Tripp Surges at Ventura Raceway
Sleepy Tripp of Costa Mesa powered past Hank Butcher of San Leandro on the back straightaway on Lap 19 to win the U. S. Auto Club Western States Series’ 20-lap main event at Ventura Raceway on Saturday night
In a race that began with a spectacular seven-car accident, Tripp sealed his fifth Western States season points championship.
Frank Pedragon of Gardena nipped Butcher for second and Ricky Gray of Sepulveda was fourth.
Oxnard’s George Ito, who won an earlier heat race and set the fast qualifying time, was injured in the crash and was sent to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura for observation.
Cory Kruseman of Ventura won the 40-lap three-quarter midget main event after passing leader Gary Schroeder of Burbank, who ran out of gas on Lap 33. Steve Kellick of Bakersfield was second, and Dennis Hart of Ventura was third. Season points leader Jay Drake of Valencia was fourth.
Eight-lap three-quarter midget heat race winners were Kellick, Hart, Rick Hendrix of Canoga Park and Bob Crisp of Crestline.
Ito and Bob Davison of Santa Ana each won a 10-lap midget heat race.
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