Hansen Chases Down 18th Victory

It wasn’t easy, but Simi Valley driver Rob Hansen’s victory in the 20-lap Dwarf car main event Saturday night at Ventura Raceway showed why he has dominated the division this season.

Hansen, the California Dwarf car points leader with 18 feature victories, started the race in the seventh position but crept up on leader Peter Martin of Palmdale throughout the race. Hansen moved to fifth place on the fifth lap when he dodged a three-car collision.

Hansen continued to inch his way toward the lead and was in second place on the 10th lap before catching Martin and taking the lead on lap 13.

A three-quarter Midget driver for 10 years, Hansen notched his best season finish in 1990 when he took third, but he should take the Dwarf championship this season.

“It’s just the experience,” he said. “I wasn’t worried when I started the race that far back or when I dodged the spinouts. You learn to see those things coming.”

Paul Moore of Oak View won the 20-lap open wheel modified main event for his first of two victories for the night. The defending Street Stock champion, Moore led from wire to wire and held off Leonard Rowe of Camarillo and Danny Simkins of Santa Maria.

Moore won a 20-lap open wheel modified heat race to cap a big night for the veteran Oak View driver. He won a tight race with Don Keeter of Ventura.

Keeter fought to hold off Moore, who pulled even on the final turn before their cars bumped. Keeter was sent spinning out and Moore went on to take his second checkered flag.

In Dwarf heat races, Hansen, Darren Smotherman of Porterville and Doug Thorton of Ventura were winners.

In other racing, Bob Robicheaux of Salinas won the California State Mini Sprint championship and Rick Carstens of Fresno won the Northern States Mini Sprint championship. Both tours are mostly comprised of Northern California drivers.