The 2012 ARP Battle at the Beach Championship, and $1,500 winner’s purse was awarded to visiting driver David Prickett after an intense battle that began with Ronnie Gardner, Cody Swanson and Prickett all battling for the lead. Gardner who had won the first three Battle at the Beach events in 2012 jumped out to an early lead over Swanson. He led the first 26 laps of the 30 lap main event only to have Swanson pass him on lap 27 and lead until Prickett got by him on the final lap when Swanson went too wide in turn 2 allowing Prickett, who had started 10th, to get by him on the low side and go on to take the prestigious win. Gardner finished third and clinched the King of the Beach title with Austin Smith fourth and Greg Edenholm fifth.
With 13 midgets in the pits all vying for the winner’s purse and the ARP surf board trophy, the crowd knew that racing would be intense. Two heart races were held with wins going to Cody Swanson in the Sander Engineering Heat One and Conner Kassik in the Schroeder Racing Products Heat Two. The season continues next Saturday night where these same midget drivers will conclude their season long point race. Currently Cody Swanson leads Greg Edenholm by 110 points after nine races.
VRA Senior Sprints were on hand with 8 cars in attendance. They ran one heat race with the win going to Bruce Douglass. The 20 lap feature was a hard fought win by Victor Davis over point leader Clif Warren who was nipping at his tail tank for most of the race. They were followed to the checkered flag by Russell Deblauw, Chris Meredith and Douglass. After Saturday night Warren holds a 15 point lead over Davis after nine races.
IMCA Modifieds also were on the card Saturday night with the 20 lap feature win going to past IMCA track champion Donald Houghton over Brad Prows, Tom Topping and Wayne Heurung. Parker was crowned 2012 IMCA Track Champion Saturday night for his third track championship. Brad Prows finished second in the final points followed by Mark Davis, Wayne Heurung and Steve Bulpitt. Two heats were run with wins going to Prows in the Extreme Muffler Heat One and Parker in the Speedway Engineering Heat Two.
In VRA Sport Compact racing the night saw the heat race wins go to Michaela Stanton and Zack Peterson. Their 20 lap main event went to point leader Zack Peterson who battled James Carlucci, Michaela Stanton, Mike Stanford and James Adler for 20 laps to get his win. Peterson's win keeps him 40 points ahead of Jess Carlucci after 11 races in 2012.
Ventura Raceway Race Results for 09/29/2012
VRA Midgets
Race #9 09/29/2012
Main Event Results: 1. David Prickett, Fresno, 30 Laps; 2. Cody Swanson, Norco, 30 Laps; 3. Ronnie Gardner, Norco, Ca, 30 Laps; 4. Austin Smith, Chino Hills, 30 Laps; 5. Greg Edenholm, Pacific Grove, 30 Laps; 6. Kyle Smith, Moorpark, 30 Laps; 7. Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, 30 Laps; 8. Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, 30 Laps; 9. Trevor Cooper, New Zealand, 28 Laps; 10. Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, 28 Laps; 11. Kyle Edwards, Fountain Valley, 15 Laps; 12. Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu City, 12 Laps; 13. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, Did not show
Lap Leaders: Ronnie Gardner (1-26), Cody Swanson (27-29), David Prickett (30)
Heat Race Winners: Sander Engineering Heat 1: Cody Swanson; Schroeder Racing Products Heat 2: Connor Kassik
Lucas Oil Hard Charger: David Prickett
DJ Safety Hard Luck: Cory Kruseman
Top 10 in points: 1. Cody Swanson, 1930; 2. Greg Edenholm, 1815; 3. Randi Pankratz, 1730; 4. Ronnie Gardner, 1690; 5. Wink Schweitzer, 1475; 6. Kyle Smith, 1335; 7. Danny Ebberts, 1155; 8. Bruce Hiroshima, 810; 9. Kyle Edwards, 805; 10. Bruce Douglass, 710
Final Top 10 in ARP Battle at the Beach points: 1. Ronnie Gardner, 980; 2. Cody Swanson, 910; 3. Greg Edenholm, 780; 4. Randi Pankratz, 760; 5. Kyle Smith, 600; 6. Wink Schweitzer, 515; 7. Kyle Edwards, 465; 8. Danny Ebberts, 445; 9. Bruce Douglass, 375; 10. Bruce Hiroshima, 310
IMCA Modifieds
Race #12 09/29/2012
Main Event Results: 1. Donald Houghton, Rosamond, 20 Laps; 2. Brad Prows, Oak View, 20 Laps; 3. Jack Parker, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 4. Tom Topping, Eagle Rock, 20 Laps; 5. Wayne Heurung, Ventura, 20 Laps; 6. Steve Bulpitt, Culver City, 20 Laps; 7. Mark Davis, Ventura, 20 Laps; 8. James Stowe, Ridgecrest, 20 Laps; 9. Dennis Eckert, Canyon Country, 12 Laps
Lap Leaders: Dennis Eckert (1-12), Donald Houghton (13-20)
Heat Race Winners: Extreme Mufflers Heat 1: Brad Prows; Speedway Engineering Heat 2: Jack Parker
Oldies Speed Shop Hard Charger: Donald Houghton
Oldies Speed Shop Hard Luck: Dennis Eckert
Top 10 in points: 1. Jack Parker, 435; 2. Brad Prows, 417; 3. Mark Davis, 377; 4. Wayne Heurung, 361; 5. Steve Bulpitt, 283; 6. James Stowe, 242; 7. Aaron Rodarte, 238; 8. Tom Topping, 235; 9. Austin Rodarte, 233; 10. Dennis Eckert, 229
VRA Senior Sprints
Race #10 09/29/2012
Main Event Results: 1. Victor Davis, Simi Valley, 20 Laps; 2. Cliff Warren, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Russel Deblauw, Ventura, 20 Laps; 4. Chris Meredith, Thousand Oaks, 20 Laps; 5. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, 20 Laps; 6. Wayne Heurung, 19 Laps; 7. Greg Andrews, Fillmore, Ca, 19 Laps; 8. Ed Schwarz, Santa Fe Springs, 15 Laps
Lap Leaders: Chris Meredith (1), Victor Davis (2-20)
Heat Race Winners: SpinTech Mufflers Heat 1: Bruce Douglass
DJ Safety Hard Luck: Ed Schwarz
Top 10 in points: 1. Cliff Warren, 2045; 2. Victor Davis, 2030; 3. Bruce Douglass, 1965; 4. Chris Meredith, 1685; 5. Wally Pankratz, 1515; 6. Wayne Heurung, 1380; 7. Ed Schwarz, 1370; 8. Greg Andrews, 1090; 9. Mike Cook, 555; 10. Leroy Anderson, 510
VRA Sport Compacts
Race #10 09/29/2012
Main Event Results: 1. Zachary Peterson, Oxnard, 20 Laps; 2. Jess Carlucci, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 3. Michaela Stanton, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 4. Mike Stanford, 20 Laps; 5. James Adler, Camarillo, 20 Laps; 6. Brad Long, Burbank, 20 Laps; 7. Bruce Fink, Port Hueneme, 20 Laps; 8. KC Cook, 19 Laps; 9. John Butcher, Santa Barbara, 19 Laps
Lap Leaders: Bruce Fink (1-3), Zachary Peterson (4-20)
Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: Zachary Peterson; Heat 2: Michaela Stanton
Top 10 in points: 1. Zachary Peterson, 2270; 2. Jess Carlucci, 2230; 3. James Adler, 2020; 4. Brad Long, 1850; 5. John Butcher, 1720; 6. Michaela Stanton, 1530; 7. Heath Morton, 1005; 8. Mike Stanford, 965; 9. Trevor Fitzgibbon, 780; 10. Bud Crudo, 470
- Ventura Raceway on Oct 01, 2012
- Article Date: 10/1/2012 by Ventura Raceway/Cliff Morgan