SHERIFF JOHN WAXES VRA FIELD ON GREAT NIGHT AT VENTURA!!

This week the SCRA is off, but several members are still racing back in Ohio. Richard Griffin, Troy Rutherford and Tony Jones tried on Fremont and Eldora for three races. Fremont gave The Gasman his best finish, a 4th, while Troy Rutherford was19th and Jones 20th. At Eldora on Friday, Griffin was caught up in a crash and ended up in the back while Rutherford scored 11th and Jones, driving the Cory Witherill # 61, finished 17th. On Saturday, Rutherford was 7th with Griffin 8th as the boys ran the high-speed oval. Tony Elliott, Jay Drake & J J Yeley were the winners during the three days.

The Wags pics from Ventura are here!

The NWWC tour is now but a memory, but many things still linger in the minds of many who saw the annual SCRA trek. The SCRA point's battle between leader, Cory Kruseman, and the defending champion, Richard Griffin, was reduced to a lead under 200 points for the first time in a long time. Cory still is ahead by 174 points, thanks to borrowing the Witherill # 61 normally driven by Jimmy May at Lakeside. Griffin came home with the NWWC points lead, but there are still six more race days to come in Oct/Nov. It was great racing each night, and all the teams raced hard and had a good time. Even though maintenance was the key to each teams playtime, most found time to do some fun stuff and get some vacation time in. There was a play day at the local go cart track in Lincoln on Sunday following the race there. Don't know who was the Champ, but past experiences tell me Biker Bruce probably had a lot to do with who was fast!

Somehow next year it would be nice if the USAC powers to be (?) would take a small break and not schedule against the expanded tour. Since the dates are already cast, it shouldn't be too hard, but we know it won't happen. Will it make or break the tour? Hardly, but can't you just see all the wingless warriors from Indiana and the West Coast together each year in the future making history together? Poll the fans, I think they all want it! Of course, part of me thinks we should run some events on their "home Indiana tracks", and I don't know where that went, but then what do I know?

Hank Winter probably had the toughest trip of all while trying to field two cars, one for Ronnie Clark and the other himself. He lost a motor at Lakeside on Friday and then had another problem when he borrowed Glenn Crossno's back-up car and motor ails popped up there, too. Ouch! I don't know how these "borrow" deals work as many teams loan out parts and, as in this case, even cars. When they break the loaners, I guess some retribution has to happen. This loaning stuff happens at home and on the road, but when the club travels, something really additional and very good happens. They all become each other's biggest helpers. Not that they still don't try to beat each other, but when one team has problems, others pitch in to help. A case in point happened at Lincoln when both of the Winter Racing Team cars were trashed. In the motel pit parking lot, they had plenty of help from other teams to get them both repaired so they could all race together that night. This scenario is repeated time and time again when the SCRA travels, and brings them all closer, making the NWWC a real team effort against the world! If you watch during red flag stops, it is not unusual for teams to pitch in for some quick repair on another team's car.

Steve Ostling really made a great showing in his new ride. The Fischer Motorsports entry was on the gas each race under his toe and his win on Friday at Lakeside was very popular in that camp. Steve is driving as well as he ever has, so look for more of the same from him. Lance Gremett had some really good results and some "oh no" stuff that young drivers tend to have, as well. He learned a lot on this trip and is starting to become a real racer. On the last night it could have turned out to be his best race yet, but an owie happened when he least expected it. He was chasing/following Mike Kirby, both running the high fast line, when he hit a rut and was helpless to stop the careening sprinter. He was running 5th at the time and was moving forward. Bob Ream Jr did well in spite of a shoulder injury that was very painful the last 4 races of the tour. Bob came home to Phoenix to win this past weekend, so he still is the guy to beat in that real racy 360 class!

This week's excitement for me, since I didn't stay back to watch the "wall running" Eldora party, was going to the beach to visit with Jim Naylor and the VRA at Ventura. I got to ride shotgun in the water truck with Jim all night and thoroughly enjoyed not having to "work" for a change at the races. I loved the different feel and perspective of following him around. I don't think I want to be a promoter! Jim showed me more improvements to his facility as we squirted H20 on the track and infield for the night. It is amazing how quick that big cylinder fills with water, and then more quickly, dumps the load. I spent most of the event, when I wasn't doing my lonely (without my Mrs Wags) pit walk, as Jim's guest and learned a little bit more abut the gregarious promoter. We talked Wagsdash plans along the way, and when the wild racing was over, Sheriff John Wright came away with the victory over Chris Wakim and Gary A Howard. They put on a great show and to hear Jim tell it, well you should have been there because he makes sure you get the feel of this raciest little track by the sea!

There were 36 sprint cars in the regular main with 21 seniors also driving in their own event. Some shared a car with a younger driver in the regular class, but there were way over 40 cars in the pits. Bobby Graham and his father ran one car, for example, and amazingly enough, few drivers ruined their "partner" driver's night by crashing the shared vehicles. Oren Prosser and his son also shared a car, both having a good time. Oren told me, when I asked why he never tried open wheel, he was sorry he didn't do it, because it is fun! Tony Simon was helping an old friend of his and smiling in the pits all night. It was just another fun night at the beach.

One of the highlights was getting to watch cameraman Sean Buckley drive a sprint car. Sean has been doing sprint video for several years for Dean Mills Video, VRA and also is the one who videotapes your sprint car experience at Cory Kruseman's driving school. Sean shares a car with one of the senior drivers , Preiss Movius, and was excited to have us there. He has just started driving, but still made a good showing as he just missed qualifying for the main by 2 spots. He says he is having a ball, and you can tell.

Casey Shuman arrived to drive Barbara Howard's # 94 sprinter. Her son Gary A is the point leader and almost tasted victory this night, except for an ill fated yellow after he had passed for the lead. Bruce Fischer was the "guess" crew chief , his words, for Casey who started on the pole and ended up about 8th. His car was a little tight from the beginning, but he horsed it around for the 30 laps.

Cory & Carrie Kruseman were in the pits as she gets closer to delivery of their first child THIS WEEK!. He was watching his two school cars that were rented by Rick Lewis and Rick Hendrix for the evening. The popular rumors of Cory running Eldora proved to be false, and they are both ready for the baby. Cory had his school planned for Sunday, so Carrie said she would try to hold off until Monday.

Our condolences go out to SCRA President Ron Shuman whose father, Bill, passed away last week. He was 81. Bill Shuman was always at the races over the years to cheer his son on when he raced, and was still a big race fan after Ron's retirement from driving. Bill always had good words for everyone and will be missed by the racing community. The services were held last Friday in Phoenix and the family asks in lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.

The SCRA is off again this coming weekend, June 30, so I know a lot of people will be going back to Ventura for the flat track motorcycles and antique bike show. The next SCRA race is the 4th of July special on that Wednesday at Perris. A packed house is expected, so get there early to get a good seat, and stay late for the best fireworks show in the Southland!