruser at the end. He was impressive in his heat as well. Brandon Thomson ran a strong third as he is doing very well with VRA. Kevin Kierce and Josh Ford rounded out the top five. My new racer friend, Dennis Howell Jr did a bang up job in the semi from the back to qualify for the main, then ran from last to 7th in the 30 lapper, keeping out of trouble along the way. Keep an eye on this guy, he is a quick learner, this being only his 6th sprint race.

USAC has announced a replacement for the Western World that left the fold after Manzanita closed. The following is the press release of last week. “The USAC National and Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will compete for over $70,000 in prize money in the November 14-15 "Pacific Coast Nationals" at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. The two-day program at the 1/3-mile dirt oval at the Tulare Fairgrounds marks only the second time the USAC Sprint cars have competed there and the fifth appearance of USAC at Tulare. The winner of Sunday's "twilight" feature will earn a paycheck of $12,500, while minimum feature-start money is $700. Saturday night's standard USAC/CRA purse offers $4,000-to-win.”

The Pacific Coast Nationals were conceived by the late J.C. Agajanian and debuted in 1962 at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif. Following Ascot's closing in 1990, the event moved to Kings Speedway in Hanford, but was discontinued after 1995. Past winners of the event, which has experienced format and headlining division changes, include Jim Wood (1962), Jim Cox (1963), Marshall Sargent (1964), Dick Fries (1965), Bobby Adamson (1967), Bob Hogle (1968), Gene Brown (1972), Rick Ferkel (1973), Clark Templeman (1974), Ron Shuman (1976, 1977, 1983 and 1994), Buster Venard (1978), Dean Thompson (1979, 1980, 1982 and 1985), Sammy Swindell (1981), Bubby Jones (1984), Brad Doty (1986), Steve Kinser (1987 and 1988), Brad Noffsinger (1989), Rip Williams (1990) and Mike Kirby (1995).

Nothing on the possible Wagsdash date yet, even though Victorville is still in the air. Added to that, I will be meeting with the Perris folks next week to talk about the possibility of going there. That could be a real winner in many ways, but the schedule doesn’t look good for us late in the year, since there are fewer races at the track now and the ones they have are already signature events. We’ll see!

You probably know I am collecting Wagsbucks again because the racers need a little boost. Over the last 20 years we have put over $500,000 in the hands of the racers! So far this year we have averaged over $200 each event and I hope to continue that next week at Perris. The honor roll of contributors supportingthis effort include Paul Anton, Jim Barker, Norm Bogan, Sam Defeo, Mike Fink, Don Flanders, Jimmy & June Gardner, Joe Godoy, Greg Kaz, Roy Kischell, Marci Lloyd, Gary Love, Stephen Petegrew, Martha Reinman, Turn 4 Rob, John Trueblood, Frank Uhl, Jerry West and a bunch of first name only people. One of those honor rollers lives in Vacaville, CA and doesn’t get to come down very often. Regardless, Frank Uhl has taken to sending me a check for Wagsbucks to be added to the weekly collection. Thanks, that is really a great idea! I appreciate the help. Also Mr Goodbucks is very ill, so keep him in your prayers. If there is anyone out there who wishes to step in for him where he was giving me $380 each race for the first 5 Semi runners who don’t transfer to the main, contact me.

I’ll be heading to Tulare this week for a 360 show without Mrs Wags who is making another Oklahoma trek with her girls. Next up is Perris and another solo shot as she comes home on the holiday, May 25th. Keep on racing!

Ventura Feature 5/9/09: (30 laps) 1. Cory Kruseman (2nd), 2. Guy Woodward (6th), 3. Brandon Thomson (3rd), 4. Kevin Kierce (8th), 5. Josh Ford (4th), 6. Troy Rutherford (10th), 7. Dennis Howell (20th), 8. Matt Mitchell (7th), 9. Steve Conrad (5th), 10. Tyler Edwards (11th), 11. Brian Camarillo (16th), 12. John Nock (14th), 13. Don Gansen (9th), 14. Blake Miller (13th), 15. Rick Hendrix (12th), 16. Chris Wakim (15th), 17. Dennis Rodriguez (18th), 18. Cody Kershaw (1st), 19. Greg Taylor (19th), 20. Richard McCormick (17th).