Ventura’s White Prevails in Main on Home Track

Kenny White of Ventura drove to a hard-fought victory in the United States Auto Club’s 20-lap Three-Quarter Midget main event in the season opener at Ventura Raceway on Saturday night in front of 3,136.

White started in sixth on the grid and quickly moved up behind leader Steve Alexander of Torrance on the second lap. White passed Alexander on Lap 8, but a yellow flag after he executed his pass put him back in second.

On the restart, White again battled for the lead and finally overtook Alexander on the front straightaway of Lap 9. He maneuvered through slower traffic the rest of the way to finish comfortably ahead of J.J. Ercse of Palos Verdes. Scott Hansen finished third and Ron Ahrendt was fourth.

Rob Hansen of Simi Valley, Scott Hansen’s brother and a former TQ Midget racer, made a successful debut in a California Dwarf Car race. Hansen took the lead from Whittier’s Mike Sweeney on Lap 5 and went on to win the 20-lap main.

Jay Drake of Val Verde, a two-time TQ Midget champion, made a successful move into the Midget division, driving to his first victory with a wire-to-wire performance in the Midget 10-lap semi-main event.