By Ken Wagner
September 10, 2006

On a night where at least seven drivers spun on the tricky track all by themselves, Mighty Mike Spencer shook off last weeks correct ruling that took away his win at Perris, and rolled by rookie Matt Mitchell on the last lap of the 30 lap race to quickly post his second win this season with the USAC/CRA. The racy night on the Ventura bull ring had several leaders, but in the end Mike won and continues to show the big boys he belongs by stealing this one from a possible first time winner.

Ventura pics Click here.

Mike drove the yellow # 44, Hal Engstrom owned, Murrieta Development, Spenco Machine, Maxim car like he had something to prove after getting restarted in fourth instead of the back last week. With fresh tires he passed Tony Jones, who had 39 lap used tires, for an apparent rousing win. After a week long siege in the USAC National camp, they ruled his change of tires would have put him to the back and reversed the win back to the Cowboy where it should be. It was a CRA official screw-up that was finally corrected; even though some will argue what is done can’t be reversed. Nevertheless, in this case the officials missed or ignored Mike’s tire change, and with plenty of teeth gnashing, it was ruled a Jones win and Mike moved on. It points out our need for a stronger CRA official crew that can take care of business without the National folks help. More on that later when I get on my soap box.

What was exciting about this race was that Mighty Mike was again up to the challenge with his strong skills putting him in position to win and he capitalized on it. The results from this low buck team, one with no major sponsor, no high paid crew chief, no big crew helping out, just a father, his son and an amiable car owner working their butts off, is huge. What we are seeing is the making of a champion because he gets better and better each race and he won’t go away. A great victory took some of the disappointment out of last week for Mike. Watch out the yellow car is on a roll. Mike and the Cowboy were on the podium again this week, and some of the flash of the two red cars that normally get all the notice, took a back seat this week.

Matt Mitchell is like a lightning strike, he has come on the scene so suddenly in the Rip Williams back-up car and made a resounding statement once again with this weeks results. He has gone somewhat unnoticed until now, with most of the attention on his veteran teammate, as you can expect. His smooth driving has been impressive with some pretty quick times and a heat race win or two. And no, he hasn’t had the usual rookie struggles, and after only getting a dozen or so starts in the car, and sometimes surrendering his ride to Rip when the number one car breaks, he keeps impressing people. What he did this week will open some eyes after point leader Damion Gardner spun out in front of him while leading. This allowed him to assume the lead on the next restart. If he hadn’t had that last little red flag on lap 27 for a nasty Kevin Kierce end over end thrill ride, it would seem his momentum and the track wasn’t going to allow a pass. Driving the back-up John Jory Corporation, Weld Wheels, Stinger, black # 3m, he just used his good driving skills to put himself in position to score well. It was a highlight for the team as the Ripper had a spin and then pulled in early. It looks like Matt is a coming along just fine.

“Cowboy Tony Jones” continued his good work in the silver Alexander, La Villa Restaurant, # 4 car. He carefully chauffeured his mount around the small oval all night. After setting fast time for the 2nd week in a row, he missed the transfer from his heat when he got bounced into the wall and landed softly on his cage. He won the semi and started ninth in the main event. Last weeks fiasco, that ultimately turned positive for him, was very trying until the final ruling on Thursday. He was very grateful and now was amped up to win again. The track didn’t give up much as they flew around for 30 laps and he didn’t have much time near the end to get by the rookie who was smoothly running ahead of him. Rumor has it, Tony did get the trophy from Mike on a class move later.

So, Spin-o-rama time was shocking as there were at least 8 guys who spun stand-a-lone. Evan Suggs, Rip Williams, Blake Miller, Cory Kruseman, Damion Gardner and Alan Ballard were the notable ones, so the track was a puzzle to many. Blake backed his Black Widow entry down the off ramp backwards and out of sight, while the rest just did a standard circle type spin. Cory recovered to get 8th, Blake 9th and Damion 11th, but it was a hard road from back there.

The car count for Ventura was down a little with “only” 38 cars competing, some of which are from the local VRA bunch, but there was more than enough talent out there to put on a great show. The scene included a lot of good racing, including the VRA Seniors who competed as well with Bruce Douglas beating Wiley Miller to the stripe for the 360 win. The old guys put on a good show with few stops this time. Cory Kruseman was the car owner of note on the night as he had 8 of his school cars rented out for the race, with no incidents to report, so his guys won’t have as much to do this week..

The beach weather was awesome for this transplanted native now from Lost Wages. It was the first time I enjoyed cool temps since the last trip to Ventura in May! The palm trees and the Pacific Ocean can fix a lot of what ails ya. This past 32 days of hospital watch for Terry’s mom made me thankful for this “fix” I came for. After Friday’s bad day for Maxine, I left home at 7 am after two hours of sleep to drive 5 hours covering 325 miles to get to see my racing and returned after the race ended at 10:10 PM, home by 3:30 am, and back to see Max at 10 AM. A great day of visiting with all at the track, as I received lots of well wishes for Max and the trip was worth it. Hopefully she will improve enough for Terry to go to Perris with me the next race.

Over the years I have experienced a lot of highs and lows with the CRA, SCRA and now USAC/CRA. Sometimes the problems can be the action on the track, sometimes off it, but it never seems to end and the same troubles always seem to come back no matter who is in control. The start-up CRA began with high hopes of autonomy and local control, but when you align yourself with big business, it no longer is a club that you can control, in fact, it’s not a club anymore, just a footnote in USAC business. Our USAC/CRA satellite group here on the West Coast is part of one of the largest racing organizations in the country. And as business goes, the squeaky wheel, or the best producing arm, gets all the attention and benefits. Our club is gone, along with picnics and other fun times that used to be part of racing out of town. Now it’s a business and nobody will get rich, so it is amazing the car owner’s still want to spend their money this way.

The current CRA is somewhat like a brother’s unwanted sister to the National USAC fathers. They know were out here, but they don’t want to be bothered with our little troubles, unless we get our wires crossed, and then they spring into action. We are merely part of their big business world, a very small part, and are parked out of the way most of the time with their tentacles slowly changing the way we do business. The way CRA is portrayed on the official USAC web page is quiet and plain. The more exciting Indiana based events from midgets, sprints and the overtrumped, Super Modified like, long wheel based streamliner, AKA Silver Crown machine, that’s not even open wheel anymore, get all the most current press and whoopla, while our powerful local favorites get what’s left, and not always timely. Even when I submitted my in person stories and reviews, they were shortened, changed or not used at all. Often in those cases the Indiana brain trust wrote their own copy from the official stats. They proved you don’t need a live reporter, just the facts man, the reporter's excitement isn’t needed in USAC print.

CRA troubles began with the race direction that was sorely lacking in leadership from the start and continues to fester the small boo boos that keep getting overlooked. The resulting interaction with USAC National staff for official rulings makes it look like the club doesn’t know what to do, and sometimes they are right on. At least the National race staff can control their events with experienced personnel, and when someone doesn’t know the rule, they ask the right official and resolve it quickly back there. Out here in the West, the lack of knowledge, or is it that old “my way or the highway” scheme that sometimes rules, and things can get out of control. One pompous staff member has been heard saying more than once “it’s the USAC way and if you don’t like it ……. You can leave”! It only takes one out of control official to make crap out of things. Is that what the CRA needs? NOT!

More than anything now, we need a strong, intelligent, race savvy individual who can make decisions based on the rules and treat everyone with respect and get the job done. He would have to train his crew to work together and, very importantly, attend all the races. Some say Gary Sokola was that kind of man, and there was Walt James, Don Peabody and some of the other strong CRA presidents who also ruled their day with the club. Add Glen Howard, when he ran the SCRA, to that bunch, and they all had one thing in common. They wanted what was best for their club and they all worked very hard to make it happen. They were under paid, but continued on year after year serving the racers.

It has been said Gary Sokola ruled with an iron hand, but you always knew where you stood and that he was usually right. The person the club needs now could be anywhere or anybody, and we need to find him. We need to quit doing these little things that make the club look like were a bunch of clowns. Ask any car owner what kind of things, and the list will surprise you. We want to grow the club, not retard it, and everyone needs to be on the same page. Times are tough in our racing with competition everywhere, so we need to do everything that will reflect positive on our racing and market the excitement of the greatest show on earth to everyone. It has to come from within, not from 2000 miles away. What would that person who could make it happen be worth to the club? This USAC member would like to know. I'll back my steel toe shoes off now and leave it to the powers to be.

The 16th annual Wagsdash is coming to Ventura Raceway on October 28th at the last USAC/CRA race at Ventura this year. It will be the 9th time we have run this event at the raciest little track by the sea. In order to make it all work, I need your help as usual. The fan sponsored race for the low buck guys has experienced some real highs over the years and will be another exciting addition to the USAC/CRA race coming up. Contact me at 949-981-5497 or e-mail me at winglesswarriors@aol.com to get involved. You can sponsor the 2007 non-wing calendar, and/or get you name or business on the annual Wagsdash t-shirt, donate cash or prizes to the purse or race items for the annual auction that occurs on race day. All money and or prize items will go to the racers in this event. The Wagtimer’s are sending in their checks, why don’t you?

The race will be an invitational this year with the drivers and line-up to be determined by race day. It will still pay $2500 to the winner with other significant payouts down thru the field. The hard charger, and not the winner, will receive the Lafond Jar of change that is growing as we speak and you can add your change to. In years past it usually reached over $500. The $1000 challenge issued by Kevin Zimmerman has now two respondents, with more expected. Dale Frye is making another outstanding original painting for our auction and rumor has it the car is not red this year. His works of art over the years has helped to raise a lot of money for Wagsdash racers and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with. It’s your race for your racers, so get involved!

We will be back to Perris this coming week, so hopefully, we will see you there. I have missed too many races recently, but Mrs Wags needs me with her mom’s illness being critical for the last 4 weeks.

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Mike Spencer, 2. Matt Mitchell, 3. Tony Jones, 4. Josh Ford, 5. Rodney Argo, 6. Danny Sheridan, 7. Steve Conrad, 8. Cory Kruseman, 9. Blake Miller, 10. Chris Wakim, 11. Damion Gardner, 12. David Cardey, 13. Evan Suggs, 14. Alan Ballard, 15. Greg Taylor, 16. Mike Trimble, 17. Kevin Kierce, 18. Seth Wilson, 19. Ryan Devitt, 20. Rip Williams. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-13 Gardner, Laps 14-29 Mitchell, Lap 30 Spencer.

NEW USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1-Gardner-1,399; 2-Kruseman-1,376; 3-Spencer-1,226; 4-Jones-1,224; 5-Sheridan-1,106; 6-Williams-931; 7-Cardey-796; 8-Miller-790; 9-Ford-788; 10-Rickie Gaunt-694.

NEXT USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACES: September 16 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway