Hart’s Patience Pays Off With a Win at Ventura

Perseverance paid off for Marc Hart of Ventura on Saturday night in a come-from-behind victory in the three-quarter Midget 20-lap main event at Ventura Raceway.

Hart started the main event in eighth place but had moved up behind leader Kenny White of Ventura by the 11th lap. Hart took the lead on a yellow flag re-start three laps later when he beat White to the inside of the first turn.

White then steered into a rut and lost control of the car, which flipped and then rolled several times. After another re-start, Hart held on for the win.

J. J. Ercse of Palos Verdes was second and Walt Johnson of Sun Valley was third.

Hart had to qualify for the main event the hard way, winning a transfer slot in the semi-main event. In an earlier qualifying heat race, Hart backed off the throttle when a white flag inadvertently was waved and, as a result, he failed to gain a qualifying position.

Page Jones of Torrance edged Jason Jonkman of Fountain Valley to win the Midget 30-lap main event. Ricky Gray of Sepulveda was third and Wally Pankratz of Orange fourth.