By Ken Wagner
June 14, 2008

Wags on the road should be this weeks title as I had an opportunity to get in the Kittle Motorsport’s Hauler and go on a road trip to Santa Maria. More about that later, but Tyler Brown winning the 30 lapper at the little oval is more important. He was fifth quick, won his heat and started fourth in the main event. He passed Jimmy Crawford for the lead on lap 9 and never wavered in getting his first 410 win in the Gardner Motor sports # 96, a rather famous Gardner car that won two championships with Brad Noffsinger driving back in the day.

The pics are here Click here. Doug Allen's Pics Click here. Steve Lafond's Click here. or Chuck Fry's work Click here.

Tyler has been running pretty smooth this season, if you forget last week’s little endo he had at Perris, and he kept his head about him as he rolled around the small track thru traffic to earn this one. He had Mike Spencer on his tail most of the time, but even though there was new clay down on the track, “Speedo” Spencer couldn’t make the pass without a second groove. I liked the action all night as a few found the surface the hard way, on their heads, but it was a great win for the youngster who by day works for Glenn Crossno’s ITI Performance shop. I love new winners and it just says that youth continues to blaze a trail in our veteran racing world.

If you had to pick a driver who might tell you "why me" this year, it’s Mike Spencer. All kinds of maladies have hit this team, you name it and the crew will tell you when it happened to them. Things like mysterious pin holes in the tire that sent him to the back the last race, just seem to have been in their path, no complaining, just the truth. Mike “only” has one win and five podiums in this years 13 race resume, but that doesn’t mean that the Bruce Bromme Jr team hasn’t worked their butts off getting him comfortable in the little red sucker each and every race. He was 3rd quick, second in his heat and started 6th in the starting grid this week and had no problems. Well, one in Tyler Brown, but it was a good night for them as they rolled it on the trailer ready to go next time, with some maintenance of course.

Hometown boy Danny Sheridan had his sights set on a win here after his last visit in a 360 earned him a big $2000 win. He was very focused on getting that first 410 win as he ran second quick, second in his heat and started 7th in the main event. It was clear he was fast as he fought thru traffic in the blue bomb to find the little red sucker in front of him, but no more. Try as he might, he couldn’t get a run on him and had to settle for third on the night. His two wins this season have helped to put him in 4th place in the points and he hopes to improve on that.

It was another lesson in "where are the cars" this week, but normal for this venue, as about twelve 410’s and eight 360’s graced the special race place for the night. Add about the same number of modifieds and a dozen TQ’s and you had three divisions running for the packed house crowd. The sprints ran three heats and a feature, like the modifieds, and it was an early night even with Walt James mighty antiques putting on their show in between races.

The 2008 Wagsdash Golf Tournament begins life on Friday September 5th as the Committee to Support Ventura Raceway/Wagsdash Classic Golf Tournament holds it's first fund raiser to help the Wagsdash. There will be a 1 pm tee off time for the Scramble format. Golfers pay $150 to play and you can also be a Tee or Green sponsor for $150 and take product or advertising to that hole and enjoy the day. Many drivers will play plus fans and anyone else who wants to get involved for this worthy cause. You can possibly play with your favorite driver, and it will all be fun. It will be a blast, so make your plans to come one day early and let’s tee off together! Sponsor a hole and play. There will be a banquet afterwards and even those who didn’t play, can go for a small fee. Call (805) 389-0260 for Tee or Green sponsor details.

The annual Wagsdash Challenge from Steve Lafond is now official. Like usual he is challenging every one to match his $500 donation to the Wagsdash and make it better than ever. OK, who’s first? And what about pocket change for his Lafond Jar of change that the hard charger picks up each year. It was over $500 last year, so get out your change and give it to Steve or me anytime, or bring it to Ventura!

Anyone wanting to sponsor a page of the 2009 Wagtimes Calendar, see me or Mrs Wags so she can put you, your business or whatever on there. All the money goes into the Wagsdash. I am adding a few drivers this week who are now qualified for the 18th annual Wagsdash. They are Billy Blinn # 26, Ludwig Solberg IV # 13, Jonas Reynolds # 48, Joe Gunderson # 57 and Eric Severson # 11C for now. More will be added as we get closer to the race.

Steve Howard has collected over $20,000 above the purse for the CRA’s first visit to Calistoga over the holiday weekend of August 30/31 since the early 80’s. I think 80's because I was at the last non-wing event there way back when. There are at least 4 racers coming from the Midwest including Damion Gardner, Jesse Hockett and a few more. You can buy grandstand tickets from Hunt's Race World at (916) 863-7223 or from So-cal at (562) 8862-9122 for the 2-day race. All tickets are general admission. They will accept cash, check, Visa or M/C. $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids 5 – 12, Kids 4 and under are free. There will be good attendance because it is the Louie Vermiel Classic. It should be special.

Don Weaver and Belita Michnowicz announced the Legends of Ascot event at Perris Auto Speedway on October 18th will feature Chuck Hulse, Ned Spath, Carl Alleman, Brad Noffsinger, Louie Senter, Don Basile, Billy Boat and the Gardner family this year. Food, raffles and fun for $50 per person with a goody bag at the door for prepaid diners. For information, call 310-549-3562. More later.

I am late getting this done this week because I didn’t get home until late Tuesday night after leaving my PC at home on purpose so I wouldn’t spend a lot of time on it while I relaxed in cool Torrance. For my trip with the Kittle’s Click here.

Remember, racing is entertainment, excitement, and it takes us all to make it happen!

FEATURE: (30 laps - With Starting Positions) 1. Tyler Brown (4th), 2. Mike Spencer (6th), 3. Danny Sheridan (7th), 4. Blake Miller (8th), 5. Davey Pombo (3rd), 6. Danny Faria (13th), 7. Jimmy Crawford (1st), 8. Henry Clarke (12th), 9. Eric Severson (5th), 10. Aaron Altaffer (15th), 11. Steve DeMott (17th), 12. Austin Mero (14th), 13. Cody Williams (10th), 14. Albert Pombo (2nd), 15. Mike Larson (19th), 16. Garrett Hansen (9th), 17. John Butler (20th), 18. Billy Blinn (16th), 19. Daniel Hood (18th), 20. Ronnie Case (11th). NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 A.Pombo, Laps 3-8 Crawford, Laps 9-30 Brown.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Spencer-692; 2-Cory Kruseman-639; 3-Miller-630; 4-Sheridan-624; 5-Hansen-585; 6-Brown-484; 7-Tony Jones-411; 8-Josh Ford-366; 9-Levi Jones-350; 10-David Cardey-339.

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: June 21 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway