Weston Takes Street Stock Main at Ventura for 1st Career Victory

James Weston of Santa Barbara drove his 1974 Nova to his first career victory late Friday night in a Street Stock 20-lap oval main event at Ventura Raceway.

Current Street Stock season points leader Paul Moore of Oxnard finished second and maintained his points lead over Bill Bartels of Westchester, who finished third.

The Mini Stock 20-lap oval main event was plagued by yellow flags and sloppy driving for the third week in a row, but Chris Raschke of Ventura emerged to take the checkered flag in the shortened 15-lap race in which only eight of 18 starters finish the race.

Mike Raschke, the cousin of Chris who is also from Ventura, was second and Robert Overacker of Camarillo was third. Even though Mini oval points leader Marty Desbrow of Ventura finished fourth, he still leads the division standings.

Ventura’s Scott Olsen won the Street Stock eight-lap figure-eight main event and Port Hueneme’s Jim Firsich celebrated his 51st birthday by finishing second. With a third-place finish, Zeke DeRose of Sun Valley is closing in on his first Ventura Raceway championship with only three races remaining.

Kevin Parker of Ventura opened up more breathing room in the Mini Stock figure-eight division, taking the checkered flag in the eight-lap main event. Defending champion Joe Silva of Port Hueneme was second.

Danny Simkins of Santa Maria battled Fillmore’s Steve Rowe lap for lap in the IMCA Modified 20-lap main event before Simkins beat Rowe by a half-car length.