GAUNT THROWS HAT IN PERRIS RING FOR NEXT RACE. IS HE BACK OR JUST VISITING?

With a week off from USAC/CRA racing, what to do, what to do? In the Crossno camp it was time to check out the backup car and load in a 360 for a visit to Ventura Raceway and another encounter with the strong VRA racers. A great day of perfect weather and a happy crowd got to see IMCA Modifieds, VRA Modifieds, VRA Senior Sprints and the VRA regular show for a full night of racing that was over by 9:30! It was big time racing at the most famous bullring of the West.

Mrs Wags forgot her smart card for her camera this week and didn’t get her usual action stuff. I will have some of my pit walk, but it’s not the same. click here to see.

It was an opportunity for the Crossno team to check out the backup car for the team and so car owner Glenn Crossno came up with a 360 motor so they could do just that. Mike Kirby has had a successful year so far driving the ITI Performance, Sander Engineering, Snap On Tool, TCR. This car was the one that got bent badly at the Manzanita opener and now looked brand new. They drew the 67 pill, out of I don't know how many, which is how they line up the cars instead of qualifying so he would be near the back. Turns out Killer Kirby started on the third row of the last heat. Mike put on a mud slinging show for the fans as he rode the high groove slinging the roostertail of mud behind him. He had a yellow or two to restart from, but when push came to shove, he won. This earned him a spot in the 8 car inversion in the main event. They take the top two from each heat and, as I understand it, draw a pill for the 4, 6 or 8 inversion. In the feature Mike would start 6th so you figure it out.

There wasn’t long to wait for the red # 38 to get to the front in the main, but first we had a restart. On the start Chris Wakim quickly took the lead that was quickly called back for a restart when two cars got together. On the restart, Chris’s car did not gas up at the green like before and he quickly went backwards to about tenth as Tom Stansberry took the early lead. Chris dropped out as fuel pick-up was the villain ending his night. We met his oldest son Cole after the races and saw what puts the smile in dad's eyes. Onward! Kirby just methodically drove by Tom and Rob Kershaw to take the lead he would never give up. He ran the high line very smooth and pulled away after a couple of restarts, looking right at home, still the all time winningest sprint car driver of Ventura Raceway.

Steve Conrad put up a great fight in his # 56 this week as he battled with Stansberry and Mike English for the runner-up spot. English had taken over the 2nd spot late in the race, but a restart saw Conrad take to the high road while Mike stayed low and it earned him a great 2nd place finish behind the winner when he got hooked up and moved on by.

Tom Stansberry, the 2003 VRA champion, was looking forward with his battle with Wakim, last years runner-up to him, but it just didn’t happen when Chris had his problems. Tom also found a high groove slot to slip into third before the end. Great job as he switches back and forth between his own 360 car and Ron Bach’s 410 Mopar from week to week.

Mike English is on a limited driving schedule this year, running for Tom and Laurie Sertich occasionally and now in Buzz Shoemaker’s # 0 car this week. He had a good ride going coming from 8th starting spot and was in position to challenge for the lead late in the race, but ended up 4th. He looked smooth and happy after his night in the “big O” car.

Wiley Miller, part of the “Miller Time” racing family it seems, had another great night winning another VRA Senior Main Event. He had it under control as the “old timers” put on a great show for the fans. You gotta love this as these guys don’t take nuthin form nobody, and love driving these fire breathing monsters! Brother Danny Millerlooked like he was hanging in there as he came from 7th to get 4th. Then his son Blake drove the same car to 8th in the regular main. They are a very special friendly family and hard racers, too! Wiley said he remembers the first time he came and raced he won, and they loaded up and left like it was no big deal. When they returned the next race he got a check and couldn’t believe it. He said they made a mistake because he had so much fun, he would do it for free. There are a lot a great teams in VRA and that is why it is so much fun going there. Oh by the way, that wild man Dayle Henry really put on a show as he came from 11th to get 4th, but the last few yellow flags really hurt his momentum as he was comin’ hard on the top of the track slingin’ mud and tapping the wall, it was an awesome display.

Tough luck doesn’t escape the VRA as “Mr Nice guy” Wakim found out with his little fuel problem. Chris Tramel looked strong in his heat when he ran 2nd, but after firing up for the main, he pulled in the back gate and did not return. This allowed a happy Kim Lewis in at the back and she finished 14th. I didn’t ask if that was her best, but she looked good. He hubby Rick was running for the lead in the Seniors when he and Richard McCormick got locked up and restarted at the back. He came back up to 7th, so the family Lewis done good! Bill Welch got caught up in a skirmish and was done early on after running hard up to that point in the night. Talented driver, Greg Taylor, came back from a tangle to get 12th.

This weekend signified the induction of Billy Wilkerson into the Knoxville Sprint Car Hall of Fame. How appropriate for Billy, one of the all time great drivers from the West Coast. It is a feather in his cap to be recognized for his outstanding driving in our Southern California history. The quiet and popular personality shuns the spotlight almost exclusively, but this one honor I am sure he enjoyed. He will be also honored at the Oval Nationals in the fall as their Grand Marshall.

Is it true the Extreme twins are coming to run Perris this weekend? That means all the big name drivers, plus Cory Kruseman and Bud Kaeding, will be there for maybe the best line-up of the year. You have to see these guys all together to see how special sprint car racing is out here, so don’t miss it! The fans should like that, especially if they have been missing Super Rickie and Charlie at the PAS when the rest of the CRA runs. I can’t wait to see if having the good humor jokester back will add something to the pit chatter, it’s just not the same when he is not there! Cory Kruseman ran 4th at Terre Haute in a Silver Crown car this week as he continues to step it up back east. Also, Danny Sheridan won another Bandit race, this time at Santa Maria, as he continues to impress! Will he be at Perris?

Lots happening in my life as many of you know. Still no resolution to my retirement or not, but time marches on and whatever will be, will be. I am ready for some excitement and with that in mind, I will soon be announcing some changes to the Wagsdash that should please everyone. No, the chili feed stays, but as I work out the details, be patient. With Wagsbucks collections continuing to dwindle, I have to find a way to perk up everyone and move forward with some new ideas. I am working on it and you all can be a part of it.

A-MAIN (30 Laps - With Starting Positions)
1. Mike Kirby (6th), 2. Steve Conrad (3rd), 3. Tom Stansberry (2nd), 4. Mike English (8th), 5. Clark Templeman III (9th), 6. Rob Kershaw (5th), 7. Larry Lloyd (16th), 8. Blake Miller (17th). 9. Greg Taylor (12th), 10. Shawn Kautz (13th), 11. Ron Wade (4th), 12. Mike Broome (15th), 13. Dennis Rodriguez (11th), 14. Kim Lewis (19th), 15. John Nock (20th), 16. Kevin Kierce (7th), 17. Ronnie Case (18th), 18. Mike Knopf (10th), 19. Chris Wakim (1st), 20. Bill Welch (14th)

A-MAIN (With Starting Positions) 1. Wiley Miller (1st), 2. Bruce Douglas (2nd), 3. R. Dayle Henry (11th), 4. Danny Miller (7th), 5. Bob Alderman (3rd), 6. Richard McCormick (5th), 7. Rick Lewis (4th), 8. Ron Butler (9th), 9. Dale Harwood (15th), 10. Richard Terry (18th), 11. Tim Moon (19th), 12. Curtis Richards (16th), 13. Dave Marini (10th), 14. Jim Porter (8th), 15. John Richards (17th), 16. Grady Winkler (13th), 17. Ron Bach (12th), 18. Bob Hedlund (14th), 19. Mike Cook (6th)