Desbrow Goes Wire to Wire in Showdown

Marty Desbrow of Ventura and Jeff Drake of Fillmore have been in tight battle in the Mini Stock points race all season.

And they were lined up side by side in the front row for Friday night’s 20-lap Mini Stock main event at Ventura Raceway.

Desbrow, the two-time defending Mini Stock champ, led wire to wire with Drake fading to third.

By virtue of the victory, Desbrow opened a 50-point lead over Drake, who had trailed by only five points before the race.

Gary Hubert of Camarillo, winner of the last two Mini mains, put on another impressive showing, rallying from sixth to finish just back of Desbrow’s bumper.

Eight-lap heat winners were Steve Rowe of Fillmore and Ryan Cole of Santa Maria in the IMCA Modified division; Richard Webster of Camarillo and Tim Gill of Somis in the Mini Stock division; and Mark Heurung of Ventura, Paul Moore of Oxnard and Zeke DeRose of Sun Valley in the Street Stock division.

Four-lap Trophy Dash winners were Joe Silva of Port Hueneme (Mini Stock) and Bill Bartels of Culver City (Street Stock).

Scott Niven of Agoura Hills led flag-to-flag in the 10-lap Street Stock semi-main event and a transfer spot into the main. Also transferring were Willie Melvin and Jake Nocero, both of Sun Valley, and Bill Brandt of Camarillo.

Fast qualifying times were set by Bill Bartels with a one-lap time of 16.312 seconds in the Street Stock division and Gary Hubert of Camarillo in the Mini Stock division at 16.576.