Stock Cars to Open Long Racing Season at Ventura Raceway

Auto-racing season at Ventura Raceway begins at 8 tonight with the first event in the Coors Light Silver Bullet stock-car series.

The Mini Stock and Street Stock divisions will lead the way with 32 of 51 events in a season that also includes the U. .S. Auto Club Western States Midget Series, the Winged Outlaw Mini Sprints, three-quarter Midgets and the Ventura Motocross and Class Ten Buggy series. The season runs through Nov. 17.

Charles Utts of Camarillo, the 1989 Street Stock oval champion, and Mini Stock oval track and figure-8 champion Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark will defend their titles.

The Street Stocks comprise full-sized American-made cars, and the Mini Stock division is made up of smaller cars--modified Ford Pintos and foreign-made sedans.

Ventura Raceway promoter Jim Naylor said that he has made more than $60,000 in improvements at the quarter-mile dirt oval that are expected to increase track speeds and improve viewing for spectators.