Oak View’s Moore Bumps Away Brader to Claim Ventura Main

The 20-lap Street Stock main event at Ventura Raceway on Friday night looked more like a game of bumper cars during rush hour on the Ventura Freeway.

Season points leader Paul Moore of Oak View bumped and banged his way from 12th position and used a last-lap traffic jam to come from behind and nip Somis’ Lynn Brader at the finish by a foot to win his third oval main of the season.

Moore caught up to Brader, who had led most of the race, by Lap 17 when both cars bumped door-to-door as Brader emerged with a slight lead, on his way to an apparent victory.

However, in the final turn of the checkered-flag lap, Brader slowed for traffic and took the middle of the track while Moore went low with both cars banging doors together again at the finish line. Moore narrowly edged his Camaro ahead to win.

Defending Mini Stock champion Marty Desbrow of Ventura is in his own winning groove again this season, as he recorded his third oval track 20-lap main event victory. Steve Rowe of Oxnard finished second and Gary Swenson of Ventura was third.

Only two cars registered in the Modified Mini Stock division, with Leonard Rowe of Oxnard having too much power for Robert McMahon of Port Hueneme in the eight-lap main event.

Moore also won his fourth Street Stock heat race of the season. Bill Bartels of Canoga Park and Brader were the other eight-lap Street Stock winners.