Racing Season Starts Tonight at Ventura

Ventura Raceway begins its 1993 auto racing season at 7 tonight as the quarter-mile oceanside track holds its traditional opener, the United States Auto Club’s Midget and Three-Quarter midget Western States series.

Some drivers will seek to defend their titles while others move into new divisions.

Last year’s Three-Quarter Midget champion, Rick Hendrix of Simi Valley, will move into the larger Midget division, joining seven-time champion Sleepy Tripp of Costa Mesa.

There will be 13 Midget and TQ Midget shows, including a May 8 ESPN televised date. Two-time TQ champion Jay Drake of Val Verde has moved up to the Midget division.

The stock car series will open on Apr. 16 with the Modified Mini Stock division being dropped and two new categories added in the Pony Stock and Factory Stock divisions.

“The Pony and Factory Stocks are our new basic and cheapest forms of racing,” Ventura Raceway general manager Cliff Morgan said.

“These are very basic street type of cars with safety features and no modifications.”

Three-time Mini Stock champion Marty Desbrow of Ventura has opened the door for a new champ to be crowned this season. He will move up to the IMCA Modified division in quest of a title there.

Also on the schedule will be 13 dates that will include California Dwarf Cars. The Northern Stars Winged Mini Sprints will appear three times and the Motocross and Stadium Off-Road series will make monthly appearances during the eight-month season that runs through November.