Ventura Raceway Goes Nationwide : Auto racing: ESPN to televise four Western State midget races at the speedway in April.

Ventura Raceway and ESPN have reached agreement on a television package for the first four United States Auto Club’s Western States Series midget races at the speedway as part of the network’s “Saturday Night Thunder” racing series in April.

“ESPN is very supportive of auto racing in general and we look forward to the continued exposure of the midget races at Ventura as part of our total motor sports coverage,” ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle said.

ESPN previously had broadcast the West Coast portion of the package from Ascot Raceway in Gardena. However, that track was closed at the end of last season for land development and the door of opportunity opened for Ventura.

“We’re real excited to host the series. . . . It’s an honor,” said Cliff Morgan, Ventura Raceway general manager. “We’re working real hard to make sure the series is well run for our fans and for those who will watch on national TV.”

The national cable audience will get a view of the quarter-mile dirt oval that has picturesque backdrops of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands in Turns 1 and 2. A camera shot into Turns 3 and 4 provides a view of the mountains leading to the Ojai Valley.

The “Thunder” series, which is in its third season, will begin the weekly broadcast with its studio show “Speedweek” at 4:30 p.m., followed by various types of taped racing highlights from the 1990 season at 5 p.m. The live coverage from Ventura will begin at 6 p.m. The package will be part of more than 900 hours of motor sports coverage on the cable network that includes a majority of live and same-day coverage.

Dave Despain will be the studio host with Gary Lee and Larry Rice as the trackside announcers. The West Coast portion of the series calls for the USAC action to be broadcast each Saturday in April. While the midget portion of the races will dominate the air time, USAC three-quarter midgets also will run on the program.

“The Ventura track has a tendency to equalize the competition and I think it will provide an excellent show for TV,” said Tommy Hunt, the USAC’s Western States director.

“The program will also draw some of the top drivers from the Midwest, like Stan Fox, to the race along with most of the top West Coast drivers.”

The four Saturday USAC races will kick off a full season of racing at Ventura, including six more USAC dates at the Ventura County Fairgrounds venue.