DeRose Takes 3rd to Win Ventura Raceway Title

Zeke DeRose’s chances of claiming his first figure-eight division racing title Friday appeared slim.

The dark clouds and scattered showers threatened to postpone the racing program at Ventura Raceway and, when racing finally did get under way, DeRose lost his left-rear wheel in a heat race and it appeared his Camaro was through for the evening.

But by the time the Street Stock figure-eight 10-lap main event rolled around, DeRose had borrowed Scott Niven’s Camaro and found his way to back of the starting grid.

Tom Stephens of Ventura won the main event and defending champion Jim Firsich of Port Hueneme finished second, but DeRose’s third-place finish erased all of the ominous signs and gave the Sun Valley driver his first championship by 60 points over Firsich.

The Mini Stock figure-eight championship was also close. Defending champion Joe Silva of Port Hueneme held a 10-point lead over Camarillo’s Richard Webster going into the finale.

Kevin Parker of Ventura led wire to wire to win the eight-lap main event but by virtue of Webster’s second-place finish, he claimed the title by 10 points over Silva, who finished a dismal fourth.

Webster ended the season with 870 points, Silva 860 and Parker 850.