Ake Knocks Off Curtis to Win Main Event at Ventura Raceway

Rock Ake of Moorpark moved up from the 21st position to capture the 20-lap mini-stock oval main event Friday night at Ventura Raceway.

With the victory, Ake moved to within five points of leader Gary Curtis of Camarillo, who was black-flagged out of the race for illegal contact. Ake also captured the $100 bounty that had been offered any driver who could defeat Curtis, the oval main-event winner each of the past four weeks.

Jim Firsich of Port Hueneme held off street-stock points leader Charles Utts of Camarillo to win his first oval main event of the season by half a car length.

Curtis and West Hills’ John Christianson won the figure eight mini-stock and street-stock main events, respectively.

Sue Pittinato of West Hills drove her 1969 Chevelle from sixth place through heavy traffic and three accidents to capture a street-stock heat race for the second consecutive week.

In another street-stock heat race, Tom Stephens of Ventura slid just ahead of Utts and Van Nuys’ Mike Johannes as all three cars touched and spun across the finish.