Hubert Discovers Path to Victory at Ventura

Gary Hubert of Camarillo took a middle-of-the-road approach in the Mini Stock oval main at Ventura Raceway on Saturday night.

It was Hubert’s straightforward style that paved the way for his fourth main-event victory this season and put him back atop the season points standings after the 15-lap feature before 2,108.

Bruce Dunson of Santa Barbara led the first nine laps before a yellow flag brought the field together. On the restart Port Hueneme’s Gary Swenson went low and briefly took the lead on the backstretch, then Tim Gill of Somis went low to edge ahead of Swenson when Hubert set his sights on the start-finish line ahead.

Hubert went down the middle of the pack and split between Swenson and Gill to take the lead for good on the start-finish line heading into Lap 10.

Even though Hubert was in front the rest of the way, he had to battle his own air cleaner cover: It popped off his hood and stuck against the window screen, partially blocking his field of vision.

Gill finished second, Richard Webster of Camarillo was third and Swenson finished fourth.

Hubert’s performance put him back on top of the season points standings over Swenson, who had held a 15-point lead over Hubert before the race.

Rob Hansen of Simi Valley took the lead midway through the California Dwarf Car 15-lap main event and won for the second time at Ventura this season. Hansen came from eighth place and overtook Mike Sweeney of Whittier on Lap 7 and opened a sizable lead on his way to the checkered flag.

Don Keeter of Ventura and David Franey of Santa Maria made it a wild finish in the 10-lap IMCA Modified main event before Keeter emerged with the victory.

Both drivers came into the final turn side-by-side banging together, which sent Franey into the infield and Keeter fishtailing down the front straightaway to the checkered flag. Franey recovered to finish second and Bill Lauer of Santa Maria was third.

Bill Bartels of Culver City won the Street Stock 20-lap main event, powering past Ventura’s Tom Stephens on Lap 9.