Hubert Posts 1st Mini Stock Win of Season

Gary Hubert of Camarillo met a series of challenges Friday night at Ventura Raceway and recorded his first Mini Stock 20-lap oval track main event of the season.

Hubert started on the pole position but was challenged six different times on yellow flag restarts by Chris Raschke and defending champion Marty Desbrow, both of Ventura, before prevailing by a car length over Desbrow.

Raschke held on for third place in his first race of the season and Moorpark’s Ken Hewitt was fourth. Current season points leader Jeff Drake of Fillmore was forced out of the race on Lap 11 with mechanical problems.

In a wild finish to the Street Stock 20-lap main event, Zeke DeRose of Sun Valley claimed the victory when leader Bill Bartels of Culver City lost his right rear wheel on the final half lap of the race, allowing DeRose to sail on past to the checkered flag.

Current Street Stock season points leader Paul Moore of Oxnard was second, Jim Firsich of Port Hueneme third and Willie Melvin of Camarillo fourth.

Mini Stock eight-lap heat-race winners were Desbrow, Richard Webster of Camarillo and Hubert. In the Street Stock division, DeRose, Firsich and Mike Bryan of Ventura each recorded heat-race victories. Scott Niven of Agoura Hills led from start to finish to win the Street Stock 10-lap semi-main event. Ron Bartels of Hawthorne was second and Randy Gens of Oxnard was third.