By Ken Wagner
June 3, 2007

The ocean breeze at the beautiful little race track by the sea made for a great setting and one of the “other” little red suckers showed the USAC/CRA traveling bunch how to do it at Ventura Raceway. Bullet Blake Miller seems to have the Gardner Sled under control as he set fast time for the second race in a row at 12.111, and later in the USAC/CRA feature, assumed the lead on lap 21 when leader David Cardey was victimized by a lap car, and never looked back. Blake knows the Ventura bull ring so well, being a former VRA Champion here; he didn’t make a mistake as Tony Jones challenged him hard until the end.

The pics are here. Mrs wags Click here, or for Wags click here.

The 8 year old “home made” chassis owned by Jeff Gardner as part of the Gardner/Black Widow Racing Team worked extremely well as Blake kept it on the bottom and pushed the red # 93 hard for his second all time USAC/ CRA win. Starting 8th on the main event grid, he had worked his way into 2nd before the “Cardey Curse” happened in front of him. At the same time, another incident took out teammate Rickie Gaunt and Cory Kruseman, as both were in that battle for second at the time. Those two red cars restarted at the back. The Endless Powder Coating, Miller Freight Lines, Simpson racer is in good hands with the youngster as the Gardner clan have themselves another winner in their stable. His smile is endless and his talent looks to be the pretty much the same. Watch out for this redhead as he might just open some more eyes.

Mike Spencer hasn’t had much luck lately, since not finishing the last two main events and falling back in the points chase, but after a slow qualifying time, for him, and starting 12th in the 30 lap main, Mike was the hard charger of the night passing 10 cars to get on the podium in second place tonight. Driving the real “little red sucker”, Mike was all that as he skillfully sliced his way to the front on a wide and racy track that had bunches of cars battling for the same spot all night. No one had anything for Blake the last 10 laps, but Mike just needed a few more laps to see if he could unseat the youngster. The Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply, Madera Produce, Shaver Specialties # 50 was workin’ good tonight in his hands.

Danny “Showtime” Sheridan is getting real consistent finishes this season as he has stepped into the world of winning drivers with CRA. Danny got third on a great run this week and has made the top five on five of the last six races, including a big win at Perris. The Kittle Motorsports entry has been on fire as the young lion has put a blue blur in amongst all the red cars on the track each week. He was 4th quick this week and ran second in his heat to start seventh in the main. He made a large charge from there in the Scott Sales Co., K-C Insurance Agency, and Pick’s Racing Engines # 18. Crew chief Randy Shiosaki was MIA this week for a wedding, but his boys did well without him.

This was the best racing I have seen this year, from the three heats thru the semi and the main event. Having such close quarters on the small but wide little bowl, gives you action almost on every spot around the oval. The main had three separate groups battling in bunches and the three and four wide back em’ in action was mesmerizing. Every green flag start had so many cars tightly bunched flying into the first turn, it reminded me of how motocross riders have to funnel into their first turn, and it is intense. It was intense this week on every event when the green flag waived. The skill required to move up at this place lets you know we have some excellent race car drivers and they put on an awesome show on Saturday night for the fans. Watching Blake, Rickie, Danny, Spencer, the Cowboy, the Ripper, the Kruser, the Wildman and all the racers, is something you have to see to believe. Jim Naylor bladed the track before the two mains and the show was really very good. I didn’t hear anyone complain, and in fact those around me would be saying, “did you see that” often. There are only two more appearances left here this year, so make your plans for both and especially the 17th annual Wagsdash on October 6th.

There were plenty of sad stories and some positive ones as well. On the plus side Rip Williams fought a tough battle to get 4th up from his 9th starting spot. Rip has been driving especially hard as some strange incidents have sent him back or even out, so his recoveries were fun to watch. This time, he just was on the gas and had his elbows up all night. Even restarting at the back, Super Rickie got back to 7th before the end on some nifty driving and Cory Kruseman snagged 9th from the back as well. Young 16 year old Johnathan Henry started on the pole in his 360 Cory Kruseman school car, and managed to hang in there for 12th place in the main. Thanks to six local 360 drivers, the car count was still a weak 24. What! Jimmy Crawford who has a new baby my wife tells me, ran his first CRA race of the year, I think, and finished 13th. He could have done better if he could have avoided the hook.

The downside listed David Cardey again! What has seemed to become the “Cardey Curse”, things that just seem to happen to the talented young driver, he looked like tonight was his night. He bolted to the lead from his outside front row starting spot with Tony Jones and Charles Davis Jr in the second row chasing behind him. David swept thru traffic like he had been there before, making fast progress and pulling away from Rickie and Cory on his way to a substantial lead. With ten laps to go disaster struck when it didn’t look like anyone was going to catch him. He tangled with a lap car and was sent to the back on the restart. I can’t think of how there could be any new maladies for him in the future, as he has seen them all, so he should be good to go from here! David is going to shed this curse and show us the results he and I both expect.

My friend Kevin Kierce is one of the nicest guys in the Ventura pits. Every visit he makes me feel special with his warm greetings he always gives everyone. This week we talked about getting together for a beer after the races, but my bonsai home right after the checkered flag flew, waylaid any chance of that. Anyway he was 2nd quick this week in his 360 car and right after that great lap he experienced a snap roll down the backstretch that caused a lot of work in his pits. He just missed a transfer in his heat, but made it from the Semi and started 18th (it must have been either they missed the line-up horn, or he offered to go back). He ended up being the first car out, so it was a tough night. On second thought, I should have stayed for that drink, it would have been better than the 5 hour night run we made to our home in the desert.

Josh Ford looked pretty good starting 13th and moving forward until he got into a role over, that sent him to an early shower. Things didn’t go real well for the Camarillo brothers, Brian and Brent either as they both missed the Main, but had some racy moments in their night. Scotty Weir keeps getting no respect. It seems like he gets an errant wheel that creates a flat tire, or a spin or something that sends him to the back. Again this week he suffered and had to fight his way back to an 8th place finish.

Wagsbucks got a small boost from Chris Holt this week as he insisted anyone wanting to contribute to the Wagsdash, give me money. Several did, one even apologized for the small sum she handed me, saying that it wasn’t much, but that is the beauty of the Wagsdash. It takes all of the fans efforts to make it happen every year! Start thinking about making this the best Wagsdash of all time, it might be the last one.

The night was deemed “So Cal Night” as Glenn Howard, his wife Pat and sons Gary and Steve were all honored. Glenn accomplishments over the years with the racers came out in an interview of the man himself. Glenn and his wife were up in the tower all night and got a limo ride to and from the track to make it a special night for them and So Cal. Glenn’s illness is very serious and we need him in our prayers all the time.

I must admit this traveling home right after the races is hard, and I need a better way to do it. Perhaps I am making a mistake taking off and should stay over and rest before hitting the highway in the AM. It wears my bride out and I can’t believe how different it is living in Las Vegas instead of Mission Viejo. I miss having a motor home, but retirement doesn’t allow that expense for us anymore We are more likely to find a cheap place near the California coast for a cool place to be during the hot summer and sometimes the cold winters in Las Vegas. I believe in the CRA racers and want to see them in action every race just like always. My history in racing has always had me with “high anxiety” as I am heading to the race each time, and that is not gone. My Wagtimer’s have always been a wonderment for me and even though the group is smaller, it makes me feel special to be a part of it. They try to keep me directed.

Still, my 65th birthday just passed last week and I wonder if old coots like me belong on this trail any more. I didn’t realize I was this old until recently, seriously, and it staggers me to think my friends at the races are mostly much younger. I know there are some exceptions that I have known for years and they are even older, but how did I get here? I have been a sprint car fan since basically 1970 and that is a long time, yet I know several fans that have a much longer grandstand seat spot and come religiously every race. Wow is this a reality check? Now that the 100 degree plus temps here at “home” are here for the summer; I wish we could run every week at Ventura for a break from the monster heat. We’ll be back at the PAS this coming week, anxious like always to see who will win, but I have to be honest, I get a lot out of my Saturday afternoon pit walks to see my friends out there. I just wonder, would it be the same without the Wagtimes web page? Is the Wagsdash still important? We’ll know when I start collecting the money for the low buck racers, won’t we!

Speaking of which, I need to decide on how to qualify the racers for the dash this year. In the past the recipients of Wagsbucks, that antique function where we use to collect money from the fans, would automatically be invited. Last year I started with about 10 racers and published their inclusion, then added more up until race time. I think I will put a name a week on the invitee list until I get to ten. Then I will add more as needed. Some VRA racers will be invited ahead of time and the winner and hard charger from the VRA race the week prior to the Wagsdash will get in as well. In all I plan to start about 16 racers to run for 15 laps and will pay $2500 to win like normal. With the exception of the VRA racers, the low buck racers must run at least six CRA events prior to the Wagsdash and none can have won more than one CRA main event. Blake Miller is an exception this year, now that he has two victories, as the defending champ is always the first invitee every year. And I set up the race and who is in it, then the CRA officials run the race under their rules.

That’s the plan and it should be another exciting time. Part of what makes this a special day is the fact that racers and fans can get together and enjoy a short period of the day together, share some chili and have a good time before the racing starts. It’s the only event where the CRA racers and their fans can break bread and laugh it up together like a picnic sort of deal. The early start will make our start time at 11:30 Am to serve chili and 1:30 for the sexy driver contest and the pit stop competition.

OK, I am done and I want to thank all of you for all your birthday wishes and the endless support you have given me, my bride and my Wagtimers along the way. Lets get together at the races this week, shall we?

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Blake Miller, 2. Mike Spencer, 3. Danny Sheridan, 4. Rip Williams, 5. Tony Jones, 6. J Hicks, 7. Rickie Gaunt, 8. Scotty Weir, 9. Cory Kruseman, 10. Charles Davis Jr., 11. Rodney Argo, 12. Johnathan Henry, 13. Jimmy Crawford, 14. Michael Trimble, 15. David Cardey, 16. Josh Ford, 17. Jake Hodges, 18. Chris Wakim, 19. Luis Espinosa, 20. Wes Richardson, 21. Kevin Kierce. NT

NEW LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINTS: 1-Jones-984; 2-Spencer-839; 3-Sheridan-834; 4-Gaunt-818; 5-Weir-718; 6-Williams-624; 7-Kruseman-591; 8-R.J. Johnson-510; 9-Darren Hagen-460; 10-Cardey-448.

NEXT LUCAS OIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: June 9 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway